Evaluation of an acid phosphatase assay for detection of phosphorus deficiency in leaves of maize (Zea maysL.)

Abstract

Assays based on acid phosphatase activity in plant tissue show promise for rapid diagnosis of phosphorus deficiency. This study was undertaken to evaluate a simple leaf disc assay for the detection of the phosphorus deficiency in maize leaves. Leaf discs were excised from 36 to 48 day old greenhouse‐grown maize plants which had been supplied with phosphate in solution culture at levels of 5, 25 or 75 yM and which had total P concentrations in the leaves ranging from 26 to 309 mmol kg^‐1 dry wt. For acid phosphatase activity determinations, discs were incubated 15 min. at 30°C with 5 mM paranitrophenol phosphate in a pH 5.8 acetate buffer. In plants which showed visual symptoms of P‐deficiency, acid phosphatase activity was 2 to 3 times as great as in P‐suf‐ficient plants. Results were inconsistent in plants which were only moderately P‐deficient. This study indicates that the leaf disc acid phosphatase assay should be useful in confirming visual diagnosis of acute phosphorus deficiency in maize, but may not be adequately sensitive to detect moderate P deficiency.