Response of Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) Plant at Early Growth Stage to Mutual Effects of Boron and Potassium

As regards the interaction between boron (b) and potassium (k), there is a limited knowledge, and the nature of this complex interaction is still clearly unknown. the main objective of the present study was to assess the mutual effects of b and k on plant growth, membrane permeability and mineral nutrition of cape gooseberry (physalis peruviana l.) in greenhouse natural light conditions. for this purpose, four levels of b (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg kg^-1) and three levels of k (0, 200, and 400 mg kg^-1) were treated to soil. however, whether k supply to the soil or not, plants withered within a few days at the highest b level caused by b toxicity. supplied k to the soil had a significant positive effect on plant growth, indicating that k addition partially alleviated the reduction of shoot dry weight caused by b toxicity. moreover, inhibitory effect of k on excess b appeared in shoot more than in roots. b and k applications increased significantly b and k contents in shoot of cape gooseberry plants as well as b uptake. also, the contents of k, phosphorus (p), iron (fe), sodium (na), and b in shoot of cape gooseberry increased with supplied b in the absence of k, but calcium (ca) and magnesium (mg) contents decreased. the contents of p, ca, and mg decreased with supplied k in the absence of b, but na content enhanced. it was concluded that there might be an accumulative effect due to plant growth reduction caused by b toxicity in cape gooseberry plant and also synergism related to plant absorption of b and k.