Leaf nutrient content on seven plum cultivars with grafted by budding or own-rooted trees

Abstract

Abstract Several studies have been conducted in Brazil with rooting of plum scion cultivars, however, it is not known the performance and benefits of own-rooted trees at field. This study aimed to evaluate the leaf nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B) in seven Japanese plum cultivars (Prunus salicina) on the 2nd and 3rd year after field planting, whose nursery trees were produced by “T-inverted” budding method over ‘Capdeboscq’ peach (P. persica) or by own-rooted hardwood cuttings. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, factorial 7 x 2 (cultivars x nursery tree types), with five replicates of one tree per plot. We conclude that leaf nutrient content of Japanese plums varies among cultivars; however there is no cultivar that stands out in all macro and micronutrients evaluated. K, Ca and Mn leaf contents, when affected by nursery tree types tested, were always higher in own-rooted trees. However, Mg leaf contents, when affected by nursery tree types tested, were always higher in budded trees on ‘Capdeboscq’ peach. Own-rooted plum trees of ‘Amarelinha’, ‘Blood Plum’, ‘Pluma-7’ and ‘Reubennel’ presented higher Mn leaf contents, in relation to budded trees of these cultivars on ‘Capdeboscq’. Own-rooted ‘Cerejinha’ plum trees have highest K leaf content and also increase the agronomic interpretation class in relation to the budded trees of this cultivar on ‘Capdeboscq’.