Seasonal changes of mineral nutrients in fruit and leaves of 'Newhall' and 'Skagg's Bonanza' navel oranges

In southern Jiangxi province of China, 'Newhall' (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) navel orange presented a conspicuous symptom of boron (B) deficiency in mature leaves, whereas B deficiency symptoms were not manifested on 'Skagg's Bonanza' (C. sinensis Osbeck) navel orange. In this study, changes in concentrations of B, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were comparatively investigated in the structural parts of the fruit (rind and pulp) and leaves (old leaves from last season and spring-flush leaves from current year) of 'Newhall' and 'Skagg's Bonanza' navel orange during the growing season. Two peaks of B concentrations were observed in the rind of the two cultivars during fruitlet growth and fruit enlargement, respectively. Boron concentrations were relatively high in the rind during fruitlet growth, and then decreased in both rind and pulp, whereas, during middle and late fruit enlargement significant increases were found for B in both rind and pulp of the two cultivars. Boron concentrations in old leaves of 'Newhall' decreased progressively and remained relatively low, whereas that of 'Skagg's Bonanza' was relatively high and changed slightly as the season progresses. Both Ca and K concentrations were above the critical threshold values, while their dynamics were reverse to that of B in fruit and leaves during certain times. Old leaf Mg concentrations of samples at 140 days after full bloom from the two cultivars and spring-flush leaves from 'Newhall' were below the threshold limit for sufficiency. In addition, Mg in old leaves was much lower from 'Newhall' than from 'Skagg's Bonanza'. Spring-flush leaf concentrations of Mn and Zn and Mn concentrations in old leaves from 'Newhall' were relatively lacking during middle and late season, which accelerated the occurrence of B deficiency symptoms on mature leaves of 'Newhall.'