GROWTH, LEAF AND ROOT COMPOSITION
OF APP-LE, GERRY, AND PEACH TREES IN
RELATION TO l-NJECTIONS OF METAL AND
ALLOY POWDER?) TO SUPPLY MINOR.
ELEMENTS

ThukforthobogmofiM.$.
MICHIGAN” STATE UNIVERSITY
Vincent Alfred Amato
1955

 

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stamped below.

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GROWTH, LEAF AND ROOT COMPOSITION OF APPLE,
CHERRY, AND PEACH TREES IN RELATION TO INJECTIONS OF
METAL AND ALLOY POWDERS '10 SUPPLY MINCR ELEMENTS

VINCEVIT ALFRED AMATO

AN ABSTRACT

Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State University of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Horticulture
1955

flfW

Approved

 

VINCDJT ALFRED AMATO ABSTRACT

Greenhouse eXperiments with minor elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Cu) in
metal and alloy powder fame were conducted on apple, cherry and peach
trees. The metal and alloy powders were injected in the trunks of the
trees 3 major elements were supplied as nutrient solutions. Controls
consisted of trees receiving a complete Hoagland solution and the same
solution minus minor elements. Plants were grown in 12-inch clay pots
painted with asphaltum and in a medium consisting of sterile No. 7 size
white quarts gravel.

Linear growth and trunk diameters were recorded at the time of
' harvesting. Total dry weight increase was calculated for leaves, roots,
shoots and trunk. Iron, manganese, zinc, copper and boron composition
of leaves and fibrous roots were determined by spectrographic analysis.

Apple growth results were higher where 1.0 gram of the powder was
used than where 0.5 grams were injected. A visible nutrient deficiency
symptom appeared in the later growing period in the trees receiving no
minor elements. However, differences in growth as measured by dry weights
were not statistically significant. ‘

The greatest total growth of cherry trees was obtained with the
injection of powders impregnated with citric acid. Severe chloresis,
defoliation and shoot die-back occurred only in treatments where the
minor elements were entirely omitted. This condition was not identified
with chemical analysis. No deficiency symptms were visually apparent
in peach treatments, and the data show no significant growth differences

between treatmmts.

Analyses of apple leaves showed that metal and alloy powders
impregnated with citric acid significantly increased leaf’manganese
content over all other treatments. A similar response to citric acid
was obtained for boron, but the highest response was registered where
0.5 grams were injected.

Analyses of cherry leaves showed manganese to be the only nutrient
increased by citric acid impregnation of metal and alloy powders.
Analyses of peach leaves showed a similar manganese increase with the
citric acid impregnated materials.

Copper analyses of apple fibrous roots showed that an unexplainable
accumulation of copper occurred in that treatment where minor elements
were omitted from nutrient solutions. This accumulation was greater than
that occurring in treatments receiving injected metal and alloy powders.

The absorption of manganese by cherry roots was found to be more
significant in the complete nutrient solution than in the injected treat-
ments or those where minor elements were omitted.

Definite increase in iron occurred in the fibrous roots of peach
when the metal and alloy powders were impregnated with citric acid.

Internal wood injury occurred where metal and alloy powders were in-

jected into the fruit trees.

GROWTH, LEAF AND ROOT COMPOSITION OF APPLE,
CHERRY, AND PEACH TREES IN RELATION TO INJECTIONS OF

METAL AND ALLOY POWDERS TO SUPPLY MINOR ELEMENTS

By

VINCENT ALFRED AMATO

A THESIS
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State University of Agriculture and Applied Science

in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Horticulture

1955

THES£S

I, 20 '3.‘

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION ............. . ......... 1
REVIEW OF LITERATURE ................. 2
MATERIALS AND METHODS . . . ............. 12
RESULTS ........... a. l7
Growth..,.....n ........... 17

Leaf Composition ............. 23

Root Composition . . . . . , . . . . . . . . 28
DISCUSSION ....................... _ . 33
SUMMARY ............................ 36
LITERATURE CITED ................... 39

APPENDIX. . .' ......... . . . . ..... ... 44

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author wishes to express his sincere appreciation A
to Dr. A. L. Kenworthy, who gave much time and assistance in the
planning and preparation of the experiment and the manuscript, and
to Mr. S. T. Bass for carrying out the spectrographic analyses.

Special acknowledgement is also made to the author's
wife, Louise, and to Dr. C. E. Wildon and Dr. C. L. Hammer

for their constant encouragement and assistance.

INTRODUCTION

Deficiencies or shortages of minor elements (Fe, Mn, B,
Cu, Zn) have been successfully corrected by three general processes:
soil application, trunk injections and sprays to foliage and bark. Under
certain conditions, soil applications are not satisfactory, either because
of their failure to correct the shortage or the hazard of toxicities.

Sprays containing these minor elements may correct a shortage, but
the correction usually lasts only one season. Injections of soluble salts
of certain minor elements may correct a shortage with the injection
being effective for one to six seasons.

Slowly soluble or relatively insoluble forms of minor elements
have not received much attention as possible sources of nutrients injected
into tree trunks. Investigation of injection of slowly soluble or relatively
insoluble forms of minor elements into trunks of fruit trees to correct
deficiencies has largely been neglected, with the possible exception of

iron and zinc nails used to alleviate iron and zinc deficiency.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The importance of minor elements to plant growth and
vigor has been firmly established. Deficiencies of iron, manganese,
boron, copper and zinc have been reported in many areas of the world
where fruit growing is of economic importance.

Whenever one or more minor elements are lacking, a
decline in fruit production results. This decline has been reported by
many investigators to be caused by various soil factors, such as biolo-
gical condition, moisture, pH and chemical content. Numerous work-
ers, Bennett (2), Chapman, Brown‘and Rayner (12), and Warm (49) have
reported that these factors and not the lack of minor elements in the
soil affect plant uptake of minor elements.

Iron Deficiency: Iron deficiency, according to Wallace (48),

 

has been more commonly found in fruit plants than in any other agricul—
tural crops. Injection of iron salts, he believed, may be used for com-
mercial applications in curing chlorosis.

Bennett (2), WallaCe (47), Starr (41) and Kemp Beare (26)
used trunk injection of soluble iron salts and obtained better results
correcting lime-induced chlorosis of fruit trees than were obtained with .

either soil or spray treatments. (Lime-induced chlorosis refers to

instances of iron deficiency occurring on soils where the lime content
is high). Bennett (2) found that the injection method was more practical,
economical and results were more lasting than for other methods tried.

Hendrickson (23) investigating chlorotic conditions of
pear trees, found that these conditions responded to treatments of
iron salts. He found that trunk and limb injections of ferrous sulfate
could correct extreme chlorotic conditions. A. one or five per cent
solution of iron sulfate sprayed on the foliage was not satisfactory,
and the higher concentration caused severe leaf burning. Oserkowsky (33)
-similarly found that deficiency of chlorophyll in pear leaves was remedied
by iron salts.

Southwick (40), using liquid solutions of ferrous sulfate
injected under high pressure into citrus trees, reported that iron was
evenly distributed throughout the tree, and corrected chlorosis for per-
iods of two to four years. Dennis (14) injected ferrous citrate and
found the injection lasted from six to seven years with no loss in com-
mercial crop production. Finch e_t_ a_l_._ (40) found that placing ferric
citrate in holes bored into tree trunks produced a rapid and permanent

correction of chlorosis on citrus trees. They found that this response

to injections was more striking than those of varying soil treatments

tried. Moore (32) injected soluble ferric citrate into trunks and found
that best results were obtained when the injections were made some
time between March and August. Bennett (2), Starr (41), and Wallace
(47) found that best results and less injury occurred when deciduous
trees were treated during dormant season.

Crawford (13) found that under New Mexico conditions
soil treatments were the most effective and permanent in control of
chlorosis of fruit and grapes. He obtained successful results by using
barnyard manure and other acid forming materials in combination with
iron. Duggan (15) used a similar approach to cure chlorosis and re-
ported that this method failed to cure the trouble.

Crawford (13) also tried trunk injection and spraying of
iron salts and obtained only temporary relief from chlorosis. He also
found that nails driven into trunks proved to be much slower than in-
jection of iron salts, in bringing about control of chlorosis. Although
iron nails driven into tree trunks were slower in controlling chlorosis,
Burke_et a__1_. (6) recommended this treatment because of ease of appli-
cation. Starr (41) recommended trunk injections of iron salts because
of the striking and successful results obtained in correcting chlorosis

oftrees.

_Z_inc Deficiency: The characteristic symptom of zinc de-

 

ficient fruit trees is the rosetting of the terminal leaves caused by the
extreme reduction of internodal shoot growth. This is accompanied
by many narrow and under-developed leaves showing extreme inter-
veinal chlorosis, Kenworthygt 31. (28), and Woodbridge (52). For years
zinc deficiency of fruit trees has been corrected by regular and repeated
bark and foliage sprays of zinc solutions. This method of correcting
for zinc deficiency has not always giVen satisfactory, or lasting results.
For some time investigators have been seeking a more practical and
lasting method, either through the soil or tree injections. Soil condi—
tions similar to those causing iron deficiency have been found by Chandler
gal; (10), Woodbridge (52), Purvis (37), and Jensen (25) to be related
to zinc deficiency. Finch (18) however, indicated that zinc deficiency is
not related to the soluble zinc content or pH of the soil. By using trunk
injections and foliar sprays of zinc salts, he was able to successfully
arrest rosetting and shoot necrosis of pecan. He made no application of
zinc or any other material to the soil during his experiment, assuming
that zinc deficiency was associated with the above-ground plant parts and
additions of zinc compounds to soil would be of no beneficial value.
Chandlers: EL (10) injected zinc sulfate into trunks, using

methods described by Bennett (2), and were able to get very satisfactory

results in curing little-leaf or rosette of fruit trees. Some injury to
sapwood and bark occurred around injection areas. Although some im-
provements were shown by both soil and spray treatment, the results
were less striking and not as long lived as those produced by trunk in-
jections. In a later experiment these same workers (11) drove pieces
of zinc, e. g. glazer points, into trunks and branches of plants affected
with rosette. Very good results were obtained for all deciduous fruit,
grape and walnut trees receiving this treatment. Soil treatments proved
to be too expensive and were not as effective as the trunk unjections.

Ridgeway (38) investigated rosette of apple in Virginia. He
found that trunk treatments with zinc glazing points and injections of
zinc sulfate crystals gave a much better response than soil applications
or sprays of zinc salts, and that rosette was corrected for a few years,
although there was some injury to the wood. McWhorter (31) reported
similar results from Oregon.

Parker (35) was able to effectively correct mottle—leaf on
lemon trees by using two to four grams of zinc sulfate crystals injected
into trunk borings. Parker believed the crystal injection method would
not be practical with citrus trees. Bould and co-workers (4) reported
that although injections of solid zinc sulfate into trunks and branches

will correct zinc deficiency, the method was very tedious and liable

to cause local damage to plant tissues.

‘Ward (50) attempted to ascertain the best method for
the application of zinc as a corrective measure of little-leaf of fruit
trees He concluded that a dormant spray of five per cent zinc sul-
fate was the most satisfactory method for correcting this deficiency
Applications of five pounds of zinc sulfate per tree broadcast over
the soil produced beneficial effects only in the second and third years
following treatments. Tree injections of zinc salt solutions, using
the method of plant injection developed by Thomas and Roach (44)
and Roach (39) were unsatisfactory. This method of correcting a
deficiency appeared useful as a means of diagnosing deficiencies.

Manganese Deficiency: The symptom most common to

 

manganese deficiency in fruit trees is chlorosis of the leaves. This
chlorosis or yellowing of leaf tissue occurs in the interveinal and
marginal areas. Manganese deficiency is often confused with symptoms
of iron deficiency, but whereas iron deficiency generally appears on
new tip leaves, those of manganese occur on older leaves of individual
shoots, Wallace (48), and Woodbridge and. McClarty (51). Manganese
deficiency as found by Camp and Peech (8), occurring on citrus in
Florida resembled symptoms of zinc deficiency as to leaf pattern, but

was much less pronounced.

Investigations by Epstein and Lilleland (l7), and Boynton
_e_t_ail_. (5) showed that chlorosis of fruit trees was related to manganese
content of the leaf. They were able to correct manganese chlorosis
and increase the leaf content of manganese by the use of manganese
salt injection techniques on fruit trees. Boyntongt a]; (5) observed
that injections would control manganese deficiency for two growing
seasons, whereas spraying lasted for only one season, and soil treat-
ments resulted in erratic response in the trees the following year.
Duggan (15), and Vanselow (46) showed that manganese deficiency
could be corrected readily by using dry salt injections. Duggan found
that spraying the foliage was not sufficient for practical purposes.

Copper Deficiency: Earlier literature considered copper

 

deficiency to be a pathological condition and was called exanthema, wither-
tip or die-back. This condition has been found on fruit trees in various
parts of the World, Wallace (48). The first symptom of copper deficiency
appears on the leaves. Deficient leaves develop a fine network of green
veins accentuated by a light green background of leaf tissue between the
veins, Camp 3311; (9). Leaves thus affected appear distorted and mal-
formed. When copper deficiency becomes acute, shoot die-back occurs

on those shoots affected with defoliation and multiple bud formation,

Bould et_a_L (3), and Dunne (16). Where the deficiency is very severe,
gum exudes from cracks in the main branches and trunks. This con-
dition may lead eventually to the death of affected trees, Thomas (43),
Anderssen (l), Oserkowsky and Thomas (34), and Bouldg al. (3).

Copper deficiency in Florida Citrus groves was first cor-
rected, according to Camp~et _a_l. (9), by inserting crystals of blue-
stone under the bark of citrus trees. Thomas (43), and Oserkowsky
and Thomas (34) reported that powdered copper sulfate injected during
the dormant season into holes bored into tree trunks cured exanthema
in deciduous fruit trees The beneficial effect lasted three seasons.
A foliar spray of Bordeaux was similarly beneficial for one season.
Soil treatments with copper sulfate crystals failed to decrease notice-
ably the symptoms of exanthema. Anderssen (l) was able to cure the
chlorotic conditions of fruit trees caused by copper deficiency by using
copper sulfate soil treatments, while all other methods that were tried
failed to satisfactorily correct this condition.

Tixer (45) found that injections of copper sulfate into

Hevea brasiliensis trees increased yields of rubber. He further found

 

that a second and third injection at six-month intervals was neither

detrimental to future yields of rubber nor injurious to bark and foliage.

Boron Deficiency: Boron deficiency usually affects the

 

meristem or actively dividing tissues of affected plants. Symptoms
of deficiency in apple trees are loss of some leaves followed by ter-
minal rosetting. As the deficiency becomes severe, shoots die back
with roughening and splitting of the bark. Fruits produced from such
a tree are distorted, misshapen and lacking in flavor. The internal
conditions of affected fruits are known as corky core, internal cork,
or drought spot. Various treatments of boric acid and borax seem to
_ prevent recurrence of these symptoms.

A deficiency of boron does not always mean a shortage
of boron in the soil. Boron may be present in soil, but unavailable to
the plant. Certain soil conditions, as drought and high lime content,
can induce boron deficiency in plants, Gisiger (20) and Wallace (48).

The result of three years work by McLarty (30) showed
that trunk injections of boric acid controlled corky core of apple. He
reported no injury resulted from injections, except for the usual bark

and wood injury around injection holes, as reported by many other

workers using this technique. Magness 935:1; (29) found that boric acid

crystals injected into trunks were beneficial in reducing internal cork

of apples.

10

ll

Gloyer (21) investigated drought spot of apples in New
York. He reported severe injury resulted to all apple trees where
injections of boric acid crystals were used.

Burrell ('7) reported that injections of boric acid reduced
the amount of internal cork of apples by over ninety-nine per cent where
this condition was general in an orchard, and caused no foliage injury.
He found that soil treatments of boron gave equally effective control
of internal cork. He concluded that the injection method should not
be used commercially because of bark injury.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Stewart and Leonard (42) were

 

able to correct the molybdenum deficiency of citrus, commonly known

as yellow spot, with foliar spray applications of sodium molybdate.
Symptoms of molybdenum deficiency disappeared within three or four
weeks after application. Trunk injections of one gram of sodium molybdate
corrected deficient trees and returned the foliage to a healthy green color.
Soil applications of molybdenum were found to be unsatisfactory for con-

trol of yellow spOt.

12

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety one-year-old trees (42 apple, 24 cherry, and 24
peach) to be grown in sand cultures, were carefully selected, uniformly
pruned, weighed and plantedin 12-inch clay pots that had been painted
with three coats of asphaltum paint. The growing media was sterile
white quartz gravel (No 7 grade).

After planting the trees were divided into groups of three
trees for each treatment. The treatments were (1) injections of metal
and alloy powders, plus nutrient solution without minor elements, (2) com-
plete nutrient solution, and (3) nutrient solution without minor elements.
Six metal and alloy powder mixtures were prepared by the Ferro Corpora-
tion, Cleveland, Ohio. The composition of these powders is given in Table 1.

Table 1. Nutrient Element Composition of the Metal and
Alloy Powder Mixtures Injected into Trees.

 

 

 

 

Treatment Form Composition (Per Cent)
N0. * Fe Mn Zn B Cu Mo
1 Powder 38.4 38.4 7.7 2.9 7.7 1.1
2 Powder 23. 4 23.4 23.4 2. 9 23. 4 1.0
3 Powder 1‘). 6 33.5 33.5 2. 5 6. 7 0.8
4 Powder 14.8 7. 3 36. 6 2.8 36.6 0.9
5 Nail 42.0 15.0 19.0 3. 7 19.2 0.8
6 Nail 42.0 15.0 19.0 3. 7 19.2 0. 8

 

 

*The materials as received from Ferro Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
were coded as follows: Treatment l--562-l; Treatment 2--562-2; Treatment
3--562-3; Treatment 4--562-4; Treatment 5--No. 7 nail; and Treatment 6--
No. 7 nail (impregnated with citric acid).

13

The trees were injected with the metal and alloy powders
on February 1, 1955, before growth started (Figures 1 and 2). The
injections were made by boring holes 3/16 inch in diameter and approx-
imately 1/2 inch deep into the trunks. Gelatin capsules of No. 5 size.
containing the powder mixtures were inserted into the holes. Each cap—
sule contained 0. 5 grams of the relatively insoluble powders containing
minor elements. After inserting the capsules, the holes were sealed
with latex sealing gauze. The powder mixture in nail form was inserted
by making an incision with a knife and pressing the nail into the trunk
with slip-joint pliers, after covering the jaws with rubber to prevent
injuring the bark. One capsule, or nail, was injected into each tree,
except that some apple trees received two capsules or nails (Tables 2,
5, 8).

The nutrient solutions were prepared according to Hoagland
(24). His No. 2 solution was used to prevent changes to alkaline con-
ditions. The pots were given one quart of solution every second day.
When growth and day temperatures increased, two quarts per pot per
day were used.

The experiment was terminated and trees harvested on

June 21, 22, and 23, 1955, after recording linear growth and trunk diam-

eters. Dry weights of leaves, roots, shoots and trunks were obtained

Figure 1. Nutrient element metal and alloy powders used
for injections.
Upper row: No. 5 gelatin capsules containing powdered
mixtures.
Lower row: Nail form of metal and alloy powders, series
of four nails, lower left, are impregnated
with citric acid.

.5", .
’L . .
) .
. ...:t-
"In... . .' . ‘4 . ’
W t

f" V v H H

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2. Methods used in injecting and sealing metal and
alloy powders.

Upper left: drilling holes for injection of capsules.

Upper right: making incision with knife to insert powder
mixture in nail form.

Lower left: pressing the nail into the trunk with slip-
joint pliers, plier jaws covered with rubber.

LoWer right: sealing injection openings with latex seal-

ing gauze.

 

15

 

16

and the sums taken as total dry weights. Increase in growth was
obtained by subtracting total dry weight after harvest from the cal-
culated fresh weight before planting. Leaves and fibrous roots (separ-
ated from old roots) were prepared for spectrographic analyses and
the analyses conducted in the laboratories of Agricultural Chemistry

Department. Iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron were r

 

lg;
determined. a

17

RESULTS

Growth in relation to the injection of metal and alloy pow—
der mixturesis presented in Tables 2, 3, and 4. Tables 5, 6, and 7
present leaf composition resulting from the use of these materials.
Fibrous root analysis as influenced by metal and'alloy powder injections

is shown in Tables 8, 9, and 10.
Growth

A_p_p_l_e_: Increase in total growth was found to be somewhat
higher for trees injected with 1. 0 gram of powder than for trees injected
with O. 5 gram (Table 2). All measurements of growth were higher
for trees receiving minor elements as injected powders than was obtained
for the trees that did not receive any minor elements. Neither omitting
minor elements nor supplying minor elements as injected powders re-
sulted in growth significantly different from that obtained when the trees
were given a complete nutrient solution.

Visual growth differences, however, were observed at the
time the trees were growing in the greenhouse. All treated plants showed
good color and vigorous growth, whereas trees not receiving minor ele—
ments developed a symptom characteristic of nutrient deficiency in ter-

minal shoot leaves.

 

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Cherry: With the exception of fibrous root growth, statis-
tical analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the
growth of cherry trees injected with metal and alloy powders. As shown
in Table 3, highest total growth resulted where metal and alloy powders
were impregnated with citric acid. Fibrous root growth resulting from
use of treatments 3, 5, and 6 was significantly greater than that made
by trees that received no minor elements. During the period the plants
were growing, check treatments from which minor elements were with-
held developed a severe condition of chlorosis, defoliation and shoot
die-back (Figure 3), while all other treatments maintained vigorous
growth throughout the experiment.

Peach: Although the different measurements of growth

 

showed no significant differences, trees that received injections of
metal and alloy powders appeared equal to, or of better growth than
those trees receiving no minor elements (Table 4). Peach trees given
nutrient solutions not containing minor elements did not develop any

foliar symptoms suggestive of nutrient deficiencies.

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cherry trees.

Top: tree on left showing chlorosis, defoliation and shoot
die-back, as it occurred when the minor elements
were omitted from nutrient solutions. Tree on right.
showing normal growth and color, received injections
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Center: close-up of shoot die-back as it appeared on left
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Bottom: chlorotic leaves (right of scale) as they developed
on trees where the minor elements were omitted in
nutrient solution treatments. Normal leaf on left
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Leaf Composition

Apple: Table 5 shows leaf composition of the leaves
of trees from the various treatments. A significant reduction in
leaf manganese and boron occurred when minor elements were omitted
from the nutrient solution. All metal and alloy powders significantly
increased leaf manganese above that obtained when solutions without
minor elements were used. Injections of larger amounts of powder
did not always increase the amount of manganese found in leaves.
Impregnation of the powder with citric acid significantly increased
leaf manganese. Boron content of leaves was significantly decreased
when boron was omitted from the nutrient solution. An increase in
leaf boron occurred when the trees were injected with metal and alloy
powders. This increase was significant except for 0. 5 gram injections
of mixtures l, 2, and 5. Injections of larger quantities of the powders
with citric acid increased boron absorption. This increase was signi—
ficant when 0. 5 grams were injected, but not significant when 1.0 gram
was injected.

There were no significant differences between the various

treatments in regard to leaf composition for iron, c0pper and zinc.

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25

Cherry: Analyses of leaves from cherry trees are shown
in Table 6. There was a significant difference in leaf manganese and
leaf boron. This significance was as a result of lower leaf manganese
and boron for treatments not receiving minor elements and/or receiv-
ing injections of metal and alloy powders not impregnated with citric
acid. Injections of metal and alloy powders did n0t increase signifi-
cantly leaf manganese above that found when minor elements were
omitted, except when the powder was impregnated with Citric acid.
Boron content of leaves from trees injected with metal and alloy pow-
ders was not significantly different from that found in leaves from
trees not receiving minor elements. There was no significant differ-
ences in the analyses for iron, copper and zinc.

Peach: There were significant differences in the manganese

 

and boron content of peach leaves, Table 7. Both manganese and boron
were significantly lower when minor elements were omitted from the
nutrient solution. Injections of metal and alloy powders did not signi-
ficantly increase leaf manganese, except when the powder was impreg-
nated with citric acid. All injections of metal or alloy powders signi-
ficantly increased leaf boron above that found when minor elements were
omitted from the nutrient solution. Impregnating the powder with citric
acid did not increase boron absorption. No significant differences were

found for iron, copper and zinc analyses.

26

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Root Composition

£22218: Analyses of fibrous roots of apple trees in rela-
tion to the various treatments are recorded in Table 8. Significant
differences were found for copper, while all other elements showed
no significant differences. COpper analysis showed an accumulation
of copper in the fibrous roots when minor elements were omitted from
the nutrient solution. The copper content of fibrous roots from trees
injected with metal. and alloy powder was significantly lower than that
for trees not receiving minor elements.

Cherry: Table 9 records the data concerning the com-
position of fibrous roots in relation to injection of metal and alloy powders
in cherry trees. Manganese was the only nutrient that varied significantly
between treatments. Omitting minor elements from the nutrient solution
and injection of metal and alloy powders resulted in a significantly lower
mangnese content of fibrous roots than was found for the complete nutrient,
solution. Injection of powders used in treatments 1, 2, and 6 resulted in

a manganese content of fibrous roots below that obtained when minor ele-

ments were omitted from the nutrient solution.

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Beach; The manganese and iron composition of fibrous
peach roots was significantly influenced by the treatments, Table 10.
Injections of metal and alloy powders did not significantly increase
manganese content of fibrous roots and in all cases was much less
than the manganese content of roots receiving the complete nutrient
solution. The iron content of fibrous roots was significantly reduced
when iron was omitted from the nutrient solution. The only significant
increase in iron content of fibrous roots occurred when the powders

were impregnated with citric acid. Analyses for copper, boron, and

zinc showed no significant differences.

32

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33

DISCUSSION

The results of this study indicate that fruit trees can
absorb significant amounts of the minor elements from injected metal
and alloy powders.

From the chemical analyses of leaves of apple, cherry
and peach (Table 5, 6, and 7) it appears that minor elements were re-
leased from the injected materials impregnated with citric acid, and
were absorbed in amounts significantly greater than when minor ele-
ments were added in nutrient solution, or omitted from nutrient solu-
tions. Although not significant, total growth of cherry and peach
(Tables 3 and 4) give similar responses where materials were impreg-
nated with citric acid. This factor should not be overlooked because
symptoms of severe chlorosis, defoliation and shoot die-back developed
on trees which received no minor elements, whereas vigorous and
healthy growth of cherry trees was sustained by all other treatments.
This clearly indicates that some minor elements were being beneficially
absorbed from all injected materials.

Comprehensive studies of other workers using leaf analyses as

a means of determining chemical composition of leaves, reveals that

34

leaf analyses values of this experiment do compare quite well with
those percentages of elements reported by Goodall and Gregory
(22) to be associated with normal growth.

Iron and manganese values attained by Proebsting and
Kenworthy (36) were found to be the same as those reported in this
experiment. Averages comparable to those established by Kenworthy
(27) using spectrographic leaf analyses in determining percentages of
iron, manganese, copper and boron, seem to be well borne out in
this study of injected metal and alloy powders.

Employing different techniques with these metal and alloy
powders may result in obtaining varying reactions in either plant growth
or chemical responses.

Injury to internal wood tissues was sustained by the in-
jections of metal and alloy powders (Figure 4). No signs of external

injury resulting from injections were observed.

 

Figure 4 Internal wood injury of fruit trees as a result of
metal and alloy powder injections.

Top: internal tissue injury characteristic to capsule in-
jections.

 

Bottom: internal tissue injury characteristic to nail in—
jections.

36

SUMMARY

Greenhouse experiments with minor elements (Fe, Mn,

Zn, B, Cu) in metal and alloy powder forms were conducted on apple,
cherry and peach trees. The metal and alloy powders were injected
in the trunks of trees; major elements were supplied as nutrient
solutions. Controls consisted of trees receiving a complete Hoagland
solution, and the same solution minus minor elements. Plants were
grown in 12-inch clay pots painted with asphaltum and in a medium
consisting of sterile No. 7 size white quartz gravel.

Linear growth and trunk diameters were recorded at the
tifne of harvesting. Total dry weight increase was calculated for
leaves, roots, shoots and trunk. Iron, manganese, zinc, copper and
boron composition of leaves and fibrous roots were determined by
spectrographic analysis.

Apple growth results were higher where l. 0 gram of the
powder was used than where 0. 5 grams were injected. A visible nutrient
deficiency symptom appeared in the later growing period in the trees
receiving no minor elements. However, differences in growth as measured

by dry weights, were not statistically significant.

 

37

The greatest total growth of cherry trees was obtained
with injection of powders impregnated with citric acid. Severe chlorosis,
defoliation and shoot die-back occurred only in treatments where the
minor elements were entirely omitted. This condition was not identi-
fied with chemical analysis. No deficiency symptoms were visually
apparent in peach treatments, and the data show no significant growth
differences between treatments.

Analyses of apple leaves showed that metal and alloy
powders impregnated with citric acid significantly increased leaf man-
ganese content over all other treatments. A similar response to
citric acid was obtained for boron, but the highest response was regis-
tered where 0. 5 grams were injected.

Analyses of cherry leaves showed manganese to be the
only nutrient increased by citric acid impregnation of metal and alloy
powders. Analyses of peach leaves showed a similar manganese in-
crease with the citric acid impregnated materials.

Copper analyses of apple fibrous roots showed an un-
explainable accumulation of copper occurred in that treatment where
minor elements were omitted from nutrient solutions. This accumulation
was greater than that occurring in treatments receiving injected metal and

alloy powders.

38

The absorption of manganese by cherry roots was found
to be more significant in the complete nutrient solution than in the in-
jected treatments? or those where minor elements were omitted.
Definite increase in iron occurred in fibrous roots of peach when metal
and alloy powders were impregnated with citric acid.

Internal wood injury occurred where metal and alloy

poWders were injected into the fruit trees.

10.

ll.

39

LITERATURE CITED

. Anderssen, F. G. Chlorosis of deciduous fruit trees due to copper

deficiency. Jour. Pom. Hort. Sci. 10:130-146. 1932.

Bennett, j. P. The treatment of lime-induced chlorosis with iron
salts. Calif. Sta. Cir. 321 1931.

Bould, C., D. J. D. Nicholas, 1. A. H. Tolhurst, and J. M. S. Potter.
Copper deficiency of fruit trees in Great Britain. Jour.
Hort. Sci. 28: 268-277. 1953

 

Zinc deficiency of fruit trees in Great Britain. Jour. Hort.
Sci. 28: 260-267. 1953

. Boynton, D , A. Krochmal, and] Konecny. Leaf and soil analysis

for manganese in relation to interveinal chlorosis in sour
cherry, peach, and apple trees in New York. Proc. Amer.
Soc. Hort- Sci. 57: 1-8. 1951.

Burke, E. , _eia_l; Overcoming yellowing of apple tree leaves. Montana
'Exp. Sta. Rep, p. 90. 1927.

. Burrell, A. B. Control of internal cork of apple with boron. Proc.

Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 35:169-175. 1937.

. Camp, A. F. , and M. Peech. Manganese deficiency in citrus in Florida.

Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 36: 81-85. 1939.

, H D. Chapman, G. M. Bahrt, and E. R. Parker. Symp-
toms of citrus malnutrition. Hunger Signs in Crops. p. 267-
299. Amer. Soc. Agron. and Nat. Fert. Assoc. 1941

 

Chandler, W. H., D. R. Hoagland, and P. L. Hibbard. Little-leaf or
rosette of fruit trees [1. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 29:
255-263. 1932.

_. Little-leaf or
rosette of fruit trees IV. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 32:
11-19. 1935.

 

 

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

l7.

l8.

19.

.20

21.

22.

Chapman, H. D., S. M. Brown and D. S. Rayner. Nutrient defi-
ciencies of citrus. Calif Citrograph 30(6): 162. 1945

Crawford, R.. F. The causes and control of chlorosis in New Mexico.

New Mexico Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 264. 1939.

Dennis, j. A Orchard practices in treatment of trees and soil for
iron chlorosis. Calif. Citrograph 24 (6): 200. 1939.

Duggan, 1. B. A promising attempt to cure chlorosis due to man—
ganese deficiency in a commercial cherry orchard. Jour.
Pom. Hort. Sci 20: 69-79. 1943.

Dunne, T. C. Wither-tip or summer die-back a copper deficiency
disease of apple trees. Jour. Dept. Agr. West. Aust. 15:
120-126. 1938.

Epstein, E. , and O. Lilleland. A preliminary study of the manganese

content of the leaves of some deciduous fruit trees. Proc.
Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci 41: 11-18. 1942.

Finch, A. H. Pecan rosette a physiological disease apparently sus-

ceptible to treatment with zinc. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort.
Sci. 29: 264-266. 1932.

, D. W. Albert, and A. F. Kinnison. Progress on control

 

40

of citrus chlorosis or decline. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. .

32: 20-23. 1934.

Gisigler, L. Deficiencies of minor elements caused by excesses.

Trace Elements in Plant Physiology. Lotsya 3: 19-30. 1950.
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Gloyer, ‘W. O. Boric acid injections prove injurious. Farm Res. 3 (4):

14. 1937.

Goodall, D. W., and F. G. Gregory. Chemical composition of plants
as an index of their nutritional status. Imperial Bur Hort.

and Plantation Crops. Tech. Comm. No. 17. 1947.

 

23.

24.

25.
26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34

41

Hendrickson, A. H. A chlorotic condition of pear trees. Proc.
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Hoagland, D. R., and D. I. Arnon. The water culture method
for growing plants without soil. Calif. Agr. Exp Sta.
Cir. 347. 1950.

Jensen, J. H Chlorosis of citrus in Puerto Rico. Phytopath 27:
731. 1937.

“ I (if? .D Jig?
l

i

..K

Kemp, H. K., and J. A. Beare. Lime-induced chlorosis in fruit
trees. Jour. Dept. Agr. So. Aust. 48: 526-529. 1945.

 

Kenworthy, A. L. Nutrient-element composition of leaves from J
fruit trees. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 55:41-46.
1950.

, H. K. Bell, and R. P. Larsen. Zinc deficiency
found in Michigan peach orchard. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta.
Quart. Bul. 38 (1): 70-72. 1955.

 

Magness, J. R., E. S. Degrnan, L. P. Batjer, and L. O. Regeimbal.
Effect of nutritional treatments on internal cork of apples.
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McLarty, H. R. Tree injections with boron and other materials as
a control for drought spot and corky core of apple. Sci.
Agric. 16: 625-633. 1936.

McWhorter, O. T. Zinc sulfate treatments for little-leaf condition
of deciduous fruits. Ann. Rep. Ore. State Hort Soc. 28:
121-124. 1936.

Moore, E. C. Treatment of citrus and windbreak trees affected
with iron chlorosis. Calif. Citrograph 24 (3): 89. 1939.

Oserkowsky, J. Quantitative relation between chlorophyll and
iron in green and chlorotic pear leaves. Plant Phys. 8:
449-468. 1933. ‘

, and H. E. Thomas Exanthema in pear and copper
deficiency. Plant Phys. 13: 451. 1938.

 

35.

36.

37.

38.

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45.

42

Parker, E. R. Experiments on the.treatment of mettle-leaf on
citrus trees Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 31: 98-107.
1934.

Proebsting, E. L. Jr., and A. L. Kenworthy. Growth and leaf
analysis of Montmorency cherry trees as influenced by
solar radiation and intensity of nutrition. Proc. Amer.
Soc. Hort. Sci. 63: 41-48. 1954.

Purvis, E. R. Commercial use and importance of heavy plant
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Ridgeway, H. W. A case of rosette on apple in Virginia. Proc..
Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 35: 227-229. 1937.

Roach, W. A. Plant injection for diagnostic and curative purposes.
Imp. Bur. Hort. and Plantation Crops. Tech. Comm. No.
10. 1938.

Southwick, R. W. Pressure injection of iron sulfate into citrus
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Starr, G. H. The control of chlorosis in cottonwood trees and other
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Stewart, 1., and C. D. Leonard. Citrus nutrition studies, molyb-
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1951-52.

Thomas, H. E. The curing of exanthema by injection of copper
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Thomas, L. A , and ‘W. A. Roach. Injections of fruit trees:
Preliminary experiments with artificial manures. Jour Pom.
Hort. Sci. 12: 151-166. 1934.

i. .

Tixier, P The injection of trace elements, especially copper in
the form of sulfate, into the Hevea brasiliensis tree. Jour.
Rubber Res. Inst. Malaya 13 Commun. 276.. pp. 192-199
1951

 

46.

47

48.

49.

50

51.

52.

43

Vanselow, A. P The minor element content of normal manganese
deficient and manganese-treated English walnut trees.
Proc. Amer Soc. Hort. Sci. 46: 15-20. 1945.

Wallace, T. Chlorosis of fruit trees. V. The control of lime-
induced chlorosis by injection of iron salts. Jour Pom.
Hort. Sci. 13: 54-67. 1935.

The Diagnosis of Mineral Deficiencies in Plants.
Chemical Publishing Co. Inc. , New York, N. Y. 107 pp
plus 312 color plates. 1953.

 

Wann, F. B. Chlorosis, yellowing of plants, cause and control.
Utah Agr. Exp. Sta. Cir. ‘85. 1930.

Ward, K. M. The. treatment of little-leaf of deciduous fruit trees.
Queensland Jour. Agr. Sci. 1:59-76. 1944.

Woodbridge, C. G. , and H. R. McLarty. Further observations and
investigations on manganese deficiency in fruit trees in

British Columbia. Can. Jour. Agr. Sci. 33: 153-158. ‘1953.

Zinc deficiency in fruit trees in the Okanagan

 

Valley in British Columbia. Can. Jour. Agr. Sci. 34: 545-
551. 1954.

APPENDIX

A. Calculation oflncrease in Growth
Since it was impossible to obtain dry weights of the trees
at planting time, representative trees of each kind were dried, weighed,

and the dry weights calculated as per cent of fresh weight, as follows:

Calculation of Dry Weight Per Cent of Fresh Weight

 

 

 

 

Kind "Weight of Tree- -Gm Per Cent
of Fresh Dry Dry Weight
Tree
Apple 122. 0 65.0 53.0
Cherry 431. 3 218. 7 50. 7
Peach 275.0 139. 8 50. 9

 

 

Dry weights of the trees at time of planting were then cal-

culated in each case as the indicated per cent of the fresh weight. This '

calculated weight for each tree was subtracted from the total dry weight

of the tree after harvest to obtain total growth in grams dry weight.

44

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