Souza MS

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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Patents for the Morphophysiological Quality of Seedlings and Grafted Peach Trees: Effects of Nutrient Solution and Substrates Aline G. Souza1,*, Oscar J. Smiderle2, Ricardo E. Muraro1 and Valmor J. Bianchi1 1

Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil2, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Roraima, Boa Vista, RR, Brazil Abstract: Background: This study aimed to verify the influence of different substrates with and without addition of nutrient solution on the roostocks production of Capdeboscq cultivar and grafted peach plants of 'Chimarrita' scion. Methods: In the first experiment, the height and stem diameter of the rootstocks were evaluated every two weeks, up to 90 days after transplanting (DAT). At 90 DAT, dry weight of shoots and roots, total dry mass and Dickson Quality Index were evaluated. In the second experiment, seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ were grafted with ‘Chimarrita’ scion. The growth of the scions and the percentage of living grafts were evaluated. At 146 DAT, the stem diameter of the scions, the SPAD index, the chlorophyll and nitrogen balance index were evaluated. ARTICLE HISTORY Received: August 28, 2017 Revised: March 30, 2018 Accepted: April 28, 2018 DOI: 10.2174/2212798410666180508101641

Discussion: The greatest mean values for the stem diameter of seedlings of the cv. Capdeboscq were obtained with the substrates T4 (5.53 mm); T2 (5.47 mm) and T1 (5.23 mm) with addition of nutrient solution, with seedlings reaching the plant standards according to the ordinance number 173 of May 27th of 1984, which recommends that rootstocks have to have a minimum stem diameter of 5.0 mm. Thus, the substrates which received the addition of nutrient solution, except the soil substrate, were adequate considering the rules that governing the peach tree production in Brazilian Nurserioes. Conclusion: The nutrient solution already avaliblabe for Recent patents is highly indicated to obtain seedlings of 'Capbdboscq' rootstocks with high mophophysiological quality in less time during nursery cycle of plant production. The largest stem diameter for 'Capdeboscq' was obtained with substrate 35% sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure (5.53 mm); 75% sand + 25% soil (5.47 mm) and 100% sand (5.23 mm) with addition of nutrient solution. The best morphophysiological characteristics of 'Chimarrita' plants grafted on 'Capdeboscq' seedlings was obtained with the use of substrates 75% sand + 25% soil and 35% sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure, whose plants reached a morphological standard for sale, in just four and a half months DAT, that is 56 days after grafting.

Keywords: Prunus persica, propagation, rootstock, dickson quality index, cultivars. 1. INTRODUCTION It is widely known that the use of high-quality plants is the basis to a modern and productive fruit-growing practice, since they influence the production, yield, quality of fruits, and longevity of the orchards [1]. Rio Grande do Sul is the biggest stone fruit plant producer (peach, nectarine tree and Japanese plum tree) in Brazil, nevertheless, traditionally, the plant-producing system of these species is based on grafting of the scions cultivars. However, the rootstocks are produced in the field using seeds derived for mixtures of stones of several scion cultivars coming from canning industries [2]. *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Tel: 53 99706104; E-mail: [email protected] 2212-7984/17 $100.00+.00

This kind of plant production guarantees genetic fidelity only of the scion cultivar (due to grafting), but not of the rootstock [3]. In the nursery, the adoption of the recommended and regulated procedures is vital to obtain morphological and reference standards for the production of rootstocks and grafted stone fruit trees with high quality. According to the Regulatory Ordinance [4] and Rio Grande do Sul State Norms [5], the production of grafted stone fruit trees should present sanitary quality and known genetic identity both for the rootstock and the scion cultivar. As far as the use of rootstock for production of stone fruit trees in Rio Grande do Sul is concerned, in addition to stones obtained in processing industries [6] some nurserymen have their own orchards of the cultivar Capdeboscq, aiming to utilize the seeds of this cultivar in the production of root© 2017 Bentham Science Publishers

2 Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture, 2017, Vol. 9, No. 1

stocks due to its late cycle of fruit ripening, which enables the adequate development of the embryo and, mainly, the high germination rate of seeds and good vigor of the seedlings [7]. Studies aiming to improve the quality of the produced plants, while taking into account the production norms, are essential. Thus, it is necessary that Brazilian researchers develop strategies and make information available to the nurserymen and fruit growers about the best management for stone fruit plant production under protected cultivation utilizing the different sorts of containers, substrates and fertilization. The rational use of these different productive inputs aims to reduce the time aiming to reduce the time of production of seedlings fit for planting and grafting, with high genetic and sanitary quality and with morphophysiological standards, which meet the demands for the establishment of higheryielding commercial orchards. [8] mentioned the substrate is one of the factors which influences the plantlet-producing process, with the function of guaranteeing plant development, including good root and shoot formation, and it must present a high water-holding capacity, absence of pathogens and pests, and be cheap. The use of organic materials generally present on farms is highly promising for substrate composition as they are a good alternative to the use of chemical fertilization [9], which leads more efficient use of resources and residues and greater accessibility to different types of producers. In protected cultivation, several factors may be better controlled, as for the adequate supply of mineral nutrients, the water status of the plant, pests and diseases; in addition, it allows decreasing the effect of seasonality, supporting a more balanced supply of seedlings for grafting throughout the year, besides shortening the production cycle [10, 11]. Toward this end, specific crop management practices such as the adequate supply of nutrients, that depending on the characteristics of the substrate and container used, are necessary to maximize yield and guarantee the high quality standard of the greenhouse-produced plants [12]. The quality of the grafted peach trees can be evaluated by an analysis of growth and development, using such parameters as plan height, dry mass, root/shoot ratio, stem diameter [13]. These traits can be joined into a single value through the Dickson Quality Index, allowing an estimation of survival potential of the plants, efficiency in grafting establishment and adequate post-planting development. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different substrates, with and without the addition of nutrient solution, on the growth of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings, for use as rootstocks, as well as the morphophysiological quality of the Table 1.

Solution Nutrient

Souza et al.

cultivar Chimarrita grafted onto these seedlings. 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS After the endocarp break, the seeds of the cv. Capdeboscq were stratified in moist cold (7 ºC for 21 days), and then were sown on polystyrene trays with 72 cells (114 cm3 per cell), containing substrate composed of 25% soil + 25% vermiculite + 25% medium sand + 25% commercial substrate Bioplant® (Table 1), previously sterilized by autoclaving. Two independent experiments were carried out in the current study. The first experiment was conducted in the period of September to December, 2015 with the purpose of evaluating the effect of different substrates, with and without the addition of nutrient solution, upon the morphologic parameters, and the quality of the seedlings of the cultivar ‘Capdeboscq’, produced for use as rootstocks. The second experiment was conducted from December, 2015 to February, 2016, aiming to evaluate the production of grafted plants of the ‘Chimarrita’ scion upon seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’, in different substrates with the addition of nutrient solution. 2.1. Experiment I: Patents for Production of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings for use as rootstocks Seeds from the same peach rootstocks ‘Capedeboscq’, but without endocarp, were submitted to germination. Then the seeds were disinfected with 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 5 minutes, and rinsed three times with distilled water. Later, 25 seeds were placed onto each Petri dish, containing filter paper which was moistened with 4mL of fungicide solution (Orthocid® 500 – 12mg L-1). The Petri dishes were closed, sealed with parafilm and taken to the BOD at 7 ± 0.5 ºC in the absence of light, where they remained for 23 days, a period that allowed germination of more than 90% of all the seeds. At 23 days after sowing in polystyrene trays, the seedlings presented an average height of 15cm were transplanted to plastic bags containing 2.5L of each of the following substrates: T1= 100% granulometry medium sand; T2= 75% sand + 25% soil; T3= 100% soil; T4= 35% sand +15% soil + 50% bovine manure. For each substrate, the addition and non-addition of nutrient solution, proposed by[14], was evaluated (Table 1). The physical and chemical analysis of the substrate (Table 2) was conducted in the Substrate Analysis Laboratory for Plants (LASPP), Federal University of Lavras-Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme 4 (substrates) x 2 (with and without the addition of nutrient solution), with four replications of 10

Nutrient solution composition used in the trial. N-NO3-

N-NH4+

P

K

Ca

Mg

S

mg L-1 174.0

24

39

183

CE

[Íons]

Ds m-1 142

38

52

1.84

Ionic Strength mmol L-1

26.92

21.94

Patents for the Morphophysiological Quality of Seedlings

Table 2.

Substrates

V

Al

H+Al

SB

CTC

P

-3

%

K

Ca

Mg

Zn

-3

cmolc dm

Fe

Mn -3

mg dm

mg dm

2.12

78.00

0.01

1.00

1.83

1.78

1.89

7.80

0.42

0.10

1.62

5.12

3.12

0.00

67.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.44

0.00

0.00

T2

4.25

52.00

0.10

1.00

1.36

1.23

1.32

8.70

0.16

0.00

1.52

8.04

4.96

T3

18.00

49.00

0.30

1.00

1.71

3.68

4.83

34.00

0.62

0.10

2.89

34.73

19.87

T4

16.25

62.00

0.01

1.00

1.35

2.90

1.43

9.80

0.30

0.10

2.92

4.10

4.69

T1

**

3

Chemical attributes of the substrates utilized for the production of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings (Prunus persica L. Bastch) for use as rootstocks. OM***

SS*

Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture, 2017, Vol. 9, No. 1

*SS= Substrate utilized on sowing= 25% soil + 25% vermiculite + 25% medium sand + 25% commercial substrate.**T1=100% medium sand; T2= 75% sand + 25% soil; T3= 100% soil; T4= 35% sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure. ***OM: Organic Matter; V: Base saturation; Al: Aluminium; H + AL: Potential Acidity; SB: Summation of Bases; CTC: Cation Exchange Capacity; P: Phosphorus; K: Potassium; Ca: Calcium; Mg: Magnesium; Zn: Zinc; Fe: Iron; Mn: Manganese.

plants per plot. The quantitative factors relative to plant height and stem diameter were analyzed by regression using the Sisvar Software [15]. The plants were maintained in a greenhouse with mean temperatures ranging from 18-36°C, night/day, respectively, and watered manually daily and equal among treatments, adding 50 mL of the nutrient solution proposed by [16] to three weekly watering. Every 15 days, the seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ were evaluated for plant height (using a millimeter-graduated ruler) and stem diameter (at 10cm above the substrate with aid of a digital pachymeter), until plants of three treatments reached a stem diameter mean of at least 5-6 mm. The other variables evaluated were dry mass of the roots and shoots. The roots were washed in running tap water for removal of the substrate; afterward, shoot and roots were packed in paper bags, and kiln-dried at 70 °C for 72 hours. The samples dried were weighed in a precision balance of 0.01 g for determination of the dry mass of the shoot (DMS), dry mass of the root system (DMR) and for the sum of these, the total dry mass (TDM) of the seedlings was calculated. To measure the quality of the seedlings for use as rootstocks, the Dickson Quality Index (DQI) was utilized as proposed by [17]. 2.2. Experiment II: Patents for Growth of ‘Chimarrita’ Scion Grafted on the ‘Capdeboscq’ Seedlings Ninety days after transplanting (DAT), the seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ cultivated in substrates T1, T2 and T4, with the addition of nutrient solution (as described in the first experiment) were ready for grafting, according to the peach rootstock production norms. The ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings grown in the substrate T3 (100% soil) only reached a mean of 3.33 mm of stem diameter, so they did not meet the norms of the Ordinance n° 173, of May 27th of 1984 for production of peach rootstocks, and grafting of that treatment was not carried out. Vegetative buds of the cultivar Chimarrita were used for T-budding grafting, on seedlings of the cv. Capdeboscq, at 10 cm above the substrate, followed by the partial break of the rootstock. At 20 days after grafting (DAG), the plastic tapes of the grafts were removed, and at 2 cm above the

grafting point a diagonal cut was performed. The grafts were conducted on a single stem and the growth recorded weekly. The experiment was unifactorial with three treatments (substrates T1; T2 and T4 – both with the addition of nutrient solution), in a completely randomized design with five replications. Each replication consisted of 10 plants (one in each plot). The percentage of the scion-grafts surviving was evaluated 20 days after grafting, and the height of scion recorded weekly. At 146 DAT or at 56 DAG, the variables analyzed were stem diameter, gauged at 5 cm up the grafting point, SPAD index, using a chlorophylometer model SPAD-502 (Minolta, Osaka, Japan), the chlorophyll index (CHLI) and nitrogen balance index (NBI), using a chlorophylometer (Dualex Model). The last two variables were measured between 9 and 11 a.m., on two completely expanded leaves at the apical third of the plant, on 25 plants of each plot [18]. 2.3. Data Analysis The means of the variables were statistically analysed with the Sisvar Software [19], with analysis of variance and regression for the factor time (days) and the Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05%) for the means comparisons among the variables. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1. Patents for Production of ‘Capdeboscq’ Seedlings for Use as Rootstocks At the end of the first experiment (90 DAT), the seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ grown in the substrates 75% Sand+25% Soil (T2) and 100% Sand (T1), with addition of nutrient solution, showed the highest means of seedling height, reaching 80.25 cm and 78.25 cm, respectively (Fig. 1A). In the same substrates T2 and T1, without the addition of nutrient solution, the seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ presented heights 25% shorter in relation to the seedlings grown in the same substrates T2 and T1 with addition of nutrient solution, resulting in a 27-day delay in obtaining the rootstocks fit for grafting (Figs. 1A and B), showing the importance of this


Souza et al.

Fig. (1). Mean height of the ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings cultured in different substrates T1= 100% medium sand; T2= 75% sand+25% soil; T3= 100% soil; T4= 35% sand+15% soil + 50% bovine manure with (A) or without (B) addition of nutrient solution till 90 DAT.

Fig. (2). Stem diameter of the ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings cultured in different substrates T1=100% medium sand; T2= 75% sand + 25% soil; T3= 100% soil; T4= 35% sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure with (A) or without (B) addition of nutrient solution till 90 DAT.

part is repeated, it is necessary to exclude production of rootstock cv. Capdeboscq. In the production of peach rootstocks, it is important that plants show fast growth in height, and especially in thickness of the stem diameter, in order to obtain rootstocks fit for grafting as soon as possible. According to [6] stem diameter for grafting should be between 5.0 and 10 mm. In this sense, at 90 DAT, the mean stem diameter of the seedlings ranged between 5.53 mm and 2.21 mm, with and without the addition of nutrient solution, respectively, in the different substrates (Figs. 2A and 2B). Similar to the results obtained for height, the lowest mean of stem diameter was found in the plants produced without the addition of a nutrient solution (Figs. 2A and 2B). When the orchard soil was utilized as a substrate, the seedlings display the smallest stem diameter (3.33mm) in relation to the other treatments with the addition of nutrient solution (Fig. 1A). Similar results were also found when comparing the treatments without the addition of nutrient solution (Fig. 2B).

These results confirm that the addition of nutrient solution contributes to faster plant growth, as well as to reaching the grafting point of the rootstock ‘Capdeboscq’ sooner, when grown in plastic bags in a greenhouse, similar the results of [16], who using the same nutrient solution, found 148-days time reduction to obtain the grafting point of the rootstock ‘Okinawa’, in relation to the traditional system described by [20]. According to [21], the greatest growth and best quality of the seedlings is associated with a favorable environment inside the greenhouse, due to the temperature control and adequate water and nutrient availability, enabling the seedlings faster growth, reducing the production cycle and increasing yield. The greatest mean values for the stem diameter of seedlings of the cv. Capdeboscq were obtained with the substrates T4 (5.53mm); T2 (5.47mm) and T1 (5.23mm) with addition of nutrient solution (Fig. 2A), with seedlings reaching the plant standards according to the ordinance number 173 of May 27th of 1984, which recommends that rootstocks have to have a minimum stem diameter of 5.0 mm. Thus, the



substrates which received the addition of nutrient solution, except the soil substrate, were adequate considering the established norms (Fig. 2A). Investigating the production of cloned rootstocks of the cvs. Okinawa and Flordaguard, [21] obtained the grafting point (5.0mm) at 120 days after transplanting using soilless cultivation, while under the conditions of the present study, the grafting point (5.0mm) was obtained 75 days after transplanting in substrates with the addition of nutrient solution, except when orchard soil was utilized as a substrate. This represents 45 days or 37.5% less time to obtain rootstocks fit for grafting. [1] obtained the grafting point (5.0mm) of cv. Capdeboscq seedlings at 154 days after transplanting in 4.5L plastic bags containing commercial substrate, under a protected system, requiring two months of additional growth to obtain the grafting point compared with the results obtained in the present study. In the growth of seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’, in a greenhouse and in plastic bags (4.5L), utilizing a mixture of Plantmax®/humus/rice husk as substrate, [22] reported a mean height of 46.6 cm and stem diameter of 5.0mm, 180 days after transplanting. In the present study, it was possible to confirm that use of the appropriate substrate composition, associated with a nutrient solution, in a protected environment, is an effective strategy for the production of peach rootstocks with considerable quality and in a short period of time. According to [23], quality of seedlings can be controlled by the analysis of their morphological or physiological characteristics. In Table 3 can be seen the mean squares and significance levels by F-test for the characteristics under evaluation, where the data showed a significant interaction between substrates and nutrient solution at a level of 5% probability for all the variables being studied. Good responses were clearly observed, since the dry mass of the shoot (DMS), dry mass of root (DMR) and total dry mass (TDM) of the ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings presented the highest values in the substrates with added nutrient solution, except for the substrate soil (Table 4).

Table 3.

5

The superiority of the morphophysiological parameters of the ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings is due to the use of appropriate substrates, in order to meet its demands based on its physical properties, such as water holding, aeration and aggregation of the substrate to the plants roots. Another factor which contributes to such characteristics was the use of nutrient solution, which according to [13] provides immediate availability of nutrients, as close as possible to the real plant nutritional needs. The performance of the substrate soil is due to the presence of microaggregates formed by the clay particles, which release nutrients to roots more slowly [9]. The use of alternative materials in the substrates resulted in a positive effect on the production of peach rootstocks, which can be observed when analyzing the Dickson quality index. This index is a good parameter to indicate the plantlet quality, for its calculation accounts for robustness (H/SD ratio) and equilibrium of the biomass distribution (DMS/DMR ratio), thus joining the results of several important morphological characteristics employed in the quality evaluation of the plants (24). For that index, the substrates T1 and T2, with the application of the nutrient solution, presented a seedling DQI three-fold greater, when compared with the same substrates without application of nutrient solution (Table 2). In turn, the treatment T3, without the addition of nutrient solution, presented a 0.15 DQI, which is below the minimum limit (0.24) recommended by [25]. Treatment T4, with the application of nutrient solution, presented a mean DQI value for the ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings two-fold that of the same substrate without nutrient solution. According to [25], the higher DQI, the better the quality quality of the plantlet produced. The increases provided by the addition of nutrient solution in different substrates demonstrate that the mineral nutrition of the seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ directly and positively affects the quality of the produced rootstocks. 3.2. Patents for Growth of ‘Chimarrita’ Scion Grafted on the ‘Capdeboscq’ Seedlings Ninety days after transplanting (DAT), the second step of the experiment was started, when the rootstocks of ‘Capde-

Summary of the variance analysis (Mean Squares and significance by the F test), coefficients of variation, and general means obtained for Root dry mass (RDM), shoot dry mass (SDM), total dry mass (TDM) and Dickson quality index (DQI) of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings at 90 DAT, produced in different substrates, with (CS) or without (SS) application of nutrient solution.

SV*

DF**

RDM

SDM

TDM

DQI

NS***

1

142453569.7**

818217851.2**

1.64348485E+0009**

6046085.8**

Trat***

3

27545955.3**

165987501.4**

310256913.5**

1179755.1**

NS*Trat

3

5265838.8**

34585539.5**

44994319.8**

64394.0**

Error

24

179067.6

474430.9

1149931.60

11205.7

Total

31 7.86

4.76

5.4

10.1

CV%*****

*SV: Source of Variation; **GL: Degree of Freedom; ***NS: Nutrient Solution; ****Trat: Treatments; Error: Error experimental; *****CV %: coefficient of variation.


Table 4.

Souza et al.

Root dry mass (RDM), shoot dry mass (SDM), total dry mass (TDM) and Dickson quality index (DQI) of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings at 90 DAT, produced in different substrates, with (CS) or without (SS) application of nutrient solution. RDM (g)

Substrates

SDM (g)

TDM (g)

DQI

CS

SS

CS

SS

CS

SS

CS

SS

T1**

8.8aA*

4.1bB

20.9aA

6.2cB

29.6aA

10.4cB

1.6aA

0.5bB

T2

9.1aA

2.9cB

21.6aA

13.8bB

30.7aA

16.7bB

1.7aA

0.6bB

T3

4.4bA

0.8dB

14.6bA

2.1dB

19.0bA

3.0dB

0.8bA

0.15cB

T4

8.7aA

5.3aB

21.0aA

15.4aB

28.7aA

20.7aB

1.7aA

0.8aB

Mean

7.75

3.27

19.53

9.38

27.00

12.70

1.45

0.51

CV (%)***

7.8

4.7

5.4

10.1

*Means followed by the same small letter in the column and capital in the row do not differ from one another by the Tukey test (p≤5%). **T1= 100% medium sand; T2= 75% sand + 25% soil; T3= 100% soil; T4= 35% sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure. ***CV %: coefficient of variation.

Fig. (3). Height of ‘Chimarrita’ peach scions cultured in different substrates, T1 (100% medium sand); T2 (75% sand + 25% soil) and T4 (35% of sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure) as a result of days after grafting (DAG).

boscq’ grown in the substrates T1= sand, 88%; T2= 75% sand + 15% soil and 83.5%, and T4= 35% of sand + 15% soil + 50% of bovine manure, showed a mean of 5.0 mm stem diameter and were grafted with the cv. Chimarrita. The percent of establishment of the grafts of cv. Chimarrita on the rootstock ‘Capdeboscq’ was 100% in the seedlings cultivated in substrate T1, 88% in substrate T2, and 83.5% in substrate T4, all with the addition of nutrient solution. These results are in agreement with those reported by [14] and [16] who reached percentages above 80% of establishment for Prunus persica and Pyrus ssp., respectively, under protected cultivation. The height growth of the grafts showed a linear behavior for the different substrates evaluated (Fig. 3). Since grafting was conducted at 90 DAT (December 20th, 2015), the evaluation of the grafts in height started at 21 days (January 9th , 2016) after grafting (DAG), corresponding to 111 DAT, and the measurements in height were repeated at 118, 125, 132, 139 and 146 DAT. The ‘Chimarrita’ scion reached 30 cm in height at 146, 137 and 136 DAT, for plants grown in substrates T1, T2 and T4, respectively (Fig. 3), which, in addition to the 10 cm of the rootstock, is in line with the norms of the Ordinance number 173 of May 27th of 1984 for

peach trees and should provide plantlets ready to market with at least 40 cm in height. The effect of rootstock pruning on graft survive and the growth of ‘Aurora’ and ‘Diamante’ peach trees grafted on ‘Okinawa’ rootstock was studied by [14], and they obtained plants ready for commercialization at 116 DAT. In the production of grafted plantlets of ‘Chimarrita’ peach trees, in three cultivation systems, [1] obtained grafted plants ready to market at 365 DAT. [22] evaluating the best mixture of substrates in the production of ‘Maciel’ peach trees from grafted ‘Capdeboscq’ rootstock cultivated in plastic bags (4.5 L), They obtained the best results with the mixture of Plantmax®/humus/rice husk and fertilizations carried out monthly. But, the mean in height of the plantlets of ‘Maciel’/‘Capdeboscq’ was 30.2 cm, 13 months after rootstock transplanting to plastic bags. In the present study, the period necessary for the production of grafted peach scions, with the recommended technical standards, was around four and a half months. Considering the weather conditions Southern Brazil, and in most of the regional nurseries, this period may range from 15 to 18 months [26]. Therefore, when substrate and fertilization are



7

managed adequately, the production and quality of grafted peach plantlets in a protected environment is optimized, and decrease time to obtain the plantlets with the required minimum standards.

[28] evaluated the nutritional performance of ‘Miraflores’ scions grafted onto GF 677, with addition of nutrient solution, and obtained mean values of N (33.9) and SPAD index (45.7) similar to those of the present study.

The use of the best substrates in combination with the adequate input of nutrients, under controlled climatic conditions, are factors that contribute to the fast increase in total leaf area of the plantlets. Considering that the leaves are involved in conversion of light energy into chemical energy, which will be distributed to all the plant organs, a great leaf area contributes to the fast growth and development of the plantlets [27], but in that fast growth phase, the plantlets require good availability of nutrients, especially of nitrogen.

In Brazil little is known about the morphological, physiological and nutritional aspects of Prunus persica plantlets produced in containers. According to [3] studies in the Brazilian literature that report plant nutrition, the use of different substrates and containers for the production of grafted peach trees or rootstocks until the time they are ready for grafting are still scarce. The use of substrates composed of different mixtures of materials such as bovine manure, sand and soil, with addition of nutrient solution, are sustainable alternatives aiming to decrease the costs and time for production of grafted peach trees with of high morphological quality.

In Table 5 can be seen the mean squares and significance levels by F-test for the characteristics under evaluation, where the data showed a significant between substrates at a level of 5% probability to the N balance index (NBI) and SPAD index.

CURRENT & FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS In general, the results of the present study showed that the nutritional adequacy during the stage of rapid plant growth is important to allow an adequate physiological performance. It was possible to prove the reduction of the permanence of the seedlings in nursery, reducing the costs of production, characteristic this, important for the sector of production of rootstocks and seedlings. In the national and international literature there is no knowledge of adequate nutrient solution for peach trees. The present study made possible an important contribution of information to guide

In the present study, variations in the Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI) were observed among the plants grown in different substrates (Table 6), with differences in the N absorption dynamics by the ‘Chimarrita’ peach plantlets standing out, since 50 to 70% of the total leaf N is a part of the enzymes and pigments which are associated with the chloroplasts [27]. Plants grown in substrate T2 and T4 showed the greatest mean values of stem diameter of the grafts, nitrogen balance index and chlorophyll index when compared with the substrate sand (Table 6). Table 5.

Summary of the variance analysis (Mean Squares and significance by the F test), coefficients of variation, and general means obtained for graft stem diameter (SD, mm), N balance index (NBI), chlorophyll index (CHLI), SPAD index of the grafted ‘Chimarrita’ peach plantlets cultivated with addition of nutrient solution at different substrates in greenhouse at 146 DAT. SV*

GL

SD

NBI

CHL

SPAD

SB**

2

0.0804ns

24.7128*

4.4326ns

12.4008*

Error***

12

0.0452

4.0355

4.5649

2.8377

Total

14 6.18

6.06

6.80

3.77

CV%****

*SV: Source of Variation; **GL: Degree of Freedom; ***SB: Substrate; Error: Error experimental; ****CV %: coefficient of variation.

Table 6.

Mean values of the graft stem diameter (SD, mm), N balance index (NBI), chlorophyll index (CHLI), SPAD index of the grafted ‘Chimarrita’ peach plantlets cultivated with addition of nutrient solution at different substrates in greenhouse at 146 DAT. Substrates

SD

NBI

CHLI

SPAD

T1**

3.35

a*

33.18

b

31.12

a

43.55

b

T2

3.58

a

34.67

a

30.67

a

46.48

a

T4

3.38

a

35.01

a

32.48

a

44.00

ab

Mean

3.43

34.28

31.42

44.67

CV(%)***

6.18

6.06

6.80

3.77

*In the column, means followed by the same letter do not differ from one another by the Tukey test (p≤5%).** T1 (100% sand); T2 (75% sand + 25% soil) and T4 (35% of sand + 15% soil + 50% of bovine manure). ***CV %: coefficient of variation.


the nutritional management of peach plants during the production phase of the seedlings.

Souza et al.

[9]

CONCLUSION 1.

The orchard soil is not suitable as a substrate for the production of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings for use as rootstocks, in plastic bags in greenhouse.

[10]

2.

The addition of nutrient solution to the substrates 100% of medium sand, 75% sand + 25% soil, and 35% of sand+ 15% soil + 50% bovine manure is appropriate for production of ‘Capdeboscq’ seedlings, for use as rootstocks.

[11]

3.

The best morphophysiological characteristics of ‘Chimarrita’ peach trees grafted on seedlings of ‘Capdeboscq’ can be obtained by using substrates 75% sand + 25% soil and 35% sand + 15% soil + 50% bovine manure, providing grafted plantlets ready for commercialization in four and a half months.

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

[12] [13]

[14] [15]

[16]

Not applicable. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

[17] [18]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

[19]

Funding for this study were provided by CNPq and CAPES

[20] [21]

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