Kinetic parameters estimation for increasing the efficiency of nutrient absorption in fruit trees

Abstract

The selection of rootstocks presenting traits of interest, such as resistance to pests and diseases, and compatibility with scion capable of producing fruits attractive to the market, has revolutionized fruit crops worldwide. However, the enormous potential of plants to be selected based on their nutrient uptake efficiency is yet to be properly explored; it can be done based on knowledge about kinetic parameters such as Influx, Maximum uptake velocity, Constant ion affinity with the carrier, and Minimum concentration. The adaptation of a methodology elaborated for annual crops to set kinetic parameters, as well as the Brazilian development of the Influx software, enabled selecting not only peach rootstocks with different nutrient uptake capacities, but also observing the influence the grafting of a particular cultivar crown has on rootstock’s ability to uptake a given nutrient from the soil. Thus, fruit tree rootstocks and cultivars can always be selected based on traits desired by fruit growers and consumers, with emphasis on yield and quality of fruits. They can also be more efficient in taking up nutrients from low natural-fertility soils that require lower nutrient amounts, a fact that increases fertilizer use rationalization and reduces environmental contamination processes resulting from excessive nutrient applications.