Phosphorus Deficiency Essay

Synopsis

Title of the project

Effects of phosphorus deficiency on transport of ions and its relation with anatomical structure in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv Barichhola – 5) seedlings.

Introduction
Phoshorus (P) is an essential element of plant nutrition, bioavailable forms are present in limited amounts in most soils (Schachtman et al. 1998; Raghothama 1999; Vance et al. 2003). It is generally considered as the second most limiting nutrient after N for plant growth. The acid-weathered soils of tropics and sub-tropics are particularly prone to P-deficiency. The World Phosphate Institute classified 65% of 500 soil samples collected from 42 countries in the tropics as acutely deficient in phosphorus (Koala et al. 1988). The available P in Bangladesh soils could be considered to be between low and medium. About 20.7% area was reported to be predominantly low in available P and 21.2% was medium in available P which is limiting crop production. Plants grown in phosphorus deficient soil secrete organic acid,viz. α-ketoglutaric acid, malic acid. These acids change the pH of the soil which is a regulatory factor of ion transport. Phosphorus deficiency decreased K+ accumulation in white lupins (Shen et al. 2005), Ca2+ accumulation in plants (Sas et al. 2001) decreased concentration of phosphate in leaves of bean (Gniazdowska et al. 1999). The reports on the effect of phosphorus deficiency on ion transport in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. ) is rare. Hence, chickpea is chosen as a plant material.

Aims and objectives of the research work
The proposed research work will comprise the effect of phosphorus deficiency on:
1. Accumulation and distribution of K+, Na+, Cl-, NO3- , PO43- and sugar in plant;
2. The effect of phosphorus deficiency on anatomical structure and
3. The correlation between phosphorus deficiency on ion transport with its effects on