Iron deficiency effects on tomato plant growth and development

¶ … iron an essential nutrient for normal growth in tomato plants?

Iron plays a role in chlorophyll synthesis, with chlorophyll responsible for creating energy for the plant. This suggests that without iron, a plant will not have the chlorophyll and hence the energy for normal growth to occur.

If a plant receives all essential nutrients except Iron, growth will be reduced, leaf color will be effected and leaf necrosis will be observed, as compared to a plant that receives all essential nutrients.

Materials and Methods

Materials:

Two labelled brown two-liter jars with lids.

Calcium nitrate stock solution.

Potassium nitrate stock solution.

Magnesium sulfate stock solution.

Potassium phosphate stock solution.

EDTA Iron III stock solution.

Trace elements stock solution.

Distilled water.

Two tomato plants.

Cotton.

Tape.

Ruler.

Methods

Obtain two brown two-liter jars and label one as the control and one as the Fe-deficient plant.

2. Plunge each of the six stock solutions into the control jar.

3. Plunge each of the stock solutions EXCEPT the EDTA Iron III into the Fe-deficient plant jar.

4. Add distilled water to the stock and Fe-deficient plant to bring the water level to within 1 cm of the top of the jar.

5. Obtain two young tomato plants and place one in each of the jars, being sure not to damage the roots.

6. Wrap the plant stem in cotton, attach the lid and use tape to cover the hole in the lid to avoid moisture loss. Ensure the plant is secure.

7. Observe each plant and record leaf color, leaf necrosis and stem height.

8. Place the plants in the greenhouse.

9. Repeat the observations after 7, 14 and 21 days and record results.

III. Results

Table of Observations (individual plants #3473):

Start (Day 0) Day 7 Day 14 Day 21

Control Plant:

stem height 2.3-6.0-20.0-41.5 leaf color some dead spots N/C N/C N/C young leaves) leaf color N/C N/C N/C N/C old leaves) leaf necrosis N/C N/C N/C N/C young leaves) leaf necrosis N/C N/C N/C N/C old leaves)

Fe-deficient Plant:

stem height 5.0-5.5-9.0-12.0 leaf color some dead spots N/C whole leaf young leaves) chlorosos chlorosis leaf color N/C N/C N/C N/C old leaves) leaf necrosis N/C N/C N/C N/C young leaves) leaf necrosis N/C N/C N/C N/C old leaves)

Stem height results (individual plants #3473):

Start (0 day) Day 7 Day 14 Day 21

Control Plant:

stem height 2.3-6.0-20.0-41.5

Fe-deficient Plant:

stem height 5.0-5.5-9.0-12.0

Graph of stem height results (individual plants #3473):

Stem height results (class average):

Start (0 day) Day 7 Day 14 Day 21

Control Plant:

stem height 5.2-12.9-23.7-43.4

Fe-deficient Plant:

stem height 4.9-12.2-20.1-32.1

Graph of stem height results (individual plants #3473):