Analytical methods for evaluating iron chlorosis in peach trees


Basar H.

COMMUNICATIONS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT ANALYSIS, vol.34, pp.327-341, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Abstract

This study was implemented to determine the appropriate methods to be used in evaluation of iron (Fe) chlorosis in peach trees. For this purpose, three peach orchards having trees various visual chlorosis ratings were selected, and the leaf samples were collected during a 2-year period. The leaf samples were collected from two different positions in the annual shoots: 1) 5(th) 6(th), and 7(th) leaves in midpoint position of annual shoots and 2) extremity leaves of annual shoots. The leaf samples were only taken from the trees at 3 stages in the first year of the experiment to determine most convenient date of sampling. The experiment had 3 chlorosis categories (green, slightly chlorotic, and severely chlorotic) in the first year and 5 chlorosis categories in the second year (green, slightly chlorotic, slightly green, chlorotic, and severely chlorotic) with 3 replicates in each of the orchards. One M HCl, 1.5% o-phenanthroline, 0.5 M oxalic acid, and 0.1 M HCl methods in the fresh leaf samples, 1 M HCl, 0.5 M oxalic acid, 0.1 M HCl, and total Fe methods in oven-dried leaves were used for Fe analysis. The data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the least significant difference (LSD) values were calculated at the 5% level.