Zinc Deficiency and Anther Development in Maize

With the onset of male reproductive phase at 28 days, zinc was withdrawn from fifty percent of maize (Zea mays L. cv. Ganga 2) plants grown in refined sand at 0.13 mg Zn liter−1. Plants from which zinc was withdrawn developed zinc deficiency symptoms in young leaves after 38 days and were low in tissue zinc. Their tassel formation and pollen development was retarded. Anthers failed to develop beyond freshly liberated young pollen grain stage and vessels were formed in place of sporogenous tissue in sixty percent anthers of the younger of the two florets. Anthers from these plants showed low zinc concentration and stimulated specific activities of catalase, peroxidase, ribonuclease and acid phosphatase. On resuming normal zinc (0.13 mg Zn liter−1) through roots to the plants from which it was withdrawn for 17 days, vegetative growth was partially renewed and short axillary buds were formed but the development of anthers remained retarded.