Determination of Sensitivity of Different Cereal Species to Zinc Deficiency

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is an important mineral nutrient problem that restricts the crop yield especially that of the cereals grown in calcareous soils. This study was carried out with the aim of testing the sensitivity of various cereal species consisting of bread (BDME-10, Bezostaja), durum (Kızıltan Ç-1252) and rye (Aslım) to Zn deficiency. In experiments carried out under greenhouse conditions plants were grown at two different Zn doses (Zn 0 and Zn 5 mg kg-1). When the plants were 44 days old, Zn deficiency symptoms were observed and scored for the severity of Zn deficiency according to 1-5 scale and the plants were harvested. With respect to the severity of Zn deficiency symptoms, the most severe symptoms were observed in the C-1252 (1.0) and Bezostaja (2.0) varieties while the least mild symptoms were observed in varieties of Aslım (4.0) and Kızıltan (3.0). A distinctive increase in shoot dry matter yield has been realized with Zn application which was highest in Ç-1252 (78.8%) and BDME-10 (52.5%) varieties. Greatly differential responses have been seen to Zn deficiency among cereal species and varieties within the same species. Symptomatically and with respect to dry matter yield while durum wheat was affected severely from Zn deficiency, bread wheat was affected moderately and rye has been seen to be affected least. According to the severity of Zn deficiency symptoms and plant growth cereals which are the subject of experiment have shown a rank as as Ç1252> BDME-10> Kızıltan> Bezostaya> Aslım.