The Effect of the Dominance of a Metabolic System Requiring Iron or Copper on the Development of Lime-Induced Chlorosis

Abstract

Wheat, barley, Midland milo, okra, and cocklebur plants responded to Cu when grown on an organic soil, but did not develop chlorosis on a calcareous soil. Red kidney beans and tobacco grew well on the Cu-deficient organic soil, but did develop chlorosis on the calcareous soil. Tomatoes grown on the calcareous soil became chlorotic and also showed a small response to Cu. Rye grew well with all of the soil treatments. The catalase activity was lower in lime-induced chlorotic plants than in normal green plants, but there was no significant change in the peroxidase activity, Ascorbic acid oxidase in the chlorotic plants was about the same as that in the normal plants. Its activity appeared to be a good index of the available Cu supply, whether the plant did or did not show visible Cu-deficiency symptoms.