EFFECT OF MO, SE, ZN, AND CR TREATMENTS ON THE YIELD, ELEMENT CONCENTRATION, AND CAROTENOID CONTENT OF CARROT

A study was undertaken to evaluate the uptake of Mo, Se, Zn, and Cr in soil-plant systems and to investigate the effect on the yield and car otenoid composition of carrot. Despite the beneficial effects of Se an d Cr to plant growth, at low concentration they were extremely phytoto xic when presented at relatively high concentration in the soils. In t he case of Mo and Zn treatments, carrot plants showed good adaptation to high levels of these elements. Although Mo treatments had no phytot oxicity on the plants, the highest dose resulted in a significant decr ease in the carotenoid content of the roots. Amending the soil with Se and Zn stimulated an increase of alpha-carotene and lutein synthesis and a decrease of beta-carotene with slight increase in the total caro tenoid content.