Response of different crops to iron deficiency in soilless culture

The hydroponics experiment was conducted to evaluate response of selected crops to Fe-deficiency stress in relation with some qualitative and quantitative growth attributes. A completely randomized block design in triplicates was conducted at Isfahan University of Technology (IUT) research greenhouse in fall 2007. Sweet corn (Zea mays L. cv. Saccharata)، dent corn (Zea mays L. cv S. C704)، safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L cvs. Arak2811 and Koose)، two bread wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Backcross Roshan and Qods)، and triticale (X. triticosecale cv. elinor) were grown in a nutrient solution at two Fe levels (5 and 50 µM FeEDTA). The results indicated significant (P < 0. 01) variation among studied crops in Fe-efficiency. Safflower genotypes were more sensitive to Fe deficiency in comparison with other studied crops and the greatest reduction was observed in their shoot dry matter at 0. 5 mM FeEDTA treatment. In contrast، the lowest decrease in root and shoot dry matter weight under Fe-deficient condition was found for bread wheat genotypes Qods and Backcross Roshan. The relative sensitivity of the studied crops to Fe deficiency was wheat < triticale < safflower < corn Iron-efficiency evaluation based on different growth indices showed that Fe content in the shoot and root had significant and positive correlation with crop tolerance to Fe deficiency.