Rootstocks-scion relations have critical consequences about nutritional status, tree vigour, resistance to pest and pathogens, yield and yield quality. In this study, we therefore investigated seasonal variations of leaf mineral nutrient concentrations in Satsuma mandarin's cvs. 'Okitsu', 'Clausellina' and 'Silverhill' budded on different citrus rootstocks under Dortyol-Hatay, Turkey ecological conditions. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and K (potassium) concentrations of the leaves showed slightly similar trend each other, in general these nutrients reduced from January to March-April, and increased during the growing season until mid- and late summer, then decreased until December. Despite rootstocks did not significantly affect the leaf N, P and K concentrations rootstock-scion relation was pre-eminent and nutrient dependent. Most conspicuous scion dependent changes were recorded for K concentration whereas P concentration was little influenced. In terms of scion-rootstock combination, the range of N and K concentrations were 2.11% ('Okitsu'/sour orange) to 2.34% (Silverhill/sour orange), and 1.09% ('Okitsu'/Carrizo citrange) to 1.39% ('Clausellina'/Carrizo citrange), respectively; but P concentrations were highly similar %0.13 ('Okitsu'/sour orange) - %0.16 ('Clausellina'/Carrizo citrange), in the entire growing season. It can be concluded that there are considerable differences in nutrient uptake ability of scion-rootstock combination.
<p>Rootstocks-scion relations have critical consequences<br />about nutritional status, tree vigour, resistance to<br />pest and pathogens, yield and yield quality. In this study,<br />we therefore investigated seasonal variations of leaf mineral<br />nutrient concentrations in Satsuma mandarin’s cvs. ‘Okitsu’,<br />‘Clausellina’ and ‘Silverhill’ budded on different citrus<br />rootstocks under Dörtyol-Hatay, Turkey ecological conditions.<br />Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and K (potassium)<br />concentrations of the leaves showed slightly similar trend<br />each other, in general these nutrients reduced from January<br />to March–April, and increased during the growing<br />season until mid- and late summer, then decreased until<br />December. Despite rootstocks did not significantly affect<br />the leaf N, P and K concentrations rootstock-scion relation<br />was pre-eminent and nutrient dependent. Most conspicuous<br />scion dependent changes were recorded for K concentration<br />whereas P concentration was little influenced. In terms of<br />scion-rootstock combination, the range of N and K concentrations<br />were 2.11% (‘Okitsu’/sour orange) to 2.34% (Silverhill/<br />sour orange), and 1.09% (‘Okitsu’/Carrizo citrange)<br />to 1.39% (‘Clausellina’/Carrizo citrange), respectively; but<br />P concentrations were highly similar %0.13 (‘Okitsu’/sour<br />orange) – %0.16 (‘Clausellina’/Carrizo citrange), in the entire<br />growing season. It can be concluded that there are considerable differences in nutrient uptake ability of scion-rootstock<br />combination.</p>