Liming and Phosphating on growth, nutritional status and mycorrhizal colonization of yellow strawberry guava

ABSTRACT:

Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanumm Sabine) is a species native to southern Brazil which exhibits significant potential for economic exploitation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth response of strawberry guava subjected to liming and phosphate fertilizer in pre-planting. The treatments consisted of four lime levels: 0; 33.3; 66.6 and 100 % of the dose needed to increase the pH in water to 6.0, and four phosphorus (P) doses: 0; 83.3; 166.6 and 250 kg ha^–1 of P₂O₅. Plant growth parameters were evaluated for three years. In the years 2018 and 2019, the mineral composition of leaves, photosynthethic pigment indices and mycorrhizal colonization on strawberry guava roots were measured. Liming and phosphate fertilizer altered neither plant growth nor the photosynthetic pigment indices and there was no interaction between the factors studied and the remaining variables evaluated. However, liming promoted increases in the Ca and Mg shoot content, and the phosphate fertilizer increased the levels of shoot P in the third year of growth. Mycorrhizal colonization was stronger when the P soil levels were low, which could explain the absence of response to phosphate fertilization on plant growth for the first three years after planting.

Keywords:
Psidium cattleyanum Sabine; fertility; limestone; phosphorus; soil acidity

Introduction

Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) is a native plant from the Atlantic coast of Brazil which has adapted to tropical climates such as Hawaii and many Caribbean Islands (Patel, 2012). For some years, it has been considered one of the native fruit species from southern Brazil with high nutraceutic and pharmaceutic properties (Medina et al., 2011; Ribeiro et al., 2014), since its fruit presents high contents of phenolic and antioxidant compounds, together with its suitability to in natura consumption (Denardin et al., 2015).

In Brazil, the soils where strawberry guava occurs naturally present, in general, high acidity (pH < 5.0). In this condition, there is limitation on the availability of nutrients such as P, Ca and Mg for root uptake. Furthermore, Al and Mn concentrations reach toxic levels in the plants (Qaswar et al., 2020). However, plant growth in acid soils indicates adaptation and presence of strategies for nutrient uptake under low availability as seen with low P supply.

Strawberry guava is capable of forming mycorrhizal associations of the arbuscular type in the root system (Wang and Qiu, 2006); This symbiosis can increase the nutrient uptake, P in certain cases, and water through the fungal hypha (Smith and Read, 2010). In exchange for photosynthates, usable as an energy source for the formation, maintenance and functioning of mycorrhizal structures, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi hypha can provide up to 80 % of P, 25 % of nitrogen, 10 % of potassium, 25 % of zinc and 60 % of copper to the plant metabolism (Marschner and Dell, 1994; Gianinazzi et al., 2010). However, strawberry guava’s yield potential may still not be expressed under natural soil pH conditions, similar to what has been observed in other fruit species which, in acid soils, present slower growth and low yield (Nava et al., 2016). To correct this, lime should be applied to increase the soil pH up to 6.0 for the majority of species (CQFS/RS-SC, 2016). The acidity correction increases P availability to the plant metabolism by translocating orthophosphate ions from the aluminum and iron oxide surfaces or from clay minerals to the soil solution (Ernani, 2016; Qaswar et al., 2020).

Due to the scarcity of research studies in the area of strawberry guava nutrition, currently lime and fertilization similar to the ones used for other native fruit species such as the feijoa (Acca sellowiana) are suggested. Thus, a definition of adequate fertilizer levels for the strawberry guava crop is required in order to allow better seedling growth, yield and fruit quality. Given this context, this work aimed to evaluate the interaction of liming with phosphate fertilizer in pre-planting in the soil chemical parameters, as well as in growth, nutrition and mycorrhizal colonization in yellow strawberry guava plants.

Materials and Methods

Description of experiment and soil characterization

The work was performed in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (31°40’47” S, 52°26’24” W, altitude of 60 m). The climate in this region, according to W. Köppen is subtropical humid (Cfa), or temperate humid with hot summers (Alvares et al., 2013).

The orchard was installed in Dec 2016, with yellow strawberry guava plantlets from “selection 118”, originating from seeds collected from a single matrix plant in Mar. 2016. After germination, the plantlets were transferred to 0.8 L pots containing commercial Sphagnum peat substrate and maintained in a greenhouse until the orchard had been planted. The soil was classified as Ultisols (Red-yellow Argisol according to the Brazilian classification and Acrisols according to the WRB classification) (Soil Survey Staff, 2014). Before setting up the experiment, soil physico-chemical analyses were completed, showing the following results: pH in water of 4.5 (1:1 ratio); 4.4 and 21 mg kg^–1 P and K, respectively (extracted by Mehlich-1); 0.6 cmol_c kg^–1 Ca; 0.1 cmol_c kg^–1 Mg; 0.3 cmol_c kg^–1 Al (extracted by KCl 1.0 mol L^–1); 9.0 g kg^–1 organic matter – Walley-Black Method; 140 g kg^–1 clay; cation exchange capacity (CEC_pH7.0) 3.6 cmol_c kg^–1; aluminum (27.3 %) and base (22 %) saturation.

The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design, in a random block design with three replications. The experimental plots were composed of six 51.2 m long lines with 4.6 m spacing, where each block was composed of two lines. The treatments allocated in the main plots (12.8 × 4.0 m), were the four lime levels: 0; 33.3; 66.6 and 100 % of the dose needed to elevate pH in water up to 6.0 (corresponding doses of 1.5; 3.0 and 4.5 Mg ha^–1 of lime, respectively). The lime used was a dolomitic type with 60 % effective calcium carbonate (ECC). In the sub-plots (6.4 × 2.0 m), four P doses were applied: 83.3; 166.6 and 250 kg ha^–1 P₂O₅ – which correspond to 33; 66 and 100 % of the dose for increasing P availability to the critical level (CQFS-RS/SC, 2016). Each sub-plot was composed of four plants, the central two being considered the useful plot area. After planting, all the plants were pruned at a height of 45 cm.

Lime and P doses were applied during the area set up only in the planted strip (2 m wide) and were incorporated in the soil through a sequence of plowing and harrowing up to 20 cm deep. Ninety kg ha^–1 K was applied to the plots in accordance with fruit science guidelines (CQFS – RS/SC, 2016). After planting, 40 kg ha^–1 N were applied as urea, split in three applications every 45 days, starting at the beginning of spring.

Nutrient content in leaves and in the soil

In order to determine the macronutrient leaf content (N, P, K, Ca and Mg), in Mar 2018 and 2019, 40 leaves were collected from the median portion of branches less than a year old located halfway up the plant. Leaves were dried in an oven at 65 °C, until constant mass, and then grounded. Sub-samples of 0.5 g were subjected to nitro-perchloric acid digestion with HClO₄ (1.0 mL) + HNO₃ (6.0 mL) at 190 °C, in a digestion block (Tedesco et al., 1995). In the extract, P concentrations were determined by UV spectrophotometer (vanadate-molybdate method) and K, Ca and Mg by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Tedesco et al., 1995). N was determined by the combustion method in a TruSpec CHN-S elemental analyzer, in which N is quantified with the aid of a thermal conducing cell and the results are expressed as a percentage of N. At the time of the leaf sampling, soil samples were taken at a depth of 0-20 cm soil for physico-chemical analysis (Tedesco et al., 1995).

Photosynthetic pigment index

In Mar of 2018 and 2019, the chlorophyll (CI), flavonoid (FI) and nitrogen balance indices (NBI) were evaluated in a portable chlorophyll meter. The measurement was taken from the median part of the leaf, in ten leaves from each sub-plot, between 8 and 11 a.m. avoiding readings of the central veins. One reading was taken per leaf, and the mean values were then calculated (sub-plot mean).

Plant growth parameters

In Aug 2017, 2018 and 2019, the following plant growth parameters were evaluated: trunk perimeter (mm), plant height (cm) and canopy volume (m³), according to the equations:

$$\text{Perimeter}=\text{diameter}\times \varpi ;$$

Canopy volume = Canopy height × Canopy transverse width × canopy longitudinal width

Mycorrhizal colonization

In Oct 2018, root samples were collected, composed of approximately 1.0 g of root fragments randomly picked from the area under the projection of the canopy. The samples were conserved in 50 % alcohol for an analysis of colonization frequency, mycorrhizal colonization rate and arbuscule content in the mycorrhized root fractions. The roots were washed in tap water and subjected to bleaching with 10 % KOH for 30 min at 121 °C (Koske and Gemma, 1989), followed by washing in running water and 10 % H₂O₂ for 35 min at room temperature. After washing in water, the root samples remained in an acid solution (5 % glacial acetic acid) for 2 h. After this phase, bleached roots were stained with 5 % black ink (Shaefer) diluted in 5 % glacial acetic acid for 5 min at 90 °C (Vierheilig et al., 1998). Excess stain was removed through rinsing with water and the samples stored in distilled water until slides for microscopic evaluation were prepared. The frequency and intensity of mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscule content in the mycorrhized fraction were analyzed in 20 root fragments per replication.

Statistical analyses

The data were checked for normal distribution fitting with the Shapiro Wilk’s test and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and where significant (F ≤ 0.05), the average means were fitted to polynomial regressions to determine the effects of lime and P doses, as well as the possible interactions between these factors. The statistical analyses were performed with the aid of the Sisvar software program, v. 5.6 (Ferreira, 2014).

Results

Soil and leaf nutrient concentration

Independent from the soil chemistry parameters analyzed, there was no interaction between the lime and P doses applied. However, the Ca and the Mg in the soil were positively influenced by the addition of lime, and both presented a linear increase. K content in the soil was not altered by either the lime or the P levels (Tables 1 and 2). The lime elevated pH values and neutralized exchangeable Al without affecting soil OM (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 1
Soil levels of K, P, Ca and Mg available in response to the application of increasing doses of lime to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

Lime dose	Nutrient content available in the soil (mg kg–1)
Mg ha–1	----------------- mg kg–1 -----------------		--------------- cmolc kg–1 ---------------
2018
	K	P	Ca	Mg
0	51.41ns	27.00ns	1.10*1	0.70*2
1.5	48.08	19.31	1.55	0.89
3.0	46.16	19.99	2.01	1.16
4.5	53.41	21.85	2.36	1.29
CV (%)	15.70	26.25	24.62	22.59
2019
	K	P	Ca	Mg
0	28.75ns	11.80ns	0.70*3	0.70*4
1.5	24.58	7.79	1.05	0.89
3.0	26.91	8.03	1.30	1.10
4.5	30.08	10.11	1.58	1.20
CV (%)	28.05	53.71	18.71	29.30

• ¹
  y = 0.2827x + 1.119 (R² = 0.9964)
• ²
  y = 0.136x + 0.704 (R² = 0.9843)
• ³
  y = 0.1927x + 0.724 (R² = 0.9951)
• ⁴
  y = 0.114x + 0.716 (R² = 0.9807); CV = coefficient of variation
• ^*
  Significant (p ≤ 0.05)
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

Table 2
Soil levels of K, P, Ca and Mg available in response to the application of increasing doses of phosphorous to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

P2O5	Nutrient content available in the soil (mg kg–1)
kg ha–1	----------------- mg kg–1 -----------------		---------------- cmolc kg–1 ----------------
2018
	K	P	Ca	Mg
0	51.58ns	12.62*1	1.75ns	1.03ns
83.3	48.50	19.84	1.70	0.99
166.6	51.16	24.10	1.74	0.97
250.0	47.83	31.60	1.86	1.05
CV (%)	13.88	18.98	8.82	10.01
2019
	K	P	Ca	Mg
0	28.50ns	4.34*2	1.11ns	0.97ns
83.3	26.58	7.09	1.14	0.98
166.6	29.50	11.53	1.18	0.95
250.0	25.75	14.77	1.21	0.98
CV (%)	18.94	40.35	12.17	7.50

• ¹
  y = 0.0734x + 12.861 (R² = 0.9898)
• ²
  y = 0.0429x + 4.0739 (R² = 0.9926); CV = coefficient of variation
• ^*
  Significant (p ≤ 0.05)
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

Table 3
Levels of Al, pH and organic matter (OM) in response to the application of increasing lime doses to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

Lime dose	Al		pH		OM
	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019
Mg ha–1	-------- cmolc kg–1 --------				----------------- % -----------------
0	0.41*1	0.65*2	4.45*3	4.68*4	1.45ns	1.34ns
1.5	0.07	0.32	4.89	4.94	1.40	1.42
3.0	0.00	0.08	5.29	5.25	1.40	1.35
4.5	0.00	0.00	5.64	5.54	1.46	1.45
CV (%)	109.53	39.34	4.44	5.57	18.31	14.67

• ¹
  y = 0.0378x² – 0.2567x + 0.4 (R² = 0.982)
• ²
  y = 0.0278x² – 0.271x + 0.6535 (R² = 0.999)
• ³
  y = 0.2647x + 4.472 (R² = 0.9974)
• ⁴
  y = 0.1927x + 4.669 (R² = 0.9989); CV = coefficient of variation
• ^*
  Significant (p ≤ 0.05)
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

Table 4
Levels of Al, pH and organic matter (OM) in response to the application of increasing phosphorous doses to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

P2O5	Al		pH		OM
	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019
kg ha–1	-------- cmolc kg–1 --------				--------------- % ---------------
0	0.14ns	0.26ns	5.09ns	5.17ns	1.47ns	1.35ns
83.3	0.13	0.28	5.05	5.0	1.39	1.40
166.6	0.11	0.28	5.00	5.04	1.42	1.41
250.0	0.10	0.22	5.12	5.09	1.43	1.38
CV (%)	41.24	31.18	3.63	3.48	11.08	13.31

• CV = coefficient of variation
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

For the phosphate fertilizer, in the years 2018 and 2019, the P available in the 0-20 cm soil layer increased linearly according to the P doses used (Table 2). Thus, the highest P dose (250 kg P₂O₅ ha^–1), raised the available P to values above 30 mg P₂O₅ kg^–1, which is considered a high content for the soil studied (CQFS–RS/SC, 2016). In the second year, there was a reduction in the available P levels, however, following a linear fitting in response to P₂O₅ applied to the soil.

In 2018, leaf nutrient concentrations showed no interaction between applied lime and P doses. Ca and Mg leaf contents fitted significantly to the linear regression model increasing as a function of the lime doses (Table 5). In the second year of evaluation, K contents in leaves were reduced by increasing the lime doses, and the leaf P contents increased linearly with increases in phosphate fertilizer (Table 6).

Table 5
Leaf contents of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) in response to the application of different lime doses to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

Lime dose	Mineral composition of leaves
	N	P	K	Ca	Mg
Mg ha–1	-------------------------------- g kg–1 --------------------------------
2018
0	18.71ns	2.82ns	5.83ns	9.47*1	5.95*2
1.5	18.66	2.72	5.32	11.37	6.89
3.0	18.91	2.75	6.52	12.79	7.70
4.5	20.35	2.78	6.47	13.45	7.99
CV	12.15	26.21	22.45	11.85	13.89
2019
	N	P	K	Ca	Mg
0	19.16ns	1.40ns	3.16*3	6.67ns	2.07*4
1.5	19.41	1.36	2.47	7.49	2.37
3.0	18.26	1.37	2.34	7.60	2.58
4.5	19.10	1.47	2.27	7.65	2.67
CV	12.16	11.40	22.80	10.21	7.80

• ¹
  y = 0.8901x + 9.7718 (R² = 0.9581)
• ²
  y = 0.462x + 6.093 (R² = 0.9555)
• ³
  y = –0.1867x + 2.98 (R² = 0.7831)
• ⁴
  y = 0.134x + 2.121 (R² = 0.948); CV = coefficient of variation
• ^*
  Significant (p ≤ 0.05)
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

Table 6
Leaf contents of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) in response to the application of different phosphorous doses to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

P2O5	Mineral composition of leaves
	N	P	K	Ca	Mg
kg ha–1	-------------------------------- g kg–1 --------------------------------
2018
0	18.45ns	2.94ns	5.47ns	12.04ns	7.22ns
83.3	18.97	2.84	5.77	11.40	6.98
166.6	19.52	2.52	6.08	11.61	7.06
250.0	19.69	2.77	6.81	12.03	7.28
CV	10.20	17.82	21.13	14.78	10.80
2019
	N	P	K	Ca	Mg
0	17.90*1	1.25*2	2.65ns	7.40ns	2.49ns
83.3	18.38	1.37	2.61	7.24	2.32
166.6	19.12	1.45	2.55	7.30	2.36
250.0	20.65	1.53	2.41	7.47	2.52
CV	10.41	14.09	14.40	9.32	9.97

• ¹
  y = 0.0108x + 17.664 (R² = 0.9333)
• ²
  y = 0.0011x + 1.262 (R² = 0.988); CV = coefficient of variation
• ^*
  Significant (p ≤ 0.05)
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

Growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment indices

As regards the growth parameters analyzed, there was no interaction between the lime and P doses, in the three years of evaluation, and no significant differences were detected for these variables in relation to the major effects of liming and phosphate fertilizer (Tables 7 and 8). The photosynthetic pigments were not affected by treatments in the first year of evaluation (2018); however, for the second year (2019), there was a linear reduction in CI, FI and NBI as the P doses increased (Table 9).

Table 7
Plant growth parameters of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) in response to the application of different lime doses to the soil in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Lime dose	Trunk perimeter	Plant height	Canopy volume
Mg ha–1	mm	cm	m3
2017
0	38.67ns	68.37ns	0.0768ns
1.5	42.32	72.37	0.0958
3.0	41.09	67.54	0.0800
4.5	40.29	68.08	0.0808
CV (%)	13.96	14.39	45.78
2018
0	67.95ns	107.33ns	0.810ns
1.5	70.88	110.16	0.895
3.0	71.49	112.29	0.900
4.5	69.92	110.45	0.864
CV (%)	10.94	8.00	41.29
2019
0	88.07ns	116.62ns	1.37ns
1.5	86.08	118.16	1.46
3.0	91.12	120.79	1.45
4.5	90.31	118.58	1.47
CV (%)	17.22	10.81	39.86

• CV = coefficient of variation
• ^ns
  non-significant at p ≤ 0.05.

Table 8
Growth parameters of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) in response to the application of different phosphorous doses to the soil in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

P2O5	Trunk perimeter	Plant height	Canopy volume
kg ha–1	mm	cm	m3
2017
0	41.09ns	68.54ns	0.0816ns
83.3	39.35	69.95	0.0816
166.6	41.65	70.00	0.0966
250.0	40.29	67.87	0.0736
CV (%)	11.24	5.09	36.46
2018
0	71.96ns	109.87ns	0.931ns
83.3	68.89	110.50	0.850
166.6	70.82	112.58	0.894
250.0	68.57	107.29	0.794
CV (%)	9.67	6.18	28.67
2019
0	92.31ns	120.70ns	1.66ns
83.3	89.13	116.25	1.33
166.6	90.58	119.54	1.43
250.0	83.58	117.66	1.33
CV (%)	11.05	5.54	27.38

• CV = coefficient of variation
• ^ns
  ns = non-significant (p > 0.05).

Table 9
Photosynthetic Pigment Index in strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) in response to the application of different lime doses and phosphorous doses to the soil in 2018 and 2019.

Lime dose (Mg ha–1)	Chlorophyll Index		Flavonoid Index		Nitrogen Balance
	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019
0	48.97ns	46.34ns	1.94ns	1.86ns	25.31ns	24.93ns
1.5	50.81	43.98	1.97	1.86	25.74	23.62
3.0	52.53	45.35	1.98	1.86	26.77	24.35
4.5	53.40	45.71	1.97	1.84	26.98	24.77
CV (%)	9.49	9.06	4.90	4.29	9.17	11.02
P2O5 (kg ha–1)	Chlorophyll Index		Flavonoid Index		Nitrogen Balance
	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019
0	52.78ns	48.18*1	2.01ns	1.91*2	26.32ns	25.17*3
83.3	50.38	46.84	1.96	1.86	25.62	25.28
166.6	51.76	43.99	1.95	1.83	26.51	24.08
250.0	50.79	42.32	1.94	1.83	26.35	23.14
CV (%)	9.49	6.56	4.90	3.00	9.17	7.84

• ¹
  y = –0.0245x + 48.396 (R² = 0.9817)
• ²
  y = –0.0003x + 1.898 (R² = 0.8524)
• ³
  y = –0.0087x + 25.511 (R² = 0.8696); CV = coefficient of variation
• ^*
  Significant (p ≤ 0.05)
• ^ns
  non-significant (p > 0.05).

Mycorrhizal colonization

In the strawberry guava roots, intra-radicular hypha, vesicles and arbuscules, typical structures of arbuscular mycorrhizae were observed. The liming presented no effect on the colonization rate of the root cortex and the arbuscule content in the mycorrhizal fraction. However, these variables became distinct in response to the phosphate fertilization (Figures 1, 2 and 3), such as that in the treatments without P and the lowest level of nutrient correction was observed with the highest rates of mycorrhizal colonization and presence of arbuscules.

Figure 1
Frequency of mycorrhizal colonization in the mycorrhizae fraction (%), in response to the application of increasing doses of P to the soil. Assessment performed in 2018, p < 0.05.

Figure 2
Intensity of the mycorrhizal colonization (%) of the roots, in response to the application of increasing doses of P to the soil. Assessment performed in 2018, p < 0.05.

Figure 3
Arbuscule abundance in the mycorrhizal fraction (%) of the roots, in response to the application of increasing doses of P to the soil. Assessment performed in 2018, p < 0.05.

Discussion

The increase in Ca and Mg content in the soil justifies the advantage of the application of dolomitic lime, which has both nutrients in its composition, increasing their concentration in the soil and, consequently, the availability to plants (Masud et al., 2020). However, Ca soil content, even with the highest lime dose used, failed to reach high contents, i.e., higher than 4.0 cmol_c kg^–1, according to suggested recommendations for the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina (CQFS-RS/SC, 2016). Determining Ca concentration in the soil is indicative of the growth potential of fruit plant root systems, especially in the orchard setting and formation. This positive lime effect on the leaf mineral composition is known due to Ca uptake occurring only in the youngest and non-suberized roots (Marschner, 2012), requiring continuous nutrient uptake to ensure the adequate development of plant meristematic regions (Tagliavini and Scandellari, 2013; Taiz et al., 2014). Soil Mg contents in the soil reached superior values at the critical level (above 1.0 cmol_c kg^–1), considered sufficient for adequate plant development (CQFS-RS/SC 2016). In addition to the increase in Ca and Mg availability to root uptake, lime application neutralizes acidity, endowing plants with a larger soil volume exploration capacity, and facilitating plant nutrient uptake (Nava et al., 2016).

Although phosphate fertilizer increased the soil P content, there were no differences in the P mineral content in strawberry guava leaves in the first year of leaf evaluation (Tables 1 and 3). One of the factors which can be associated with the absence of strawberry guava responses to phosphate fertilizer was the higher association between the roots and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Figures 1, 2 and 3). When the P soil levels were low, mycorrhizal contributed to the increase in P uptake through the larger soil volume explored by the extra-radicular hyphae, capable of uptaking nutrient in a more efficient way than the root structures (Smith et al., 2011; Marschner, 2012; Smith and Smith, 2012; Nava et al., 2016; Sawers et al., 2017). For the second year of evaluation, a difference in P leaf content emerged when the nutrient levels were low;, however, it did not affect plant growth. These results indicate that in similar soils, even if soil P is ranked as “low”, it is not a limiting factor for strawberry guava growth, indicating a possible role for mycorrhizal formation in the increase of P uptake and availability for plant metabolism during the growth period. Other characteristics can also contribute to the low response of fruit plants to phosphate fertilizer such as the lower extraction of this nutrient when compared to other macronutrients (Neilsen et al., 2008). Additionally, these plants have more time for nutrient uptake, favoring the storage of nutrients (Nava et al., 2016; Boutaj et al., 2020; Hassena et al., 2020).

It is important to point out that, even though strawberry guava did not present a growth positive response to the increase in soil P content, in the present study, the plants were evaluated only in the growth phase, during the first three years after the orchard had been planted. Thus, it is possible that higher P availability can influence growth during the plant yielding phase, which will be evaluated in later years.

The correlation between Ca content (0.988 and 0.980) and Mg (0.988 and 0.991) available in the soil with leaf nutrient concentration shows that strawberry guava has uptake capability for higher amounts of these nutrients as their soil content increases. Even in the absence of response in terms of plant growth, fruit quality can be positively affected in subsequent years, according to the results found by Nava et al. (2016), in feijoa (Acca sellowiana) plants. Ca, available by liming, is taken up from the soil solution and transported to the shoots through the xylem, in demand in higher amounts in the plant meristematic regions (Marschner, 2012; Kumar et al., 2015; Taiz et al., 2014). In acid soils, in general, there is low availability of this nutrient. Therefore, Ca content in the fruit may not reach adequate levels, which can affect both quality and storage ability. The low Ca content in fruit increases membrane permeability and reduces pulp firmness, allowing solute diffusion in these tissues (Aghdam et al., 2012; Yahia et al., 2019). Furthermore, the application, distribution and incorporation of acid correctors in pre-planting plays a fundamental role in perennial crops, such as strawberry guava, taking into account that in this phase there is higher liming efficiency (Souza et al., 2009).

Plant growth improvement in acid soils is due not only to the addition of basic cations (Ca and Mg), but to the reduction of Al toxicity (Brown et al., 2008; Abd El-Halim and Omae, 2019). Therefore, even at pH 4.45 (zero lime dose) strawberry guava did not have its growth affected, indicating that, although the highest lime dose had raised the soil pH to 5.65, this species does not need such a high pH during the growth phase provided that the soil Al contents are not high. Other reports on effects of lime on guava (Psidium guajava L.) (Souza et al., 2009) and feijoa (Acca sellowiana) growth (Nava et al., 2016), have described responses that are different from those found here; they have observed an increase in plant growth in response to liming. However, the exchangeable Al levels in these studies were higher than the one observed here (1.1 and 5.5 cmol_c kg^–1, respectively).

The reduction in K uptake by the plants, as a function of lime levels, can be a consequence of the increase in the cation exchange capability, due to the release of charges taken by H⁺ and by Al³⁺ electrostatically adsorbed to the soil negative charges. Thus, part of k could have migrated to the negative charges formed by liming, reducing the K contents in the soil solution and, consequently, reducing K uptake by plants (Ernani, 2016).

The reduction in CI, FI and NBI, in the second year, supports the increase in N leaf content as a function of increases in P doses, since N depletion induces the leaf flavonoid content (Stewart et al., 2001; Mittelstraß et al., 2006; Abdallah et al., 2019). The scarcity of P may have reduced N uptake and assimilation, due to the high energy demand (ATP) required for amino acid formation (Taiz et al., 2014) and, consequently its influence over NBI, which reflects the CI/FI ratio.

Flavonoids represent the largest class of phenolic compounds, have antioxidant properties and its function in plants is related to stress situations (Taiz et al., 2014). Therefore, high acidity and low nutrient availability, as with P, can affect flavonoid production (Kovácyc and Klejdus, 2014) Whatsmore, it is known that phenolic compounds are part of root exsudates that act as molecular signs in the establishment of symbiosis between the roots and AMFs, promoting a higher rate of mycorrhizal colonization (Siqueira et al., 1991; Smith et al., 2011). Marschner (2012) reports that mycorrhizal intensity is proportional to P availability to the host plant in the soil. Therefore, when there is P deficiency, the plant tends to depend much more on P uptake by mycorrhizae, which stimulates the association with FMAs, contributes to the improvement of the nutritional status of the host plant, and agrees with the results found herein.

Conclusions

Strawberry guava shows adequate initial growth, even in acid soils, providing that exchangeable Al contents are not high. Liming increases the Ca and Mg contents in the soil, as well as in the strawberry guava leaves. However, there is no positive influence on initial plant growth.

Phosphate fertilization does not influence strawberry guava growth up to the third year. Higher mycorrhizal colonization under conditions of limiting P in the soil indicates that the symbiosis contributes to the uptake and nutrition of P in strawberry guava.

Acknowledgments

To the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES) - Financing Code 001, to the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the scholarship awarded, to the Postgraduate Program in Agronomy – FAEM/UFPel, to Federal University of Pelotas – UFPel and to Embrapa Temperate Agriculture for the provision of financial support and facilities.

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Edited by

Edited by: Anoop Kumar Srivastava

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  06 Sept 2021
• Date of issue
  2022

History

• Received
  10 Mar 2021
• Accepted
  03 June 2021