Influences of Calcium Deficiency and Cerium on Growth of Spinach Plants

• Published in: Biological trace element research 2008-03, Vol.121 (3), p.266-275
• Main Authors: Chao, Liu, Bofu, Pan, Weiqian, Cao, Yun, Lu, Hao, Huang, Liang, Chen, Xiaoqing, Liu, Xiao, Wu, Fashui, Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Calcium; Calcium - metabolism; Cerium; Cerium - pharmacology; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Life Sciences; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrition; Oncology; Oxygen - metabolism; Photosynthesis; Photosynthesis - drug effects; Plant growth; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase - metabolism; Spinacia oleracea; Spinacia oleracea - drug effects; Spinacia oleracea - growth & development; Spinacia oleracea - metabolism; Studies; Trace elements; Vegetables
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-007-8054-y

The main aim of the study was to determine the role of cerium in the amelioration of calcium-deficiency effects in spinach plants. Spinach plants were cultivated in Hoagland’s solution. They were subjected to calcium-deficiency and to cerium chloride administered in the calcium-present Hoagland’s media and calcium-deficient Hoagland’s media. Within 3weeks, young leaves developed distinct calcium-deficient symptoms, and plant growth significantly inhibited to calcium deprivation as would be expected; cerium-treated groups grown in the same conditions did not develop calcium-deficient symptoms; fresh weight, dry weight and chlorophyll content of spinach plants were increased by 35.9, 45 and 64.05% compared to those of plants cultivated in calcium-deficient media. In addition, calcium deprivation in spinach plants caused the reduction of photosynthetic rate, oxygen evolution rate and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity. The reduction of activities of nitrate reductase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate synthase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase was observed under calcium-deficient media. However, cerium treatment under calcium-deficient media could significantly improve photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism of spinach plants. This is viewed as evidence that cerium added to calcium-deficient media in the spinach plants could substitute for calcium and improve spinach growth.