Redistribution of potassium, boron, iron, magnesium and calcium in apple trees determined by an indirect method

Abstract

AbstractThe intensity of the process of redistribution of the elements potassium, boron, iron, magnesium and calcium was determined by following the rate of accumulation of these elements into the fruits of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees. The determination is based on the assumption that the process of primary distribution via the xylem becomes relatively unimportant with respect to supply along the phloem during the period of fruit growth. Thus a decreasing rate of accumulation for a phloem‐immobile and xylem‐mobile element will be seen during this period of growth, while an element which is mobile in both pathways will give a linear rate of accumulation when the supply by the root does not alter too much.In addition, the ratios of the contents in fruits and leaves were used as an indicator of the relative mobility in redistribution.In these experiments with apple, potassium and boron showed a high mobility. Magnesium and especially calcium showed a much lower mobility in redistribution than in the primary rate of supply. Iron was intermediary. The results, especially for boron and magnesium, are in contradiction to some of the data in the literature. Further studies are needed before these contrasting results can be explained.