Diagnosis of micronutrients deficiency in caribaean pine

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted in a green house in Piracicaba, Brazil, in order to determine the visual symptoms of deficiency, and the effects of micronutrient omission in P. caribaea var. hondurensis, P. caribaea var. bahamensis and P. caribaea var. caribaea seedling height and dry matter production. The following treatments were employed: complete, without boron, without copper, without iron, without manganese and without zinc. Washed sand was used as a substrate. The plants were watered twice a day with the corresponding nutrient solution. After the deficiency symptoms were established, the plants were cut and separated into needles, branches and roots, washed, dried at 75°C and weighed. Visual symptoms were described. Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and P.caribaea var. caribaea were more affected than P. caribaea var. bahamensis seedlings by boron omission. P. caribaea var. bahamensis and P. caribaea var. caribaea were more affected than P. caribaea var. hondurensis seedlings by copper omission. Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis was the most affected by iron omission.