Assimilação do nitrogênio em folhas de Vriesea gigantea (Bromeliaceae) durante a transição ontogenética do hábito atmosférico para o epífito com tanque

Nitrogen uptake by ornamental bromeliad during atmospheric and tank developmental stages

“…Water and nutrient uptake by two Vriesea cultivars was shown to be dependent of the growth stage; total uptake of water and nutrients (roots + trichomes) per gram of fresh weight of both cultivars was higher in young plants (Vanhoutte et al, 2017). In addition, the roots of atmospheric stage of Vriesea gigantea has an important role on nutrient uptake, while the plants develop the tank on the base of the leaves undertake the uptake function, as the roots decrease its capacity for nitrogen uptake (Takahashi, 2014). On the other hand, for Meisner et al, (2013), the changes from atmospheric to tank stage are gradual and primarily related to size and not to the abrupt switch in habit or stage.…”

“…Epiphytic tank bromeliads tend to prefer an organic nitrogen source, while terrestrial such as pineapple would prefer inorganic nitrogen (Enders andMercier, 2001, Romero et al, 2006). Atmospheric stage of V. gigantea were able to uptake and assimilate inorganic nitrogen rapidly in the 1 st hour of the experimental time, while the tank stages absorbed nitrate slowly at the end of the experiment (Takahashi, 2014). Small plants of Vriesea sanguinolenta responded more strongly to increases of water and NPK fertilizer (18-14-18, formulated with ammonium and nitrate), than larger plants (Laube and Zotz, 2003).…”