Foliar-Supplied Molybdenum Improves Phyto-Nutritional Composition of Leaves and Fruits of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of molybdenum (Mo) on the level of macronutrients (Mg, K, Ca), micronutrients (Na, Zn, B, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) and toxic elements (Cd, Sn, As, Cr, Hg, Pb) in leaves and fruit tissues (peel, pulp & seed) of loquat using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fruits were obtained from a loquat orchard located in Fujian (Yun Xiao/Zhangzhou). Loquat leaves showed 3.99, 23.90, 57.68 and 9.79-fold increase in the concentrations of Mg, K, Ca and B as affected by exogenously applied Mo, while a significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction was observed in Na, Mo, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, As, Cr, Hg, and Pb contents. In fruit peel, Mo induced 1.05, 1.56, 2.26, 1.15, 1.39, 1.30 and 1.89-fold increase in Mg, K, Na, Zn, B, Co and Ni, respectively, and Mo, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb contents were reduced. Fruit pulp showed elevated contents of Na, B, Co, Ni, and Sn by 25.65, 26.57, 70.09, 12.33 and 0.99%, respectively, and decreased concentrations of Mg, K, Ca, Zn, Mo, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Cr. Similarly, in loquat seeds, under the influence of Mo application, levels of K, Na, Zn, Fe, and Cr were uplifted by 14.75, 41.54, 12.71, 536.47 and 656.27%, respectively, while Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Cu, Sn, and Hg were reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, mineral concentrations detected in the leaves and fruit tissues of loquat were greatly influenced by the application of Mo. Although the concentration of Sn in fruit pulp was increased by the foliar application of Mo, the fruits were under safe limits for human consumption.