Abstract
Although cessation of growth is the most apparent symptom of boron deficiency, the biochemical function of boron in growth processes is not well understood. We propose that the action of boron in root meristems is associated with ascorbate metabolism. Total inhibition of root growth in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants transferred to boron-free medium coincided with a major decrease (up to 98%) in the ascorbate concentration of root apices. Under low-boron conditions, in which root growth was partially inhibited, ascorbate concentration declined in proportion to growth rate. The decline in ascorbate concentration in boron-deficient root tips was not related to ascorbate oxidation. Ascorbate added to the medium improved root growth in plants supplied with insufficient boron. Increasing concentrations of aluminum in the nutrient medium caused progressive inhibition of root growth and a parallel reduction in ascorbate concentration of root apices. Elevated boron levels improved root growth under toxic aluminum conditions and produced root apices with higher ascorbate concentrations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a correlation between boron nutrition, ascorbate concentration in root apices, and growth. These findings show that root growth inhibition resulting from either boron deficiency or aluminum toxicity may be a consequence of disrupted ascorbate metabolism.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
Boron-free medium totally inhibited squash root growth.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Total inhibition of root growth in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants transferred to boron-free medium coincided with a major decrease (up to 98%) in the ascorbate concentration of root apices”
Claim · model-written summary
Squash root-apex ascorbate concentration decreased by up to 98% after transfer to boron-free medium.
- Taxon
- squashe0
- Treatment
- boron-free mediume0
- Outcome
- ascorbate concentration of root apicese0
- Direction
- decreasee0
- Value
- up to 98%e0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Total inhibition of root growth in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants transferred to boron-free medium coincided with a major decrease (up to 98%) in the ascorbate concentration of root apices”
Claim · model-written summary
Under low boron, squash root growth was partially inhibited.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Under low-boron conditions, in which root growth was partially inhibited, ascorbate concentration declined in proportion to growth rate”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Under low boron, squash ascorbate concentration declined in proportion to growth rate.
Verbatim
e0“Under low-boron conditions, in which root growth was partially inhibited, ascorbate concentration declined in proportion to growth rate”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Declining ascorbate concentration in boron-deficient squash root tips was not related to ascorbate oxidation.
- Taxon
- Squasht0
- Organ / stage
- root tipse0
- Outcome
- ascorbate concentratione0
- Qualifier
- not related to ascorbate oxidatione0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“The decline in ascorbate concentration in boron-deficient root tips was not related to ascorbate oxidation”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Added ascorbate improved root growth in squash with insufficient boron.
- Taxon
- Squasht0
- Treatment
- Ascorbate added to the mediume0
- Outcome
- root growthe0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Qualifier
- insufficient borone0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Ascorbate added to the medium improved root growth in plants supplied with insufficient boron”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing aluminum progressively inhibited squash root growth.
- Taxon
- Squasht0
- Treatment
- Increasing concentrations of aluminume0
- Outcome
- root growthe0
- Direction
- inhibitione0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Increasing concentrations of aluminum in the nutrient medium caused progressive inhibition of root growth and a parallel reduction in ascorbate concentration of root apices”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing aluminum reduced ascorbate concentration in squash root apices.
- Taxon
- Squasht0
- Treatment
- Increasing concentrations of aluminume0
- Outcome
- ascorbate concentration of root apicese0
- Direction
- reductione0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Increasing concentrations of aluminum in the nutrient medium caused progressive inhibition of root growth and a parallel reduction in ascorbate concentration of root apices”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Elevated boron improved squash root growth under toxic aluminum.
- Taxon
- Squasht0
- Treatment
- Elevated boron levelse0
- Outcome
- root growthe0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Qualifier
- toxic aluminum conditionse0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Elevated boron levels improved root growth under toxic aluminum conditions and produced root apices with higher ascorbate concentrations”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Elevated boron increased squash root-apex ascorbate concentration under toxic aluminum.
- Taxon
- Squasht0
- Treatment
- Elevated boron levelse0
- Outcome
- ascorbate concentrationse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Qualifier
- toxic aluminum conditionse0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Elevated boron levels improved root growth under toxic aluminum conditions and produced root apices with higher ascorbate concentrations”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Disrupted ascorbate metabolism may explain squash root-growth inhibition under boron deficiency.
Verbatim
e0“root growth inhibition resulting from either boron deficiency or aluminum toxicity may be a consequence of disrupted ascorbate metabolism”
t0“Squash”
Claim · model-written summary
Disrupted ascorbate metabolism may explain squash root-growth inhibition under aluminum toxicity.
Verbatim
e0“root growth inhibition resulting from either boron deficiency or aluminum toxicity may be a consequence of disrupted ascorbate metabolism”
t0“Squash”
The same questions in other papers
boron atom · molecular: metabolites · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Positive and negative results
1 in the opposite direction
- no effect
aluminium atom · growth · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
- negative
boron atom · growth · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Results agree
4 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
1 paper more in this group
See all 5 papers →in vitro · growth · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Positive and negative results
2 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- positive
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.