Opposite Alluminum and Manganese Tolerances of Two Wheat Varieties

Acid soil and solution culture studies showed that ‘Atlas 66’ wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from North Carolina was more tolerant to excess Al but less tolerant to excess Mn than ‘Monon’ wheat from Indiana. In greenhouse pots of Al-toxic Bladen soil (pH 4.6 to 5.1) the top yields of Atlas 66 were significantly higher (5% level) than those of Monon; liming the soil to pH 5.8, however, equalized top yields of the two varieties. In Mn-toxic Zanesville soil (pH 4.7 to 5.2) the varietal yield difference was just the reverse. At pH 5.2 the tops of Monon plants had fewer leaf symptoms (rolling and chlorotic spots) and yielded significantly more than those of Atlas 66; at pH 5.9 or 6.9, however, the two varieties were not significantly different in top yield. In nutrient solutions containing between 4 and 32 ppm Mn at pH 4.6 the tops of Monon showed fewer leaf symptoms of Mn toxicity and yielded significantly more than those of Atlas 66, but with O or 2 ppm Mn added, the top yields of the two varieties were not significantly different. With Mn levels of 2 to 32 ppm, Monon root yields were significantly higher than those of Atlas 66, but with no Mn added the two root yields were not significantly different. At all Mn levels of 2 to 32 ppm in solution both tops and roots of Monon contained higher Mn concentrations than those of Atlas 66, but Monon plants showed less injury. For example, in Monon tops 2,561 ppm Mn was associated with a yield reduction of 12%. In Atlas 66 tops 1,250 ppm Mn (the highest concentration reached in Atlas 66) was accompanied by a yield reduction of 21%. In Monon roots 8,534 ppm Mn was associated with a root yield reduction of 20%, but 7,172 ppm Mn in Atlas 66 roots coincided with a 45% reduction in root yield. Tolerance to one acid soil factor in a given plant genotype does not necessarily mean tolerance to another.