Amelioration of boron toxicity in sweet pepper as affected by calcium management under an elevated CO 2 concentration

Abstract

We investigated B tolerance in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuun L.) under an elevated CO₂ concentration, combined with the application of calcium as a nutrient management amelioration technique. The data show that high B affected the roots more than the aerial parts, since there was an increase in the shoot/root ratio, when plants were grown with high B levels; however, the impact was lessened when the plants were grown at elevated CO₂, since the root FW reduction caused by excess B was less marked at the high CO₂ concentration (30.9% less). Additionally, the high B concentration affected the membrane permeability of roots, which increased from 39 to 54% at ambient CO₂ concentration, and from 38 to 51% at elevated CO₂ concentration, producing a cation imbalance in plants, which was differentially affected by the CO₂ supply. The Ca surplus in the nutrient solution reduced the nutritional imbalance in sweet pepper plants produced by the high B concentration, at both CO₂ concentrations. The medium B concentration treatment (toxic according to the literature) did not result in any toxic effect. Hence, there is a need to review the literature on critical and toxic B levels taking into account increases in atmospheric CO₂.

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