Abstract
Symptom suggestive of molybdenum (Mo) deficiency were observed on 15 sugar-cane clones growing in the field near Hilo, Hawaii. The Mo concentration in the elongating leaf sheaths of these plants was less than 0·05 ?g/g dry weight. The symptoms were alleviated by applications of sodium molybdate at 0·56 kg/ha. Plants were hydroponically cultured to confirm that these were indeed Mo deficiency symptoms. Those plants grown in nutrient solutions lacking Mo developed similar and severe symptoms within 20 weeks and their root growth was significantly decreased. In hydroponic culture, Mo at 0·l mg/l was sufficient to satisfy the requirement of sugar-cane for Mo. In plants containing sufficient Mo the apical meristem, spindle and other immature tissues generally contained the highest concentrations of Mo and mature internodes the lowest. There was no clear pattern of Mo distribution in plants deficient in Mo.
