Biomass Accumulation and Nutritional Status in Seedlings of Agam, Omer and Shelly Mango Cultivars as a Function of the Rootstock

Abstract

Suitable mango rootstock selection has directly influenced plant mineral composition and vigor in the field. However, little is known about this in relation to mango cultivars in the São Francisco Valley region of Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the dry matter accumulation and nutritional status of three Israeli mango seedling types ('Shelly', 'Omer', and 'Agam') grafted onto 'Coquinho' and 'Espada' rootstocks. The experiment was carried out between December of 2020 and April of 2021 in a nursery on the Agricultural Sciences Campus of the Federal University of São Francisco. It utilized a 3 × 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to the three Israeli mango cultivars as a scion and two rootstocks. Treatments were distributed in randomized blocks, with three replications and ten plants per plot. At 135 days after grafting, the dry matter and leaf nutritional status of the macronutrients, micronutrients, and sodium were evaluated. Seedlings with the Espada/Agam and Espada/Omer combinations showed greater vigor for transplanting in the field. The nutritional status of Israeli cultivars is not influenced only by the rootstock but also by the rootstock/rootstock combination, with higher nutritional concentrations for 'Espada' with 'Agam' and 'Omer', as well as 'Coquinho' with 'Shelly'. Properly choosing the rootstock and scion for Israeli mango seedling formation can improve management in the field, mainly in terms of plant nutritional needs.