Effect of light intensity on manganese toxicity symptoms and callose formation in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

In cowpea typical Mn toxicity symptoms are brown speckles on mature leaves representing depositions mainly in the cell walls and formation of non-constitutive callose. The histochemical characterization of the brown speckles indicates the presence of oxidized Mn. However, the reducing agent hydroxylamine hydrochloride only slightly while thioglycolic acid almost completely decolorized the speckles. Brown boron-deficient roots treated with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and thioglycolic acid showed the same pattern of decoloration suggesting that the brown color of the Mn toxicity symptoms derives mainly from oxidized phenolics. To evaluate the effect of light on the formation of brown speckles by high Mn concentrations and non-constitutive callose in leaves, three approaches were used: (i) comparison of shaded and unshaded plants at different Mn supplies via the roots, (ii) local application of Mn to leaves in the light and in the dark, (iii) local application of Mn to leaves in the dark with subsequent light and dark treatments. Shading of whole plants (i) aggravated formation of both brown speckles and callose at similar Mn concentrations in the leaves. When the Mn application and the light treatments were locally confined (ii, iii), light had no effect on formation of either brown speckles or callose. The present results are in contradiction to the available reports in the literature showing aggravation of Mn toxicity by high light intensities.