MINERAL COMPOSITION OF LEAVES AND FRUITS OF IRRIGATED MANGO TREES IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE, BRAZIL

In order to evaluate mineral concentrations in leaves and fruits of ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango (Mangifera indica), grown under irrigated conditions, in three different orchards of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, samples were collected at four phenological stages: vegetative growth, pre-flowering, flowering, and fruit ripening, for leaves, and at fruit ripening for fruits.
Soil samples were collected at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths.
Chemical analyses showed that there were differences in macro and micronutrient concentrations in leaves among the three orchards studied.
For almost all macronutrients, mainly nitrogen and potassium, the levels decreased with the evolution of plant phenological stages.
Except for potassium, the highest nutrient levels were registered in plants from Mossoroense zone orchard, while the lowest levels were registered in plants from Oriental Coast orchard.
Except for iron, micronutrients concentrations in leaves varied among the orchards and developmental stages.
There was a variation in mineral composition of harvested fruits at ripening stage, being potassium and calcium the nutrients at highest concentrations.

VII International Mango Symposium

A.A. Medeiros, J.R.A. Amorim, D.J. Silva, J.A. Dantas, A.G. Guerra

Mangifera indica, macronutrients, micronutrients, leaf analysis, fruit analysis, plant nutrition

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.645.50