Effects of boron deficiency and calcium supply on the calcium metabolism in tomato plant

Summary Tomato plants were grown in water-culture with a different supply of Ca (10, 100 ppm) and B (0, 0.2 ppm), and the effects of B deficiency on the translocation and subcellular distribution of Ca in tomato plants were studied by using⁴⁵CaCl₂ as a carrier of Ca. Boron deficiency slight increased the total Ca uptake by the plant and inhibited the Ca translocation to the upper leaves. The incorporation of⁴⁵Ca into the cell wall in the upper leaves was increased by B deficiency at both Ca levels. As Ca supply decreased, the distribution of⁴⁵Ca in the 1N NaCl fraction of the cell wall increased only at 0.2 ppm B. As B supply decreased, the distribution of⁴⁵Ca in the 0.6N HCl fraction increased at both Ca levels. These results suggest that B deficiency inhibit the translocation of Ca, and induce the abnormal changes of the Ca metabolism in the cell wall.