Absorption and transfer of fe and mn in germinating sorghum.

The absorption of Fe from FeSO(4), FeEDTA, and FeEDDHA (ferric ethylenediaminedi (o-hydroxyphenylacetate)), and Mn from MnSO(4), MnEDTA, and MnEDDHA, by germinating sorghum (Sorghum vulgarie Pers. var. M 35-1) was studied. The seeds were found to absorb Fe and Mn from all the sources, and these ions moved to the scutellum, shoot, and root. EDDHA facilitated greater translocation of Fe and Mn from the seed to the shoot and root. The translocation of Fe was more towards the root than to the shoot, whereas it was the reverse in the case of Mn.We observed that the leaves of seedlings treated with Mn were slightly chlorotic. Further studies revealed that Mn did not affect the translocation of Fe, and possibly interfered with Fe utilization in chlorophyll synthesis.