POTENTIAL OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF PEA PLANTS (Pisum sativum L.) TO IRON DEFICIENCY (DIRECT OR LIME-INDUCED)

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important food crop in Tunisia, where calcareous soils represents the major limiting factor for agriculture production. In the present study a greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of direct and bicarbonate- induced iron deficiency on plant growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis, spad index and iron nutrition in two Tunisian pea genotypes (Pisum sativum L.). Plants were grown hydroponically and iron deficiency was induced for 3 weeks. Iron deficiency decreased all the above physiological parameters. The direct Fe deficiency is more drastic than bicarbonate- induced Fe deficiency. A close relationship between plant growth, photosynthesis and SPAD index was observed. Fe use efficiency for plant growth and Fe use efficiency for photosynthesis discriminates clearly the studied genotypes and seems to be the main reason of the tolerance of Kelvedon, as compared to Lincoln.