Effect of Root Culturing and Fertilizers on Biochemical and Nutrient Parameters of Seedling Roots of <I>Ulmus villosa</I>, Brandis ex Gamble

Abstract

Conditioning treatments viz. undercutting and wrenching significantly influenced all the studied root biochemical parameters (proline content, peroxidase activity, total sugars, starch and carbohydrates). Values exhibited an increasing trend with decrease in undercutting depth and increase in wrenching frequency. Application of ammonium nitrate and single super phosphate as nitrogen and phosphorus sources of fertilization, respectively failed to show much effect on these parameters. The increase in stress imposed by undercutting depth × wrenching frequency interaction also manifested effect on these physiological parameters. In general, the nutrients N, P, K, Ca, and Mg content in roots increased with increase in stress level. The fertilizer application following undercutting and wrenching treatments also influenced the root nutrient concentration significantly.