Iron‐deficiency stress response in crop plants: An examination in linseed cultivars

A few important cultivars of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) were subjected to Fe‐deficiency stress by growing them in plus/ minus Fe‐nutrient regimes. It was found that cultivars LMH‐42, PBN‐12, S‐36 and SPS‐77 were able to reduce the pH of the minus Fe‐nutrient medium from 6 to about 3.8 during 4‐6 days, developed varying degrees of chlorosis, and recovered after 9 days. The cultivar LMH‐300 and T‐397 developed chlorosis after 6 days, but did not recover completely. On this basis, these two cultivars are considered as Fe‐chlorosis susceptible. Studies further revealed that the amount of Fe absorbed and translocated from different concentrations of Fe were significantly less in T‐397 than in other cultivars, an evidence which can be related to the susceptibility of this cultivar to Fe chlorosis. Externally supplied caffeic acid or dibutyl phthalate did not affect the chlorosis in LMH‐300. The chemical excreted by the Fe‐efficient linseed is perhaps different from those identified in other crop species.