The influence of rootstock on the mineral composition of scion leaves of fruit trees is generally accepted. The present work was carried out to corroborate if this influence is also evident for the mineral nutrient concentrations in flowers. The study was made in an experimental orchard of sweet cherry (Prunus avium, L. cv. 'Van') grafted on three rootstocks: Adara, SL 64 and Cok. Flowers and leaves were sampled at full bloom and 60 days after fuil bloom (DAFB) respectively. They were analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). Floral analysis showed that most nutrients were affected by the rootstock. P and Ca, contents behaved similarly for cherry flower and leaf 60 DAFB. The range of variation of K, Mg, and Cu in flowers, among rootstocks, was shorter than that of leaves. In contrast, the range of variation of Na, Zn, and especially Fe, in flowers was longer than that of leaves.

Floral analysis could be considered as an alternative versus foliar analysis to diagnose the nutritional status of fruit trees. Taken into account the importance of the dry matter percentage of any plant tissue, preliminary results about fresh and dry weights of flowers from different fruit species are presented in this study. For this purpose, whole flowers (without stalk) at full bloom were sampled from different fruit species grown at the Aula Dei Campus. The fruit tree groups considered for these studies were: almond, apple, apricot, nectarine, peach, pear, plum, sour cherry and sweet cherry. For the last group, three varieties: (Sunburst, Tardif de Vignole and Van) were studied. Significant differences, among groups, for fresh weights, dry weights and dry matter percentages were found.