A study of the distribution and uptake of boron in mango fruits using neutron-capture radiography.
Loria G., Jiménez R., Gallardo M., Martini F., Thellier M.
Author Affiliation: Laboratorio de Física Nuclear Aplicada, Universidad de Costa Rica, San-José, Costa Rica.
Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences. Series 3, Sciences de la Vie 315 : 255-264
Abstract : The boron concentration in mangoes fell from 83.9 p.p.m. (DM) at the skin to 2.4 p.p.m. at 5.6 mm deep in the flesh. When drops of 10B-boric acid were placed on the surface of the fruit, boron accumulated in certain areas of the skin, apparently corresponding to skin secretory glands. The apparent coefficient of diffusion of boric acid from the zones of high boron accumulation to the interior of the fruit was about 1.6 × 10-12?m²?s-1. The results suggest that foliar application of boron-enriched solutions may be responsible for some penetration of boron into the mango fruits, although it accumulates mostly in the skin.