Área foliar, contenido de clorofila, y masa seca de raíces en palmas de aceite (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) afectadas por el disturbio del plumero

Abstract

The plumero disorder in oil palm is characterized by an abnormality in the development of the leaf area, yellowing of young leaves, and longitudinal chlorotic strips parallel to the central rib. In this research, the leaf area of leaf 17, the specific leaf area, chlorophyll contents, and root dry mass were evaluated in an oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantation on the northern coast of Colombia to characterize the morphophysiological damage and quantify the severity of the disorder. For the statistical analysis, an ordinal regression model and analysis of variance tests were performed. The results indicated that the palm reduces its leaf area before the disorder is visually evident. Leaves became thicker and lower in chlorophyll content. There was also an increase in the tertiary and quaternary root dry mass in the initial grades. This variable decreased in the more severe grades of this disorder.