Despite extensive research on P–Zn interaction in
wheat, it has still not been clarified which of these
mechanisms is primarily responsible for the observed
negative effects of high P applications on the tissue Zn
levels. An improved understanding of this phenomenon
may also have important implications for Zn
biofortification efforts in cereals. In order to test the
hypothesis that P-induced Zn deficiency is mycorrhiza-
dependent, P effects on tissue Zn concentrations were
investigated both in autoclaved vs. non-autoclaved soil.
The same interaction was also examined in solution
culture, which is free from AM activity. In addition,
the effect of increasing P treatments on the root uptake
and root-to-shoot translocation of Zn in the absence of
AM was studied in solution culture by using the stable
70Zn isotope. To our knowledge, this is the first study
where the P–Zn interaction was examined in soil- and
hydroponically-grown wheat at the same time.