Variation of leaf nutrition status in relation to fruit growth in mango.
Oosthuyse S. A.
Author Affiliation: HortResearch SA, P.O. Box 3849, Tzaneen 0850, South Africa.
: 375-378
Abstract : During each of the months of October, November and December 1996 and January 1997, centrally positioned leaves on fruit-bearing terminal shoots on trees of the mango cultivars Zill, Tommy Atkins, Sensation, Heidi, and Kent were taken for analysis. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations in leaves were determined. The N, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations generally increased during the rapid phase of fruit growth, and generally decreased during the later stages of fruit development and maturation. The variation in Ca, K, N and Mn was most marked. Mg and P varied very little. The results indicate that leaf nutrient concentrations undergo flux during fruit growth, development and maturation, and that relatively pronounced differences between nutrients in the extent of variation exist.