Effect of calcium and magnesium on65zinc absorption and translocation in rice seedlings

Abstract
Effect of calcium and magnesium on zinc absorption by 21‐day‐old rice seedlings and its translocation within the plants was studied in the nutrient solution culture using radioactive zinc. The concentrations of the elements in the nutrient solution were 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 μM zinc and 0, 10 and 20 mM calcium and magnesium. Absorption of 65zinc was studied for 30, 60 and 90 minutes and translocation for 24 hours. Zinc absorption increased with time and increased zinc concentration in the nutrient solutions. Addition of calcium and magnesium reduced zinc absorption by rice seedlings by about 60 and 90% respectively at a concentration of 20 mM. The nature of inhibition of both calcium and magnesium on zinc was non‐competitive as indicated by Michaelis constants. A large fraction of zinc absorbed remained in roots and only 5.3% was translocated to shoots even at 2.0 #GMM zinc concentrations in solution. The effect of cations on translocation of 65zinc within rice seedlings was more at lower( 0.5 μM zinc) than at higher (2.0 μM zinc) concentrations.