Seasonal Changes in Zinc and Water-soluble Phenolics in the Outer Trunk Wood of Healthy and Blight-affected Sweet Orange Trees

Abstract

Abstract Healthy ‘Valencia’ and blight-affected ‘Pineapple’ orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] trees, both on rough lemon [C. limon (L.) Burnì, f.] rootstock, had a seasonal pattern of higher Zn in the outer 2.5 cm of the trunk wood in the winter and lower Zn in the summer. The 5-year means for the ‘Valencia’ trees were 5 ppm Zn in February and 3 ppm Zn in July; the blighted ‘Pineapple’ trees contained 21 and 16 ppm Zn (2-year means), respectively. There was no clear seasonal pattern for water-soluble phenolics.