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Effects of calcium deficiency on Coffea arabica. Nutrient changes and correlation of calcium levels with some photosynthetic parameters

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Abstract

Calcium deficiency was induced in hydroponically grown 1.5-years-old coffee plants with 12–14 pairs of leaves. Calcium was given in the form of Ca(NO3)2: 5, 2.5, 0.1, 0.01 and 0 mM. After 71 days of Ca-treatment root and shoot as well as total biomass were decreased by severe Ca-deficiency. However, a stronger decrease was observed for shoot growth as revealed by the increase in the root/shoot ratio. New leaves were affected showing decreases in the total leaf area and in Leaf Area Duration (LAD). After 91 days of deficiency, leaf protein concentration decreased (by about 45%) in the top leaves while nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and NO3 content showed no significant changes. Total nitrogen and mineral concentrations (P, K, Ca, Mg and Na) were also determined in leaves and roots. With the decrease in calcium concentration in Ca-deficiency conditions, we observed concomitant increases in the concentrations of K+, Mg2+ and Na+ in leaves (maximal changes of 32% for K+, 96% for Mg2+ and 438% for Na+) and in roots (108% for K+, 86% for Mg2+ and 38% for Na+). Accordingly, the ratio between elements changed, including the ratio N/P, showing a non-equilibrium in the balance of nutrients. Significant correlations were obtained between Ca2+ concentration and some photosynthetic parameters. Ca-deficiency conditions would increase the loss of energy as expressed by the rise in aE and decrease the photochemical efficiency, which confirms the importance of this element in the stabilization of chlorophyll and in the maintenance of good photochemical efficiency at PS II level.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

Chlorophyll

Fv/Fm:

ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence

LAD:

leaf area duration

LHC II:

light harvesting complex of PS II

NRA:

nitrate reductase activity

PC:

photosynthetic capacity

PS II:

photosystem II

P680 :

reaction center of PS II

qN :

non-photochemical quenching

qE :

high-energy dependent quenching

qp :

photochemical quenching

SLA:

specific leaf area

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Centro de Estudos de Produção e Tecnologia Agrícolas, Tapada da Ajuda, Apartado 3014, 1301, Lisboa Codex, Portugal

    José C. Ramalho, M. C. Rebelo, M. Emília Santos, M. Luísa Antunes & M. Antonieta Nunes

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  1. José C. Ramalho
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  2. M. C. Rebelo
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  3. M. Emília Santos
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  4. M. Luísa Antunes
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  5. M. Antonieta Nunes
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Ramalho, J.C., Rebelo, M.C., Santos, M.E. et al. Effects of calcium deficiency on Coffea arabica. Nutrient changes and correlation of calcium levels with some photosynthetic parameters. Plant Soil 172, 87–96 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00020862

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