VIEW ARTICLE

Perchlorate in Chilean Nitrate as the Cause of Leaf Rugosity in Soybean Plants in Chile. H. Tollenaar, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla 537, Chillán, Chile; Carlos Martin B., Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla 537, Chillán, Chile, Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58102. Phytopathology 62:1164-1166. Accepted for publication 14 February 1972. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-62-1164.

Chilean sodium nitrate applications produced strongly crumpled leaves with burned tips, and reduced terminal growth of soybean plants. Potassium perchlorate, a component of Chilean nitrate, was found to be responsible for this disorder. Residues of potassium perchlorate in the soil, originating from Chilean nitrate applied in previous seasons, caused leaf rugosity in nonfertilized commercial soybean plantings. However, a light degree of perchlorate injury in field-grown soybean plants affected neither yield nor chemical composition of the seed.