A characteristic symptom of calcium deficiency in maize and sorghum

Abstract

The appearance of the so‐called “bull‐whip”; in leaves of maize plants has been recognized as a calcium deficiency symptom. Another characteristic symptom, in which the leaf edges of maize plants become serrated and curl, is often observed when there is a low calcium supply, especially in solution cultures. The effects of several factors on this symptom were investigated using solution cultures. The occurrence of the symptom was scarcely affected by micro‐nutrients and silicon, and it became severe with high levels of magnesium, potassium, ammonium and sodium salts, or when the nutrient solution was at a high temperature. However, the serration and curling in maize leaves essentially seems to be caused by a calcium deficiency, because maize plants, whose leaves showed this symptom along with a low calcium level, produced healthy leaves after being supplied with a sufficient amount of calcium. A similar symptom was found in sorghum plants with low calcium levels. The development of the symptom differed with different cultivars of maize and of sorghum plants. The difference in the capacity to absorb calcium is discussed in relation to the emergence of this characteristic symptom of a calcium deficiency in plants.