AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA

ISSN Print: 2151-7517, ISSN Online: 2151-7525, doi:10.5251/abjna.2017.8.4.118.121

© 2017, ScienceHuβ, http://www.scihub.org/ABJNA

Effect of four rootstocks on concentration of leaf mineral elements in

scion of Granny smith cultivar
Kebede Jobir
Arba Minch University College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Horticulture, Ethiopia

Corresponding author. E-mail: butajobir@gmail.com Tel: +251911959258

ABSTRACT
o
The field trial was conducted at Chencha district, tolola apple experimental site ( 6 19' N,
o
37 35'E) with altitude of 2700 masl located in the Southern Region of Ethiopia, to evaluate the
effect of four apple rootstocks (MM.106, MM.111, MM.104 and M.26) on Granny smith leaf
mineral elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and B) concentration. The experiment was a
complete randomized block design and consisted of four treatments (rootstocks) with three
replications of 5-tree/ plots. Budded Granny smith on rootstocks was grown under naturally
occurring low soil pH (4.8) of experimental site. Leaves opposite to clusters were taken as
samples and analyzed for mineral elements. Results showed that rootstock types had significant
effect on leaf mineral concentrations. Leaf N concentration on MM.104 and M.26 rootstocks was
lower than optimum range. Leaf Ca and Fe concentration on all rootstocks except of M.26 were
higher than optimum range. Scions on MM.104 rootstock had highest Mg and lowest K
concentrations.

Keywords: Cultivars, Rootstocks, Mineral elements, Tolola

INTRODUCTION to site and varied over time (Tromp et al., 2005). To

Rootstock type has important role in leaf mineral
concentration, quantity and quality of growth in apple
cultivars. Erdal et al. (2008) have been reported that
rootstock type has significant influence on mineral
elements concentration of scion leaf. Apple
rootstocks differ in compatibility to kinds of soils,
manner of root dispersion and affiliation to micorhyza.
This object lead to difference in leaf mineral elements
concentration or leaf of budded cultivars on them and
finally affect vegetative growth and fruit quantity
(Basal, 2009) . In a budded tree, rootstock type
affects many scion properties such as leaf mineral
elements (Quaggiou et al. ,2003, Toplu et al. , 2008).
Amiri and Fallahi (2009) in evaluation of mineral
elements content in Golden Delicious, and Red Gala
leaf on four rootstocks reported that, mineral
concentrations of apple plant tissues were
significantly affected by the kind of rootstock rather
than the kind of scions. Aguirre et al. (2001) reported
different rootstocks have different mineral uptake
efficiencies throughout the season. Rootstock effects
on nutritional status may be explained as differences
in root distribution and root functions may affect
mineral uptake efficiencies. Hierit and Flower (2000),
found no effect of rootstock on scion growth rate or
final fruit size of Gala apples. However, the effect of
most rootstock studies was not consistence from site
evaluate the full commercial potential of a particular
apple rootstock it is important to evaluate rootstock
effect on scion growth for specific regions or cultivars
(Autio and Southwick, 1993).
Granny smith is the most productive apple cultivar in
the study site and its fruit has good marketable and
fruit permanency on tree is excellent. Attentive to
budding propagation and using of different rootstocks
for this cultivar and nonexistence of sufficient
information on interaction between it and rootstock
type is the major shortcoming. Thus, the aim of this
investigation was to evaluate the effect of rootstock
types on mineral element concentration in leaf of
Granny smith cultivar.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In order to examine the effect of rootstock type on
mineral elements concentration in budded Granny
smith, an experiment was conducted in completely
randomized design in Chencha district tolola apple
experimental site at Gamo highlands of Southern
Ethiopia. For this purpose, four rootstocks consist
MM.106, MM.104, MM.111 and M.26 was
planted in the field under naturally occurring low soil
pH of 4.8 with three replications. Soil samples were
taken to describe the characteristics of soils from 0–
15 and 15–30 cm depth. Air dried soil samples were
 Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2017, 8(4): 113-121

gently crushed and passed through a 2 mm sieve.
Particle size distribution was determined by the
hydrometer method. Soil chemical properties were
determined following standard procedures: both pH
and electrical conductivity in 1: 2.5 soil: water
suspension, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) equivalent
by a manometric method. Three months after
planting, rootstocks were budded by Granny smith
scion (from a single 8 years old tree) by T-budding
method. The scion was allowed to grow from 2015 to
2017. For measurement of mineral elements leaf
opposite to the clusters were collected. The samples
consisted of 30 leaves per treatment in each
replicate. The leaves were put in oven with 75 °C for
48 hours and then was powdered (Aboutalebi, et al.,
2006). Total nitrogen measured by 0.3 g plant
powder by using of Micro-kejeldahl set (Georgiou,
2001). For measurement of other elements, at first
was supplied extract. For this purpose, 0.5 g plant
powder was ash in oven with 550 °C for 5 hours until
obtained white color ash and then was added 2 ml
HCl 2N to ashes. Thereafter, was filtrated by boiling
double distilled water in 50 ml volumetric by Vatman
paper No. 2. Filtration repeated some times and
finally volumetric filled by double distilled water
(Aboutalebi, et al., 2006). By using of the extract K
was measured by Flame photometer model
Sherwood 410, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn by
Atomic absorption model Pekrin Elmer 1100 and P
and B content by Spectrophotometer model
Shimadzu UV-120-02. Obtained data analyzed by
MSTAT-C software and means compared by
Duncan’s multiple range test.
RESULTS
Analysis of variance table showed significant
influence of rootstock type on N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe,
Cu, Mn, Zn and B content in Granny smith leaf in 1%
level (Table 1 and 2).

Table 1. Analysis of variance in relative to leaf macro elements

Source of d.f Mean Square (MS) of Data
Variation N P K Ca Mg
Rootstock 6 0.900* 0.005* 0.618* 0.422* 0.089*
Error 9 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
C.V 0.13 5.02 0.54 0.55 1.61
*, significant in 1% level.
Table 2. Analysis of variance in relative to trace elements
Source of d.f Mean Square (MS) of Data
Variation
Fe Cu Mn Zn B
Rootstock 6 14171.50* 61.33* 1176.50* 252.33* 111.00*
Error 9 0.667 0.000 0.000 0.667 0.667
C.V 0.43 0 0 2.91 2.40
* significant in 1% level.
Effect of rootstock type on macro elements not significant difference with MM.111. There was
concentration in leaf of Granny smith: highest K concentration (2.31 dry matters %) in leaf
Means comparison showed that rootstock type had scion on MM.106 rootstock and lowest (1.15 dry
influence on macro elements concentration that this matter %) on M.26 rootstock. Rootstock type had
effect in some cases was significant. There was significant influence on leaf scion Ca concentration.
highest N level (2.75 dry matters %) in scion leaf on Highest Ca concentration was in MM.106 rootstock.
MM.106 rootstock and lowest (1.63 dry matter %) on Lowest Mg concentration (0.19 dry matter %)
M.26 rootstock. MM.111 and MM.104 were within observed in leaf scion on M.26 rootstock and there
and below the range respectively adopted by was no significant difference between all rootstocks
Heckman (2004). Highest P content (0.34 dry matter (Table 3).
%) was in leaf of scion on MM.106 rootstock that had

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 Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2017, 8(4): 113-121

Table 3. Mean comparison of Granny smith leaf macro elements on different rootstocks
Rootstocks Macro elements
N P K Ca Mg
% Dry matter
MM.106 2.75a 0.34a 2.31a 2.12a 0.65a
MM.111 2.01b 0.33b 1.67b 1.52b 0.60b
MM.104 1.67c 0.31c 1.13c 1.23c 0.58c
M.26 1.15d 0.23d 1.15d 1.08d 0.19d
Means with same letter in each column have not significant difference in 1% level of DMRT test
Effect of rootstock type on trace elements obtained in leaf scion on M.26 rootstock. The
concentration in Granny smith leaf: combination with MM.104 was the only one that had
On basis of obtained results, rootstocks had a Zn content level below the minimum. All the
significant influence on Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and B combinations presented normal Cu contents except
concentration. There was highest Fe concentration M.26, which was below the adequate (4%). Leaf
(270 mg/kg) in leaf scion on MM.111 and lowest (87 scion on all rootstocks registered B within the
mg/kg) on M.26 rootstock in reference to Heckman adequate level with highest value on M.26 (Table 4).
(2004). Mn value below the adequate limit was

Table 4. Mean comparison of Granny smith leaf trace elements on different rootstocks
Rootstocks Trace elements
Fe Cu Mn Zn B
mg/kg
MM.106 155c 11b 56c 30b 30c
MM.111 270b 8c 67b 43a 32b
MM.104 245a 17a 95a 18d 29c
M.26 87d 4d 37d 21c 45a
Means with same letter in each column have not significant difference in 1% level of DMRT test
DISCUSSION climatic or soil conditions. Thus, for reliable
information on rootstock performance in a certain
This study found that, rootstock type had influence on
area, evaluation should be carried out regionally and
concentration of some mineral elements in leaf of
separately for relevant soil types and cultivars
Granny smith. Difference in leaf scion mineral content
(Wertheim, 1998; Tromp et al., 2005). In comparison
on rootstocks attribute to ability of rootstocks to
of obtained mineral elements contents and optimum
absorption and transfer of mineral elements to shoot.
concentrations (Heckman, 2004) N content in Granny
On basis of Table 3 results, rootstock type had
smith leaf on MM.104 and M.26 rootstocks was less
influence on mineral elements concentration that this
than optimum range. The uptake of K differs among
subject also had reported by other researchers
rootstocks. This in turn will affect the K status of the
(Quaggiou et al., 2003; Toplu et al. , 2008; Basal,
grafted variety. These variations could be caused by
2009). However, there are often significant
differences in the absorption capacity of the roots
interactions between location, cultivar and rootstock
and/ or differences in the incorporation of K ions into
performance. A reason for location effect on
the xylem and their translocation from the roots to
rootstock performance might be that, some
shoots (Mpelasoka, 2003). Among the rootstocks,
rootstocks are more sensitive than others to a
MM.104 and M.26 registered K values below the
biotic stress factors associated with the prevailing

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range which could possibly be due to the variety
retain the majority of absorbed cations in the
vacuole of root cells as previously stated by Rühl
(1993). In relation to trace elements, Cu
concentration in leaf scion on all rootstocks except
M.26 and B on all rootstocks was within the optimum
range. Rootstocks also exhibited significant
differences for leaf Zn content. Granny smith grafted
on MM.111 rootstock contained higher Zn
concentration followed by MM.106 whereas the least
was registered for MM.104.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present work indicate that N, P and
K were the nutrients most influenced by the rootstock
type, reflecting the significant variations in their leaf
concentrations in Granny smith on MM.104 and
M.26, whereas P was affected both by the scions and
by the interaction between the rootstock and scion,
with the MM.106 rootstockbeing more efficient. An
overall performance of MM.106 rootstock was better
in mineral element uptake as compared to other
rootstocks used. Therefore, under the study area this
can be used as a rootstock for Granny smith.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank Arba Minch University
for financial support and Gammo kalehiwot protestant
church for allowing the farm land and for their
invaluable contributions to this research.
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