Effect of Light Intensity and Plant Size on Rate of Development of Early Boron Deficiency Symptoms in Tomato Root Tips

Abstract

Young tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller, cultivar Rutgers) grown in solution culture at 27 degrees at 2 light intensities with adequate boron (0.1 mg/l) and treated with these 2 intensities in the absence of adequate boron developed root boron deficiency symptoms. The typical deficiency symptoms of decreased root elongation, increased depth of brown color and decreased RNA content of tips developed more rapidly at high than at low light intensity, and plant size influenced results. Plants supplied with adequate boron did not exhibit deficiency symptoms.