Deficiency Indicator in Plants

Plants that have been reported to be sensitive to manganese deficiency are apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), cherry (Prunus avium L.), cirtus (Citrus spp. L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), pea, beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), soybeans (Glycine max Merr.), raspberry (Rubus spp. L.), and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) (72-76).

Of the cereals, oats are generally regarded as the most sensitive to manganese deficiency, with rye (Secale cereale L.) being the least sensitive. However, there seems to be some discrepancy in the ranking of susceptibility to manganese deficiency of wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (77–80). This occurrence might be attributed to a large within-species genetic variation that has been reported for several species, including wheat (77,81), oats (78,82), barley (70,78), peas (83), lupins (84), and soybeans (85).

Because of their sensitivity to manganese deficiency, several species previously considered susceptible to manganese deficiency have been the focus of breeding for more efficient varieties and may therefore not be considered susceptible species in more recent publications. It is generally agreed that grasses (Gramineae, Poaceae), clover (Trifolium spp. L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are not susceptible to manganese deficiency (76,86).