Effect of EDTA-assisted copper uptake on photosynthetic activity and biomass production of sweet Sorghum

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. Róna) is a widely grown sugar crop that is used for bioenergy production. Since sorghum shows increased sensitivity to nutrient deficiency, the objective of this study was to reach an appropriate Cu level in plant tissues using various concentrations of Cu and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in order to enhance the photosynthetic activity and biomass production of plants. Copper accumulation increased in the root and stem of plants irrigated for 12 weeks with 0.1 μM CuCl ₂ both in the presence and absence of 300 μM EDTA and as a consequence, the plant-available Cu concentration in the soil extracts was lower at harvest. Although the copper content of leaves slightly increased, the transport of Fe and Mn, the microelements participating in light reactions of photosynthesis was negatively affected. In spite of this, 0.1 μM CuCl ₂ alone and with 200 or 300 μM EDTA enhanced the maximal CO ₂ assimilation rate (A ₘₐₓ) as a function of photon flux density (PPFD) and increased soluble sugar content in all plant parts. The dry mass of plants especially that of stems increased very significantly after 0.1 μM CuCl ₂ + 300 μM EDTA treatment. These results show that non-toxic concentration of copper in combination with suitable concentration of EDTA can enhance photosynthesis, biomass production, sugar content and the total copper accumulation in the shoot of sweet sorghum plants.