Study on resistance to iron deficiency in peanut cultivars and physiological traits

Resistance to Fe deficiency of 16 peanut cultivars on calcareous soils were evaluated based on filed test. The results showed that there were great differences in resistance among the 16 cultivars tested, which could be represented on SPAD value, active Fe content and the ultimate pod yield. It could be attained in the solution test that the enhancement of root iron reduction capacity was the main mechanism of peanut adapting to Fe deficiency. The highly-resistant could get the peak of Fe reduction capacity earlier and the value was bigger than that of the susceptible. There were also differences in CAT activity and the pH in solution culture.