Journal
PLANTS-BASEL
Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/plants9040483
Keywords
Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus; citrus greening; essential nutrients; root length density; root lifespan; soil pH
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Understanding citrus tree root development and dynamics are critical in determining crop best nutrient management practices. The role of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and boron (B) on huanglongbing (HLB) affected citrus trees' root growth and lifespan in Florida is not fully documented. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the impact of foliar and ground-applied essential nutrients on seasonal fine root length density (FRLD; diameter (d) < 2 mm) and coarse roots (d > 2 mm), FRLD dynamics, root survival probability (lifespan), and root-zone soil pH of HLB-affected sweet orange trees. Results indicated that Ca treated trees budded on Cleopatra (Cleo) and Ca and Mg combined treatments on Swingle (Swc) rootstocks significantly increased seasonal FRLD of fine (< 2 mm) and coarse roots. The highest median root lifespan of Ca treated trees was 325 and 339 days for trees budded on Cleo and Swc rootstocks, respectively. In the second study, the coarse roots showed a significantly higher reaction to the nutrition applied than the fine roots. Meanwhile, the 2x (1x foliar and 1x ground-applied) treated trees showed a significantly higher median root lifespan compared to the other treatments. Thus, the current study unwraps future studies highlighting the combined soil and/or foliar application of the above nutrients to stimulate FRLD and improve root lifespan on HLB-affected sweet oranges with emphasis on root-zone soil pH.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available