How nutrient deficiency influences the shoot and root development of rye (Secale cereale L.) genotypes

Seedlings of 15 rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivars and lines were evaluated regarding the dry matter accumulation and the content of essential nutrient elements, grown in modified Hoagland nutrient solution in the phytotron of the Agricultural Research Institute in Martonvasar. Osmotic or/and nutrien t stresses were imposed by applying PEG or/and 8(-1) strength nutrient solu tion. This paper only discusses the effect of nutrient deficiency. The dry matter accumulation of cultivars can be evaluated according to abso lute and relative quantities: the most dry matter was accumulated by the va riety Lovaszpatonai, but it was reduced by 47% compared to its control. On the other hand S838587 accumulated the same quantity of shoot dry matter in nutrient solution of low and normal mineral content. Decrease in the concentration of the essential nutrient elements was found in the seedlings because of the nutrient deficiency in solution. In the mea n of the genotypes the greatest decrease was measured in the K2O content, t hat reached only the 31% of the control, while the N- and P2O5 content of t he stressed plants were measured 43% and 53% respectively. The N content of roots of plants grown in nutrient solution of low mineral content in all cases exceeded the N content of shoots. In opposition, the P 2O5 content of the shoots was always higher than that of the roots. There w as no clear tendency in the change of K2O content of stressed plants.