Alteraciones producidas en el maracuyá (Passiflora edulis Sims) por deficiencias de manganeso, hierro, boro y zinc

Abstract

After growing passion flower plants (Passiflora edulis Sims) for several months in nutrient solutions lacking the elements manganese, iron, boron and zinc, the resulting physiological and morphological-anatomical alterations were observed. Manganese deficiency manifested itself by rough mottling of the youngest leaves which later turned yellow. Lack of iron caused the typical fine reticulation of the dark-green reinal netwo against the chlorotic mesophyll of the youngest leaves, as found in many plants. In advanced stages the affected leaves turned rebitish, with the chlorosis coinciding with a reduction of the number of chloroplasts in the affected cells. Omission of boron caused alteration of the shoot apexes, with the terminal bud subject to necrosis, thus reducing overall growth of the plants. At the same time the youngest leaves became blootic and the cambial cells deformed and disrupted. When zinc was limiting, the youngest leaves were smaller than normal, undulated, deformed with small necrotic spots and later yellowing of the parenchyma.