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Phosphorus acquisition from deficient soil: involvement of organic acids and acid phosphatase in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. mills sp)

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Abstract

Plants adopt several strategies to acquire phosphorus (P) under P deficient conditions. Exudation of organic acids and synthesis of certain enzymes involved in the solubilization of bound P in the soil are among the important strategies. We investigated the involvement of organic acids and acid phosphatase in acquiring P under deficient conditions. In our earlier experiments we classified Pigeon pea genotypes, as high and low P uptake types based on root dry weight and P content of the leaves. Here we report that the root exudates of high P uptake genotypes had higher organic acids, indicated by higher P solubilization capacity of these genotypes. Further, the acid phosphatase activity was also higher in these genotypes under P deficient conditions compared to low P uptake types. There was an inverse relationship between root P content, P solubilisation capacity and root acid phosphatase activity. Differences in P uptake are attributed to root characteristics and altered plant metabolism to cope with P stress. We also report here a novel technique for the measurement of root surface area using nitrite assay method.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Natural Resource Management, ICAR, Research Complex for North East Hill Region, Barapani, Shillong, 793103, Meghalaya, India

    R. Krishnappa

  2. Department of crop physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore, 560065, India

    I. S. Aftab Hussain

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  1. R. Krishnappa
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  2. I. S. Aftab Hussain
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Correspondence to I. S. Aftab Hussain.

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Krishnappa, R., Aftab Hussain, I.S. Phosphorus acquisition from deficient soil: involvement of organic acids and acid phosphatase in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. mills sp). Ind J Plant Physiol. 19, 197–204 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-014-0101-z

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