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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Alterations in ash and mineral nutrition of leaves and shoots of Rumex maritimus under Ustilago parletoreii infection
Authors
O. Noyon Singh, A Kikim, C. Niranjan
Abstract
The present investigation evaluates changes in ash content and mineral composition
in leaves and shoots of Rumex maritimus during infection by Ustilago
parletoreii at different developmental stages (pre-flowering, flowering,
pre-sporulation, young sporulation, mature sporulation, and spore stage). Ash
content in leaf tissue increased from 10.19% in the pre-flowering control to a
maximum of 14.95% during mature sporulation, while shoot ash content rose from
10.77% to 12.81% over the same stages, indicating enhanced accumulation of
inorganic constituents during fungal development. Potassium content in leaves
declined from 16.46 mg/50 mg ash at the pre-flowering stage to 10.27 mg/50 mg
ash during young sporulation, followed by a marked increase to 20.93 mg/50 mg
ash at mature sporulation and 22.80 mg/50 mg ash in spores. A similar trend was
observed in shoots, with potassium reaching 22.80 mg/50 mg ash in the spore
stage. In contrast, calcium content showed a continuous decline with disease
progression, decreasing in leaves from 1.46 mg/50 mg ash in the pre-flowering
control to 0.53 mg/50 mg ash at mature sporulation, and in shoots from 1.45 to
0.62 mg/50 mg ash. Ferric iron content remained relatively stable during
vegetative and early sporulation stages (≈1.01–1.15 mg/50 mg ash) but declined
sharply in the spore stage to 0.19 mg/50 mg ash in both tissues. Phosphorus
content decreased steadily with infection, falling in leaves from 3.45 mg/50 mg
ash at pre-flowering to 1.03 mg/50 mg ash at mature sporulation, and in shoots
from 2.59 to 0.91 mg/50 mg ash. The results demonstrate that U. parletoreii
infection causes pronounced, stage-dependent disruption of mineral homeostasis
in R. maritimus, with more pronounced alterations in leaf tissues than
shoots, particularly during sporulation.
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Pages:180-183
How to cite this article:
O. Noyon Singh, A Kikim, C. Niranjan "Alterations in ash and mineral nutrition of leaves and shoots of <i>Rumex maritimus</i> under <i>Ustilago parletoreii</i> infection". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 180-183
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