LEAF CONTENTS AND BIOCHEMICAL CYCING OF NUTRIENTS IN ACCESSIONS OF UMBU AND UMBU-CAJA

ABSTRACT Information is needed on the characteristics of potential accessions of Spondias tuberosa Arruda Câmara (umbu) and Spondias sp.(umbu-caja) for commercial planting and preservation. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the leaf contents and cycling of nutrients of 15 accessions of umbu and one of umbu -caja. The treatments consisted of 16 accessions: BGU-44, BGU-45, BGU-47, BGU-48, BGU-50, BGU-75, EPAMIG-01, EPAMIG-03, EPAMIG-04, EPAMIG-05, EPAMIG-06, EPAMIG-07, EPAMIG-09, EPAMIG-13, umbu of unknown origin and the umbu-caja Princesa. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted, with three replicates, consisting of one plant each. Nutrient contents in the leaves were measured in the leaf flushing and leaf senescence phases in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons, and the N, P, K and Mg retranslocation rates were determined. The accessions showed average leaf nutrient contents of 28.6, 27.6, 9.5, 4.20, 2.5 and 2.0 g kg-1 with the descending order N>Ca>K>Mg>S>P, respectively, and 103.61, 86.22, 82.12, 60.2, 16.0 and 3.52 mg kg-1 of Fe>B>Na>Mn>Zn>Cu, respectively. The accession BGU-48 had higher N and P retranslocation efficiency in the leaves and BGU-50 showed recycling efficiency for K and Mg. The order of retranslocation rates is K>P>N>Mg, being higher in the 2015/2016 season.