Flower and Foliar Analysis for Prognosis of Sweet Cherry Nutrition: Influence of Different Rootstocks

Abstract

This research was aimed to study the interest of flower analysis as a tool for the prognosis of nutritional deficiencies on cherry trees and confirm the influence of rootstock on the mineral uptake by tree. This type of diagnosis is compared with foliar analysis. The trial was established on a calcareous clay-loam soil, where 'Sunburst' cultivar on eight rootstocks: CAB 6P, CAB 11E, Masto de Montaana 9 (MM 9), MaxMa 14, MaxMa 97, GM 61/1 (Damil), Colt and Sainte Lucie GF 64 (SL 64). The mineral elements analyzed were nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), sodium (Na), and copper (Cu). Rootstock influence on mineral nutrient uptake was observed for all mineral elements studied in flowers and for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Cu in leaves. The N, Ca, and Mn concentrations in flowers and leaves were significantly correlated, being more noticeable the correlation between leaf and flower Mn concentration (r = 0.86; p ≤ 0.01). A significant correlation was also found between the yield of the following year and element concentration in leaves. In general, the P. cerasus rootstocks (CAB 6P, CAB 11E, and MM 9) showed values of leaf mineral elements more adequate, and also higher values of leaf chlorophyll concentration.