Diagnosis of copper deficiency in wheat by plant analysis

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Abstract
A glasshouse experiment was conducted to define critical concentrations of Cu in young leaves of wheat and to investigate the effect of water stress after anthesis on the relationship between yield and Cu concentrations in young leaves. The concentration of Cu in the youngest fully emerged leaf was a sensitive and accurate indicator of the Cu status of wheat. The critical concentration for Cu in the youngest fully emerged leaf did not change with the age of the plant. Cu deficiency occurred whenever the concentration of Cu in the youngest fully emerged leaf fell below 1.3 .mu.g g-1 (dry weight). Water stress after anthesis did not change the relationship between Cu concentrations in young leaves and grain yield, although this stress markedly decreased grain yield. In the field there was considerable variability among plants given the same Cu treatment in Cu concentrations in young leaves. Whenever Cu deficiency decreased growth, the average concentration of Cu in the youngest fully emerged leaf was < 1.3 .mu.g g-1.