Effect of polyembryonic rootstocks on leaf mineral composition of five cultivars under Inceptisol

Abstract

The leaf macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations of five mango scion cultivars grown on three polyembryonic rootstock genotypes were studied during 2012–13 and 2013–14. Among the cultivars, Pusa Arunima appeared be the good accumulator for most of the nutrient elements except leaf N. Though, Amrapali seems to be the good accumulator of N and Mg but poorest accumulator of P, K, and Zn. Whereas, Mallika was good accumulator of N and Mg but poorest accumulator of Mn, Zn and Cu. Among rootstocks, Kurakkan was found potential for higher accumulation of leaf N, Ca, Mg and Zn concentrations in scion cultivars. Among different rootstock-scion combinations, leaf nitrogen (1.25%) and K (0.54%) in Pusa Arunima was observed higher on K-5 rootstock, while higher leaf N in Amrapali (1.36%) and Mallika (1.37%) were estimated on Kurakkan rootstock but Pusa Surya tree on Olour had higher leaf N (1.26%). In most of the cultivars, leaf K was higher on K-5 rootstock. Besides, higher leaf Ca in Pusa Arunima, Mallika and Dushehari were observed on K-5 rootstock, while in Amrapali and Pusa Surya, trees on Kurakkan had higher leaf Ca concentration. Similarly, leaf Mg concentration was also found higher on K-5 rootstock in Pusa Arunima, Amrapali, Mallika and Dushehari. The Pusa Arunima and Pusa Surya on Kurakkan proved its ability for leaf Fe and Mn concentrations, whereas, K-5 rootstock found superior over other rootstocks for the highest accumulations of Fe and Mn in Dushehari and Mallika. Both Kurakkan and Olour were equally effective for higher accumulation of Zn in Amrapali. Based on present study, it can also be inferred that metabolism of Kurakkan and/or K-5 is better adapted for N, K, Ca, Mn, Fe and Zn accumulation for most of the mango cultivars tested.