Micronutrient deficiency is a key isssue to be addressed for sustainable fruit crop production. Here individual micronutrients are discussed in details regarding their role and mangement in fruit crops.

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Welcome to
PG seminar (Crop production Group) Series
2020-21

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SPEAKER:
Panchaal Bhattacharjee
Ph. D. (Hort.) Fruit Science
Reg. No. :1080118005
Major Guide
Dr. M. J. Patel
Associate Professor & Head(I/C)
Dept. of Horticulture
B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU,
Anand- 388110
Minor Guide
Dr. N. J. Jadav
Professor & Head
Dept. of Soil Science & Agril. Chem.
B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU,
Anand- 388110
Course no. : SOILS 692: Doctoral Seminar-II (Minor Seminar: 0+1)
Micronutrients: Role &
Management in Fruit Crops

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Nutrient dynamics in fruit trees attributes to variable nutrient
demand throughout the phenological stages, and the knowledge
of this dynamics is important to guarantee an adequate
development of the fruit species.
In addition, during the cycle of perennial plants, there are
several translocations and storage of nutrients, which
guarantee the nutritional balance of plant tissues.
In this sense, several research works have already been carried
out, seeking to understand these processes and provide supports
for the proper management of nutrients in orchards.
Amid these managemental approach a crucial factor for fruit
crops’s growth and development in orchard is
“Micronutrients”
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• Introduction:
• Present fruit cultivation status in country
• Micronutrients
• Micronutrient scenario in India
• Detailed description of individual micronutrients: B, Zn, Fe,
Cu, Mn, Ni, Mo, Cl
• Brief background
• Factors involved in their availability
• Mechanism of intake
• Role in fruit crops
• Symptoms: Deficiency/Toxicity
• Management along with relevant case study
• Combined use of multiple micronutrients (Case studies)
• Conclusion
Seminar Outline
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India is the second largest producer of fruits in the world, and
accounts for about 10.4% of global fruit production.
Current fruit production of country exceeds 967.54 lakh MT
and the total area under fruit cultivation is around 65.30 lakh
hectare.
The area under fruit cultivation in Gujarat is about 4.22 lakh
hectare with the production of 90.78 lakh MT and productivity
21.51 MT/ hectare.
Source: NHB, Database (2018-19)
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Table 1: Area, Production and Productivity of different fruit crops
(2018-19)
INDIA
CROPS
AREA
(IN 000' HA)
PRODUCTION
(IN 000’MT)
PRODUCTIVITY
(IN MT/HA)
Mango 2313.0 22353.0 9.6
Banana 874.0 30006.0 34.33
Papaya 139.0 5831.0 41.94
Guava 270.0 4107.0 15.21
Sapota 101.0 1200.0 11.88
Citrus 973.0 12253.0 12.59
Pomegranate 246 2865.00 11.64
Source: NHB, Database (2018-19)
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Production share of fruit crops in India
Source: NHB, Database (2018-19)
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GUJARAT
CROPS
AREA
(IN 000' HA)
PRODUCTION
(IN 000’MT)
PRODUCTIVITY
(IN MT/HA)
Mango 164.6 1207.3 7.3
Banana 70.2 4610.6 65.67
Papaya 19.5 1207.0 61.89
Guava 13.4 179.1 13.36
Sapota 28.8 321.2 11.15
Citrus 47.7 621.6 13.03
Pomegranate 37.7 578.9 15.35
Table 2: Area, Production and Productivity of fruit crops in Gujarat (2018-19)
Source: NHB, Database (2018-19)
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Leading fruit producing states in terms of area
Source: NHB, Database (2018-19)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12 10.65
10.18
7.35
6.94
6.47 5.41 5.06 5.03 4.73 4.62
Area (%)
Area (%)
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Leading fruit producing states in terms of production
Source: NHB, Database (2018-19)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
15.53
11 10.33 9.38
7.72 7.62
5.89 5.31 3.98
2.74
Production (%)
Production (%)
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Micronutrients
The essential elements which are required in
very small amount (less than 100 mg/kg of dry
matter) or traces by the plants which can not
replaced by any other nutrients are called as
micronutrients.
B
Zn
Fe
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Essential nutrients required by a plant
1.Carbon (C)
2.Hydrogen (H)
3.Oxygen (O)
4.Nitrogen (N)
5.Phosphorous (P)
6.Potassium (K)
7.Sulphur (S)
8.Calcium (Ca)
9.Magnesium (Mg)
A. Macronutrients B. Micronutrients
1.Zinc (Zn)
2.Iron (Fe)
3.Boron (B)
4.Copper (Cu)
5.Chlorine (Cl)
6.Manganese (Mn)
7.Molybdenum (Mo)
8.Nickel (Ni)
Arnon and Stout (1939)
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Mobility in plants
Zn - moderately mobile
Mo- relatively mobile
Fe, Mn, Cu, Cl - less mobile
B – immobile
Mobility in soil
Cl, B, Mn - mobile
Cu – less mobile
Zn - immobile
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 About 40-55% of Indian soils are moderately
deficient in Zn and 25-30% are deficient in
Boron
 Deficiency of other micronutrients occurs in
15% of soils.
 Almost all micronutrient deficiencies or
toxicities in Indian soils fall in the mild to
moderate category.
 Their deficiencies are visible in terms of leaf
colour, size, growth-habit, flowering and yield
 70-80% of micronutrient disorders in
horticultural crops occur as hidden hunger.
Micronutrient scenario in India:
Raja, M. E., (2009) ;IISS(2017)
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 Intensive cropping system through high yielding
varieties/hybrids.
 Lack of organic matter or low or no use of organic matter.
 Use of high analysis fertilizers having no micronutrient
content.
 Negative interaction of micronutrient with other
macro/micronutrient.
 Farmers lack of awareness about micronutrients.
 Not using micronutrient supplements.
Causes of micronutrients deficiency in India
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Deficiency symptom sites in plant
Old leaves New leaves Old and new leaves Terminal buds
Mo Fe, Mn, Cu Zn
B
Dead spots
Dark Green
veins
Yellow veins
Fe, Mn Cu
Deficiency: It is a state of lack of any essential element
or elements in plants.
Bronzing Chlorosis
between veins
Discoloration
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Methods of applying micronutrients
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Boron (B)
• More than 80 years ago, boron was known as one of the
essential elements for plant growth.
• The importance of boron in plant nutrition was first reported
by Warington (1923) and later on by Brandenburg (1931) in
their work on heart and dry rot of horticultural crops.
• B concentration from its essentiality to toxicity is extremely
narrow, and also because it occurs as an uncharged molecule
(boric acid) which can pass lipid bilayers without any degree
of controls, as occurs for other ionic nutrients.
• It is also well known that monocotyledons require less boron
than dicotyledons, which refers to the lower capacity of roots
in monocotyledons for boron absorption compared with roots
of dicotyledons.
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Detailed description of individual micronutrients:
(Tariq and Mott, 2007)

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Factors affecting availability of boron in fruit crops
• The B availability in many areas of the world is limited due to its
high solubility and leaching off by irrigation or rainfall in shallow
or coarse-textured soils (Zhou et al., 2014).
• Furthermore, the probabilities of B bioavailability under drought
conditions or in soils with low organic matter are also lowered as
a result of the alkalization and organic matter degradation,
respectively (Shorrocks, 1997).
• Soil pH; With increasing pH, B becomes less mobile and
therefore less bioavailable to plants due to the increase of its
adsorption on soil particles.
• Soil texture; Deficiency of B in plants often happens in sandy
soils (Mahmoud et al., 2006).
• B deficiency is associated with dry extreme summer
conditions(>45°C).
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Mechanism of intake:
• It is well known that plants take up B from soil in the boric
acid form. Absorption of boric acid by roots can happened by
three different molecular mechanisms depending on B
availability:
• (a) Passive diffusion through lipid bi-layer.
• (b) Aided transport by major intrinsic protein (MIP) channel.
• (c) Energy-dependent high-affinity transport system encouraged
in react to low B supply, which is facilitated via BOR transporters
(eg. OsBOR1, ZmRTE, and BnaC4. BOR1;1c have been
characterized as B transporters).
(Tanaka and Fujiwara, 2008; Yoshinari and Takano, 2017)
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(c) Energy dependent BOR regulated
pathway
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 Essential for seed and cell wall
formation and meristematic tissues.
 Essential for germination of pollen
grains and growth of pollen tubes.
 Necessary for sugar translocation.
 Affects nitrogen and carbohydrate
metabolism.
 It act as a stabilizer in cell walls pectic
network.
Role of boron in fruit crops
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Symptoms of boron deficiency:
• Symptoms of boron deficiency in the shoots are noticeable at
the terminal buds or youngest leaves, which become
discolored and may die.
• Internodes are shorter, giving the plants a bushy or rosette
appearance, eg- in Apple.
• Interveinal chlorosis on mature leaves may occur, as might
misshapen leaf blades.
• Drop of buds, flowers, and developing fruits, cracking and
distorted fruit is also a typical symptom of boron deficiency.
• Disruption in metabolisms of auxin, carbohydrate, fat,
ascorbate, RNA, lignifications, cell wall synthesis, phenol
accumulation and sucrose transport, salt adsorption being
secondary effects.
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Fig:Boron deficiency symptoms
in (A) fruit and (B) leaves; (C)
leaf chlorosis of citrus; (D) “Shot
berries” in grape, affected by
Boron deficiency
(D)
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Nutrient Mode Fertilizer
Boron
Soil 10 g /tree
Foliar 0.05-0.1% spray
Micronutrient fertilizers(B) management
recommendation for fruit orchards
Zia et al. (2006)
Boron deficiency in
mango
Boron fertilizer: (%)
Borax 11
Boric acid 17
Boron frits 10-17
Sodium tetraborate 14
Sodium pentaborate 18
Borate -65 20
Interaction of boron with other nutrients
B: antagonistic with P.
B: synergistic with Zn, for growth
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Table 3 : Effect of foliar application of boric acid on flowering, fruit retention, and
fruit weight of mango cv. Himsagar
Treatment
(Boric acid)
Hermaphrodite
flowers (%)
Fruit retention
(No./panicle)
Fruit weight(g) Pulp weight (g)
500 ppm 28.44 1.14 220.00 143.00
1000 ppm 28.59 1.69 240.00 160.00
2000 ppm 30.30 1.81 252.00 172.36
3000 ppm 30.85 1.93 280.00 193.20
4000 ppm 30.30 1.73 258.00 178.36
Control 25.82 1.24 210.00 143.98
C.D.at 5 % 0.48 0.03 1.32 2.42
B.C.K.V.,West Bengal Dutta (2004)
Note : Treatment were given at the time of bud swelling stage ,
age of the trees-10 years
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Treatment
(Boric acid)
TSS
(Brix°)
Acidity
(%)
TSS/acid
ratio
Total sugars
(%)
Ascorbic
acid
(mg/100g)
500 ppm 18.0 0.12 150.0 14.30 14.28
1000 ppm 18.2 0.13 140.0 14.32 14.18
2000 ppm 18.4 0.12 153.3 14.32 14.16
3000 ppm 18.8 0.10 188.0 14.36 14.00
4000 ppm 18.2 0.10 182.0 14.32 13.62
Control 17.8 0.14 127.1 14.00 14.80
C.D.at 5 % 0.27 0.003 - 0.41 0.22
Table 4: Effect of foliar application of boric acid on quality parameters of
mango fruits cv. Himsagar
B.C.K.V.,West Bengal Dutta (2004)
Note : Treatment were given at the time of bud swelling stage,
age of the trees- 10 years
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Sr.
No. Treatment
TSS
(°Brix)
Total
sugar
(%)
Reducing
Sugar
(%)
Non-
Reducing
Sugar
(%)
Titreble
acidity
(%)
Ascorbic
Acid
contain
(mg/100g
m pulp)
T1 Calcium nitrate - 0.06% 20.57 14.87 4.75 10.12 0.339 38.40
T2 Boric acid-0.02% 21.81 15.55 4.85 10.70 0.283 40.42
T3 Sorbitol -2% (fine sorbitol) 19.71 13.74 4.78 9.27 0.345 36.18
T4
Calcium nitrate -0.06% +
boric acid - 0.02%
19.96 14.03 4.59 9.51 0.336 33.54
T5
Calcium nitrate - 0.06% +
sorbitol 2%
19.15 13.93 4.40 9.55 0.357 32.12
T6
Boric acid - 0.02% + sorbitol
-2%
20.21 14.59 4.69 9.91 0.325 35.10
T7 Control (water spray) 18.31 13.32 4.29 9.04 0.394 31.21
SEm (±) 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.02 0.22
CD at 5% 0.10 0.09 0.05 0.14 0.04 0.46
Table 5: Effect of foliar application of calcium, boric acid and sorbitol on the fruit
quality parameters of mango cv. Alphanso
Sankar et al. (2013)Periyakulam (T.N.)
Note:- Foliar application done at pea stage of fruit
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Zinc (Zn)
• During the 1930s, Zn deficiency symptoms such as little leaf
or rosette were described for peach (Prunus persica) (Chandler
et al., 1931) and pecan (Carya illinoensis) (Alben et al., 1932).
• At about the same time, the so called mottle-leaf on citrus
(Citrus sp.), characterized by yellowing of the areas between
leaf veins, was also found to be caused by Zn deficiency
(Johnston, 1933; Parker, 1934, 1935).
• Unlike other micronutrients metal ions such as copper, iron,
and manganese, zinc is a divalent cation (Zn++) that does not
undergo valence changes and therefore has no redox activity in
plants.
• High concentrations of other divalent cations such as Ca++
inhibit zinc uptake somewhat.
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Zinc deficiency is
the most widespread
and limiting growth
and yield in fruit crops.
Zinc has been the
micronutrient most
often needed by tree
crops.
E.g.-Citrus, Apple
and perennial vines
like Grape
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• Zn absorption is a complex physiological trait which is mainly
governed by Zn transporters and metal chelators of plant
system.
• Zn is absorbed passively as divalent metal ion Zn++; through
mass flow and diffusion via water solvent across root cell-
plasma membrane.
• But unlike water, charged Zn ions are not able to cross cell
membranes freely, so these divalent cations are transported by
specific transporter proteins
• These proteins are not in close association with ATP
breakdown which confirms passive uptake of Zn rather than
active.
Mechanism of intake:
(Gupta et al., 2016)
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Role of zinc in fruit crops
Zinc acts either as a metal component of enzymes or as a
functional, structural, or regulatory co-factor of a large number
of enzymes. It is the only metal present in all six enzyme
classes(viz.oxidoreductase, transferase, hydrolases, lyases,
isomerases and ligases).
 Crucial for protein synthesis. Zinc is an essential component of
RNA polymerase.
Involved in bio synthesis of Auxin.
It also helps in alleviation of oxidative, heat stress and also acts
as intracellular second messenger.
(Yamasaki et al. 2007).
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• Zn acts in CHO, starch metabolism .
• Zinc is also a constituent of ribosomes, It is essential for
their structural integrity of bio-membranes.
• Repair processes of PS-II complex during photoinhibition
.
• Helps in Chlorophyll synthesis.
• Maintenance of CO2 concentration in mesophyll.
• Regulation of rubisco activity along with alleviation from
adverse effects of heat stress.
ROLE OF ZINC IN FRUIT CROPS

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Symptoms of zinc deficiency in plants include:
 1. Decrease in stem length and shortening of internodes,
rosetting of terminal leaves.
 2. Reduced fruit bud formation.
 3. Mottled leaves, interveinal chlorosis. Sometimes, a red.
spot-like discoloration (caused by anthocyanins) on the leaves
often occurs.
 Young leaves are usually the most affected and Bloom
spikes are small, deformed and drooping.
 Symptoms of chlorosis and necrosis on older leaves of zinc-
deficient plants are most likely the result of phosphorus
toxicity.
 4. Dieback of twigs after the first year.
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Fig: Zinc deficiency symptoms in (A) & (B) “Mottle leaves” in Citrus;
(C) Deformed mango leaf ; (D) “rosette or, ('little leaf')” in Apple,
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
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Interaction of zinc with
other nutrients
Zn: antagonistic with P, Cu.
Zn: synergetic with N, S, B
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Zinc fertilizer (%)
Zinc sulphate
monohydrated
35
Zinc sulphate
heptahydrated
23
Basic zinc sulphate 55
Zinc oxide 78
Zinc sulphide 67
Chelated form
Disodium zinc EDTA 14
Sodium zinc EDTA 13
Sodium zinc HEDTA 9
Zinc polyflavonoid 10
Zinc lingnosulphonate 5
Nutrient Mode Fertilizer
Zinc
Soil 40-100 g Zn/ tree
Foliar 0.1% Zn
Micronutrient fertilizers(B) management
recommendation for fruit orchards
Zn deficiency in
banana
Zia et al. (2006)

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Treatments 9th Months after planting
Height of
Pesudostem
(cm)
Girth of
pseudostem
(cm)
No.of
leaves/plant
Total leaf
area (m2)
No.of
suckers
/plant
T 1 = Control (RDF ) 155.90 48.00 12.58 10.68 4.92
T 2 = RDF + 25 g FeSO4 163.00 58.00 15.50 16.90 5.62
T 3 = RDF + 50 g FeSO4 157.24 56.00 14.33 14.17 5.53
T 4 = RDF + 25 g FeEDTA 163.42 59.58 15.75 17.21 5.88
T 5 = RDF + 50 g FeEDTA 157.63 57.28 14.50 14.47 5.42
T 6 = RDF + 20 g ZnSO4 157.43 56.08 14.42 14.34 5.38
T7 = RDF + 40 g ZnSO4 176.92 63.00 16.25 18.16 6.17
T8 = RDF + 20 g ZnEDTA 161.42 57.92 15.00 16.37 5.58
T9 = RDF + 40 g ZnEDTA 191.03 65.92 17.58 21.81 6.63
S.Em± 6.87 2.59 0.57 1.01 0.31
C.D.at 5% 20.61 7.77 1.71 3.04 N.S
Table 6: Effect of micronutrients on growth of banana cv.Grand Nain
N.A.U.,Navsari Yadav et al .(2010)
Note: Common application of MnSO4 20g + CuSO4 5g + Borax 10g were given in all the
tretments expect control and treatments were given at 3 and 4 MAP)
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Treatments No.of days planting
to inflorescence
emergence
No.of days
inflorescence
emergence to
harvesting
Total
crop
duration
(in days)
T 1 = Control (RDF ) 326.03 103.25 429.28
T 2 = RDF + 25 g FeSO4 298.61 87.75 386.36
T 3 = RDF + 50 g FeSO4 310.33 99.00 409.33
T 4 = RDF + 25 g FeEDTA 297.56 88.00 385.56
T 5 = RDF + 50 g FeEDTA 304.58 90.00 394.58
T 6 = RDF + 20 g ZnSO4 303.91 89.50 393.41
T7 = RDF + 40 g ZnSO4 295.22 77.50 372.72
T8 = RDF + 20 g ZnEDTA 304.16 91.41 395.58
T9 = RDF + 40 g ZnEDTA 280.08 85.92 366.00
S.Em± 7.48 2086 7.75
C.D.at 5% 22.43 8.58 23.25
Table 7: Effect of micronutrients on duration of banana crop cv.Grand Nain
N.A.U.,Navsari Yadav et al .(2010)
Note: Common application of MnSO4 20g + CuSO4 5g + Borax 10g were given in all the
tretments expect control and treatments were given at 3 and 4 MAP)
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Treatment Weight of
fruit (g)
TSS
(°brix)
Acidity (%) Total sugar
content(%)
Ascorbic acid
content
(mg/100g)
T0-Control 98.10 9.6 0.44 6.68 158.38
T1-CaNO3(1%) 106.14 10.4 0.43 7.24 178.14
T2-CaNO3(1.5%) 104.12 10.0 0.41 7.56 190.32
T3-CaNO3(2%) 110.06 9.8 0.43 7.50 187.16
T4-H3BO3(0.2%) 112.72 10.6 0.40 7.94 196.05
T5-H3BO3(0.4%) 120.87 11.2 0.36 8.72 210.18
T6-H3BO3(0.6%) 116.11 10.8 0.42 8.04 189.82
T7-ZnSO4(0.2%) 114.34 11.2 0.39 8.42 208.47
T8-ZnSO4(0.4%) 118.78 11.8 0.34 9.22 230.24
T9-ZnSO4(0.6%) 110.32 10.8 0.41 7.76 196.18
C.D. at 5% 3.30 0.91 0.05 0.96 4.87
Table 8 :Effect of foliar application of micronutrients on fruit
quality of guava cv. Sardar
C.S.A.U.A.T.,Kanpur Goswami et al.(2012)
Treatments were given at 45 and 25 days before harvesting , age of the tree- 9
years
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Iron(Fe)
• Iron (Fe) is one of the most studied element in mineral
nutrition of plants.
• It is the first micronutrient to be discovered as an essential
element for plant life.
• Present in chloroplasts as a “ferrodoxin” compound
• Although its relatively high abundance in the earth’s cultivated
soils, plant Fe acquisition is often impaired, a fact resulting in
severe crop losses.
• Among the soil properties that impair Fe nutrition problems,
calcium carbonate (CaCO3), whose presence is widespread on
30% of total land area.
• Several perennial, deciduous, as well as evergreen fruit crops
develop symptoms of iron deficiency—interveinal chlorosis of
apical leaves—when cultivated in calcareous and alkaline soils,
avalibility: (pH :4-6).
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• The solubility and availability of iron in soil can be affected
by multiple factors, including soil pH, the redox potential,
microbial processes, and the amounts of organic matter and
aeration in soil.
• Iron in the rhizosphere is mainly present as Fe3+ which is
not readily accessible to plants. Different plant species have
evolved different strategies for iron acquisition from soil.
• Non-graminaceous plants(Most of the fruit crops), known as
strategy-I plants, use a reduction-based strategy, in which
plasma-membrane (PM)-localized H+-ATPases (AHAs)
release the protons to increase rhizosphere acidification and
promote Fe3+ solubility.
Factors affecting availability of iron in fruit crops
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Mechanism of uptake of Iron
• While the mechanisms underlying the uptake of iron
from the soil are relatively well understood, the
trafficking of iron to chloroplasts and mitochondria is
less well explored.
• Available ferric Fe3+ in rot zone is reduced to the more
soluble ferrous (Fe2+) by ferric reduction oxidases
(FROs) at the apoplast.
• The reduced ferrous ion (Fe2+) is imported into root
cells by the Fe2+-regulated transporters such as the iron-
regulated transporter (IRT1).
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Iron is an essential micronutrient for almost all living organisms
because of it plays critical role in metabolic processes such as
DNA synthesis, respiration, and photosynthesis.
Iron plays a significant role in various physiological and
biochemical pathways in plants. (Eg- electron transport chain)
It serves as a component of many vital enzymes such as
cytochromes of the electron transport chain, and it is thus required
for a wide range of biological functions.
In plants, iron is involved in the synthesis of chlorophyll, and it
is essential for the maintenance of chloroplast structure and
function.
Iron also is involved in lipid metabolism due to the enzyme
lipoxygenase, which contains one non-heme Fe per molecule.
Role of iron in fruit crops
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Symptoms of iron deficiency
• With Fe deficiency, there is a decrease in the concentrations of
chlorophyll and other light-harvesting pigments (carotene and
xanthophyll), as well as in the activities of electron carriers of both
photosystems In spite of a decrease in chlorophyll concentration, the
leaves expand normally.
• Iron is immobile in plants and therefore, deficiency symptoms appear
first on the youngest leaves. The most notable symptom of iron
deficiency is chlorosis or yellowing between the veins of the youngest
leaves.
• Iron-deficiency chlorosis in young leaves is reversible unless necrotic
spots(bleaching and burns) occur with severe deficiency.
• When Fe deficiency becomes severe, cell division is also inhibited;
thus, leaf growth is impaired.
• The critical deficiency concentrations (CDC) of Fe in leaves range
from 30 to 50 mg kg - 1 dry weight basis.
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Interaction of iron with other nutrients
Fe: antagonistic with Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cl.
Iron fertilizer (%)
Ferrous sulphate 19
Ferric sulphate 23
Ferrous oxide 77
Ferrous ammonium
sulphate
14
Chelated form
Na-Fe (EDTA) 5-14
Na-Fe (DTPA) 10
Na-Fe (HEDA) 5-9
Na-Fe (EDDHA) 6
Iron polyflavonoids 9-10
Iron lignin
sulphonate
5-8
Iron methoxyphenyl
propane
5
Fe deficiency in Prunes
Nutrient Mode Fertilizer
Iron
Soil Fe-Sequestrene @ 0.5-1%
foliar 0.3 % (Fe)Ferrous sulfate
Micronutrient fertilizers(Fe)
management recommendation for
fruit orchards
Zia et al. (2006) 45

46. ©panchaalB
Sr. No. Treatment
TSS
(°Brix)
Non-Reducing
Sugar (%)
Total sugar
(%)
T1 ZnS04(0.5%) 24.80 9.41 16.94
T2 FeS04 (0.5%) 25.66 9.37 17.86
T3 Borax (0.1 %) 23.59 9.14 16.41
T4 ZnS04(0.5%)+FeS04(0.5%) 25.53 10.04 17.24
T5 Control (water spray) 25.10 9.58 15.88
SEm (±) 0.44 0.28 0.15
CD at 5% 1.30 0.82 0.44
Table 9: Effect of micronutrients spray on quality parameters of banana
cv. Martaman
BCKV (West Bengal) Pathak et al. (2011)
Note:-foliar spray at 3, 5 and 7th month after planting of suckers.
46

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Sr.
No.
Treatments
Fingers/
bunch
Hands/
bunch
Bunch
Wt.(kg)
Yield(t/ha)
T1 ZnS04 (0.5%) 98.30 8.60 14.70 36.75
T2 FeS04 (0.5%) 93.10 8.70 15.00 37.75
T3 Borax (0.1%) 115.10 9.10 15.90 39.75
T4 ZnSO4(0.5%) +FeSO4(0.5%) 129.20 9.20 16.30 40.75
T5 Control (water spray) 100.50 8.50 14.20 35.50
SEm (±) 1.20 0.14 0.43 0.35
CD at 5% 2.52 0.42 1.27 1.03
Table 10: Effect of micronutrients spray on yield parameters of banana cv.
Martaman
BCKV (West Bengal) Pathak et al. (2011)
Note:-foliar spray at 3, 5 and 7th month after planting of suckers.
47

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Table 11 : Effect of micronutrients on yield attributing characters of banana
cv.Basrai under pair row planting method
Treatments
Bunch
length (cm)
Bunch
girth (cm)
No. of hands
per bunch
No. of
fingers
per
bunch
Bunch
weight
(kg)
Fruit
yield
(t/ha)
T1: Zn @ 0.5%(ZnSO4) FS 86.75 106.5 10.66 185 21.67 135.42
T2 :Fe @ 0.5% (FeSO4) FS 86.25 108.5 9.6 151 21.56 134.75
T3: Zn @ 0.5%(ZnSO4)+
Fe @ 0.5% (FeSO4) FS
93.5 114 11.7 197.5 23.85 149.07
T4: 30kg ZnSO4/ha SA 87.25 107 10.46 172.25 21.03 131.4
T5: 30kg FeSO4/ha SA 88.5 109.25 10.21 172 22.54 140.87
T6: 30kg ZnSO4/ha + 30kg
FeSO4/ha SA
84.52 106.75 10.31 166.5 21.22 132.62
T7: Control 79 103 9.04 141 18.39 114.95
S.Em. ± 2.1 1.74 0.29 8.1 0.63 3.95
C.D. at 5% 6.24 5.18 0.86 24.06 1.88 11.73
C.V.% 4.86 3.23 5.68 9.56 5.88 5.88
FRS, NAU, Gandevi Patel et al. (2010)
FS- Foliar spray; SA- Soil application
48

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 Fruit plants rarely have Cu deficiency, and their availability
is adequate in most soils.
Factors affecting availability of in fruit crops:
Cu deficiency can occur in plants grown on soils with low total
Cu or in soils with high organic matter content. Among the
micronutrients.
Cu deficiency is the most difficult to diagnose due to the
interference of other elements, such as P, Fe, Mo, Zn, and S.
 In citrus and other fruit trees, applications in excess of
phosphate fertilizers can cause deficiency of Cu.
(Dechen and Nachtigall, 2006).
Copper (Cu)
49

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Mechanism of intake:
• Plants acquire Cu from the soil solution using a strategy similar
to the reduction-based strategy (strategy I) for Fe uptake
confined to dicotyledons and nongraminaceous monocotyledons.
• Copper is absorbed by plants as the cupric ion (Cu2+).
• Namely, the strategy I plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana
acidify the rhizosphere through H+-ATPases and reduced Cu
ions.
• Similarly to Fe, Cu is also reduced at the root surface of by two
ferric reductase oxidases, FRO4 and FRO5, that are activated
under Fe deficiency, Cu also has own reductase enzymes.
• Reduced Cu+ ions are then transported across the plasma
membrane by the high-affinity transporters, AtCOPT1 and
AtCOPT2, belonging to the family of high affinity Cu
transporters COPT/Ctr.
50

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 Cu-containing enzymes can react directly with molecular O2 and, thus,
catalyze preferentially terminal oxidation processes.
 Eg. Phenolase and laccase are Cu-containing enzymes acting as oxidases
catalyze the oxidative deamination of monoamines and diamines, also of
polyamines, such as putrescine and spermidine. Also of phenols or tyrosine
in the biosynthetic pathway of quinones, melanotic substances, alkaloids, or
lignin.
 The various Cu proteins are important in processes such as photosynthesis,
respiration, detoxification of super oxide radicals, and lignification.
 Cu may play an important role in disease resistance due to its role in the
production of a mechanical barrier (lignin), and by suppressing fungal
growth by favoring the formation of melanotic substances that act as
phytoalexins.
 Influence the activity of ethylene in ripening fruits
Role of copper in fruit crops
51

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• Cu deficiency causes inhibition of xylem lignification, which can
lead to wilting and winding of new leaves, wilting (impaired water
transport); shoot bending and reduced disease resistance with turgor
decrease in the petioles and stalks.
• The content or the activities of the Cu-containing proteins are
drastically reduced with Cu deficiency.
• The most obvious effect of Cu deficiency is lower contents of
plastocyanin, which results in a decreased photosynthetic electron
transport.
• Typical symptoms of Cu deficiency are chlorosis (white tip,
reclamation disease), necrosis, leaf distortion, and dieback. These
symptoms occur preferentially in young shoot tissues and are
expressions of poor redistribution of Cu in Cu-deficient plants.
• The most spectacular symptoms of Cu deficiency are reduced seed
or fruit yield caused mainly by male sterility.
Symptoms of Copper deficiency:
52

53. ©panchaalB 53
Fig: Symptoms of copper deficiency in nurseries
trees (A) with formation of gum pockets in new
branches (details in B) resulting from tissue
breakdown and sap leakage, and in young trees in
the field (C and D) showing long and vigorous twigs
that grow tortuous.

54. ©panchaalB
• Soil application of copper sulfate is the
most common method to correct a
deficiency of copper in soils such as
acidic sands or muck/peat.
• Copper deficiency due to high soil pH
should be treated by lowering soil pH
with acidifiers such as sulfur or
ammonium sulfate.
• Foliar application of copper sulfate
with hydrated lime, copper containing
fungicides, or copper chelates can
provide rapid and better management
of copper deficiency.
Management:
Copper fertilizer: (%)
Cupric sulphate
pentahydrate
25
Cupric sulphate
monohydrate
35
Basic cupric
sulphate
13-53
Cupric oxide 75
Cuprous oxide 89
Cupric ammonium
phosphate
32
Cupric acetate 32
Cupric oxalate 40
Copper chelates 13
Copper
polyphenole
5-6.7
54

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Concentration
of copper
Length of terminal shoot
(cm.)
No. of leaves per shoot Dry matter of shoot
(%)
Season Season Season
R W Mean R W Mean R W Mean
Control 15.50 12.50 14.00 7.63 6.76 7.20 49.53 51.33 50.58
0.1% 16.33 14.40 15.51 8.23 7.53 7.88 50.10 52.12 51.11
0.2% 16.86 14.60 15.73 8.70 8.20 8.45 50.76 52.63 51.70
0.3% 17.66 15.20 16.43 9.33 8.73 9.03 51.13 53.23 52.18
0.4% 18.23 15.33 16.88 10.13 9.33 9.73 52.43 53.63 53.03
Mean 16.98 14.44 8.80 8.11 50.79 52.65
Cu S Cu x S Cu S Cu x S Cu S Cu x S
CD (at 5%) 0.82 0.37 1.03 0.65 1.32 0.84
Table 11 : Effect of different concentration of copper and season on vegetative growth of guava
cv. Allahabad safeda
Banaras Hindu University., Varanasi Singh and Singh (2002)
R = Rainy W = Winter
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Manganese
• Manganese serves as an activator for enzymes in growth
processes.
• It assists Iron in chlorophyll formation.
• It is part of the key system of photosynthesis where water is
split and oxygen gas is liberated.
• The splitting of water is an oxidation, namely
2 H2O → O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e-.
Factors affecting availability of manganese in fruit crops:
• Manganese is only moderately mobile element in plant tissues
so symptoms appear on younger leaves first, most often in
those leaves just reaching their full size.
• High manganese concentration may induce iron deficiency.
56

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• Despite the importance of Mn in plant physiology, our
knowledge of systems mediating Mn uptake followed by
translocation from the roots to the shoot is limited.
• This is mainly due to the lack of information about the
expression and subcellular localization of Mn transporters in
most plants.
• In fact, only few Mn transporters involved in uptake and root
radial transport have been identified so far.
• Uptake of Mn2+ has been assumed to be mediated by plasma
membrane Ca2+ channels, which are generally permeable to
Mn2+.
• However, this is likely to be a minor Mn2+ uptake pathway due
to its competition with Ca2+, only relevant when Mn2+ is
present in high concentrations.
Mechanism of intake:
57

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Role of manganese in fruit crops
• As a co-factor, Mn is reported to activate over 35 enzymes, several
of which catalyze different steps of the lignin and phytoalexins
biosynthesis.
• The peroxidase enzyme, which generates hydrogen peroxide, is
another Mn-dependent enzyme that contributes to pathogen
resistance.
• Mn plays an important role in redox processes, such as electron
transport in photosynthesis and detoxification of oxygen-free
radicals(eg. superoxide dismutase enzymes)
• The most well-known function of Mn is its involvement in
photosynthetic O2 evolution (Hill Reaction) in chloroplasts.
• Manganese acts as an important cofactor for a number of key
enzyme reactions involved in the biosynthesis of plant secondary
metabolites.
• Manganese is also involved in flower growth, root cell elongation
and resistance to root pathogens.
58

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• Well-known symptoms of Mn deficiency in dicotyledons,
interveinal chlorosis of the younger and middle-aged leaves
dominate.
• In contrast to Fe-deficiency chlorosis, the chlorosis induced by
Mn deficiency is not uniformly distributed over the whole leaf
blade, and tissues may rapidly become necrotic.
• In roots, an increase in the frequency of root hairs can be
observed under Mn deficiency.
• In extreme cases new fronds in palms emerge withered and
dead. This is referred to as “frizzle top”, and commonly occurs
on alkaline soils.
Symptoms of manganese deficiency:
59

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 Manganese deficiency is controlled by using
manganese sulphate (MnSO4 .7H2O) as a soil
applicant or a foliage spray.
 Chelated forms of manganese can also be used
as a foliar spray although this treatment is more
expensive.
 A spray with the fungicide mancozeb, which
contains manganese, is beneficial.
Management: Manganese
fertilizer
(%)
Manganese
sulphate
26-28
Manganese
chloride
17
Manganese
carbonate
31
Manganese
oxide
41-68
Manganese
chelate
(EDTA)
12
Manganese
menthoxyph
enyle
propane
10-12
Interaction of manganese with other
nutrients
Mn: antagonistic with Cu, Cd.
Mn: synergetic effect with Ca, Mg, P.
60

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Treatment(Mn Spray)
Observations (in Delicious Apples)
Autumn Spring Test
(No spray)
Leaf drop incidence in July 4.0 a 2.6 b 4.2 a
Leaf drop incidence in August 4.3 b 2.5 c 4.9 a
Percentage of blotches in July 27 a 16 b 30 a
Percentage of blotches in August
31 b 17 c 38 a
Mn concentration (ppm d.w.) 16 b 41 a 16 b
SPAD values 42.3 b 43.2 a 42.1 b
N concentration (% d.w.) 2.39 b 2.44 a 2.38 b
Porro et al. (2002)Cles, Italy
•Spray details; The trade product (Mantrac 500 – Phosyn,)
•Test
•Autumn-(1 foliar application of Mn @100cc/hl)
•Spring- (2 foliar applications of Mn @50cc/hl).
Mean separation within column is tested by Duncan’s
Multiple Range Test. Significantly different values are
indicated with a, b and c.
Table 12 : Effect of manganese on leaf drop, blotch, leaf greenness(SAPD values) in Apple cv. Golden
Delicious
61

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Nickel
• Nickel is an essential nutrient element for plants (Epstein and
Bloom, 2005) and the last found micronutrient which is
required for nitrogen metabolism (Bhalerao et al., 2015),
affecting the activity of the enzyme urease (Bai et al., 2007).
• Nickel deficiency has not been seen in soil-grown plants.
• Nickel is abundant in the soil with concentrations varying from
5 to 500 mg Ni per kg (ppm).
• Optimum concentration in leaf dry matter of most fruit crops
ranges between 0.08–0.22 ppm.
62

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Mechanism of intake:
 Nickel is absorbed as Ni2+ and competes with other divalent
cations, such as Fe, Zn, and Mn.
 At pH <6.5, most Ni compounds are relatively soluble.
 Nickel toxicity can be associated with biosolids application
or industrial pollution, and toxicity is more common in acid
soils.
 Soil concentrations can range from 24,000 to 53,000 ppm Ni
in soil near metal refineries or in dried biosolids, respectively.
Factors affecting availability of nickle in fruit crops
63

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• Critical constituent of the plant enzyme urease for conversion of
urea to ammonia
Chemically related to iron and cobalt
Stimulates proline biosynthesis in plants, which is responsible
for osmotic balance in plant tissues
Foliar sprays of Ni were noted to increase yields of many plants
Role of nickle in fruit crops
64

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Symptoms of Nickle deficiency:
• Many researchers have
demonstrated that plant growth is
severely impacted by Ni deficiency
when urea is the sole N source.
• Nickel-deficient plants
accumulate toxic levels of urea in
leaf tips because of reduced
urease activity.
• Nickel deficiency causes severe
disruption in N metabolism, and
other metabolic processes exhibited
as leaf tip necrosis, marginal
chlorosis of leaves, and premature
leaf drop.
65
Fig. Leaf burn through foliar spray of
urea mimics Ni deficiency symptoms.

66. ©panchaalB
Fig: Nickel effect on cracking of pomegranate peel
Dichala et al. (2018)
Treatments codified as follows:
Ni0 = 0mM Ni; Ni25 = 25 mM Ni; Ni50 = 50 mM Ni; Ni100= 100
mM Ni and NiB100= 100 mM Ni + 100 mM B.
Spurces; Ni(NO3)2·6H2O and boric acid
y = –15.8x + 104.5; R2 =0.95
NB: Spraying of plants from flowering (April)
to harvest (September) every 15 d with
solutions containing various concentrations of
AU,Thessaloniki,Greece
66

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Molybdenum(Mo)
• The functions of molybdenum as a plant nutrient are
related to the valency changes it undergoes as a metal
component of enzymes.
• Biological N2 fixation is catalyzed by the Mo-
containing enzyme, nitrogenase, which contains two
metalloproteins: a Mo-Fe-S protein and a Fe-S cluster
protein.
• Act as bridge in transferring of electrons.
• The molybdenum requirement is lowest of any mineral
except, in certain species, nickel.
67

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 The functions of Mo in plants are related to
electron transfer reactions.
 Required to form the enzyme like, "nitrate
reductase" which reduces nitrates to
ammonium in plant. Also act with SO3
reductase enzyme.
 Molybdenum also has a striking effect on
pollen formation.
 Role in iron, phosphate system and ascorbic
acid synthesis.
Role of molybdenum in fruit crops
68

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• Although molybdenum is a metal, it occurs in
aqueous solution mainly as molybdate anion,
MoO4
-2.
• Molybdate seems to be relatively mobile in
plants and higher concentrations can be found
in roots than leaves when supplies are limited.
• Leaf concentrations may rise as molybdenum
supplies increase.
Mechanism of intake:
69

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• Molybdenum deficiency reduces the nitrate reductase activity, which
inhibits the plant’s ability to synthesize proteins. Deficiency symptoms in
most plants are associated with a build-up of nitrate in the affected plant
part.
• The most characteristic Mo-deficiency symptom is reduced and irregular
leaf blade formation known as whiptail. This malformation of leaves is
caused by local necrosis in tissue and insufficient differentiation of vascular
bundles in the early stages of development.
• Other symptoms of Mo deficiency are interveinal mottling and marginal
chlorosis of the older leaves, followed by necrotic spots at leaf tips and
margins, which are closely related to high NO3 concentrations in the tissue.
• Drop in the concentration of ascorbic acid in plants
Symptoms of molybdenum deficiency:
70

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In Florida, Mo deficiency in citrus
is commonly called “yellow spot.”
The deficiency occurs when trees
are unable to absorb sufficient Mo
from an acidic soil. Deficiency
symptoms appear on the leaves as
large, interveinal chlorotic spots in
early summer (Fig).
Since molybdenum deficiency
usually occurs in acidic soils, the
most common cure is to lime the
soil to a pH of 6.0–6.5, after which
Mo deficiency often disappears. If
liming did not fix the deficiency or
if the soil pH was already around
6.5
Cont..
Fig. Molybdenum deficiency in Citrus
Fig. Molybdenum deficiency in Custard apple
71

72. ©panchaalB
Management
• Molybdenum deficiency is relatively easily
corrected, either by the application of small
quantities of molybdenum to the soil, or by
raising the soil pH.
• Application of sodium molybdate or
ammonium molybdate at rates of 0.2-0.3 kg
Mo/ha should be sufficient to correct the
disorder in most situations, and may be
effective for several years.
• Sodium molybdate may also be applied as a
foliar spray.
Interaction of molybdenum with other
nutrients
Mo: antagonistic with Cu, Mn.
Mo: synergetic effect with P.
Molybdenum
fertilizer
(%)
Sodium
molybdate
39
Ammonium
molybdate
54
Molybdenum
trioxide
66
Molybdenum
sulphide
60
72

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1) TA, titratable acidity; TSS, total soluble solids.
Values are means±SD. Values with the same letter are not significantly different (P=0.05) by the
Duncan test.
Table 13:Physicochemical parameters and mineral content determined in
strawberry fruit with different molybdenum (Mo) treatments
Treatments
(g ha–1):Mo
TA (%) TSS (°Brix) TSS/TA N (%)
Fe
(mg kg–1)
0 0.59±0.04 b 7.90±0.80 c 14.97±2.45 ab 2.56±0.17 d
11.62±3.27
d
67.5 0.69±0.12 a 8.96±1.11bc 15.22±1.46 ab 2.82±0.15 c
19.42±2.85
c
135 0.53±0.05 bc 10.56±1.21 a 16.83±2.57 a 3.35±0.08 a 44.18±2.81a
168.75 0.59±0.04 b 9.41±0.86 b 15.23±1.44 ab
2.91±0.07
bc
24.53±4.32
bc
202.5 0.50±0.06 c 8.10±0.72 c 14.17±1.49 b 3.08±0.10 b 31.01±4.60
b
Li et al. (2017)China 73

74. ©panchaalB
Treatments (g
ha−1)
Fructose Glucose Sorbitol Sucrose
Total
sugars
Sweetness
0
32.99±1.50 c 0.24±0.02 b 26.12±1.90 c
10.94±1.05
a
70.30±3.05 c 86.67±0.80 c
67.5 37.77±1.75 b 0.26±0.02 ab 30.72±1.28 b
11.32±1.93
a
80.07±4.11 b 92.97±5.04 b
135 42.03±0.69 a 0.30±0.01 a 36.44±1.87 a
11.27±2.21
a
90.034±3.39
a
103.26±1.94 a
168.75 38.28±1.48 b 0.29±0.03 a 32.43±2.93 b
11.20±1.71
a
82.20±4.55 b 93.63±3.28 b
202.5 34.46±1.80 c 0.25±0.02 b 26.43±1.85 c 10.98±1.00
a 71.12±2.01 c 86.69±2.05 c
Table 14 :Sugar contents (g kg–1 fresh weight (FW)) of strawberry fruit with different
molybdenum (Mo) treatments
Li et al. (2017)China
Values with the same letter are not significantly different (P=0.05) by the Duncan test.
74

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Deficiency is not seen in the field due to its universal
presence in nature.
Although the essentiality of Cl has been established for
many higher plants, its need for fruit crops has not yet
been demonstrated, and its importance in citrus tree
metabolism is unclear.
The plant requirement for Cl is quite high(in terms of %)
as compared with other micronutrients, but its exact role
in plant metabolism is still obscure.
Element Deficient
less than
low Satisfactory High Excess
more than
Chlorine
(Cl) (%)
--- --- Less than 0.5 0.5-0.7 0.7
Table . Leaf analysis standard for assessing Cl nutrient status of citrus trees
NB: Many sensitive tree crops begin to show injury with more than 0.3% chloride (dry weight basis).
CHLORINE (Cl-):
75

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• Involved in photosynthesis and in ionic balance (K+ ions ).
• Necessary for shoot and root apex growth, important in water
splitting in photosystem II
• Role in stomata regulation (opening & closing).
• Need for differentiation of xylem and palisade cells and
positively affect cell proliferation.
• Involved in chlorophyll and photosynthesis because its
deficiency causes chlorosis, unusual bronze discoloration of
foliage, and reduction in growth.
Interaction of chlorine with other nutrients
Cl: antagonistic with No3
-
Cl: synergetic effect with Ca
76
Role of chlorine in fruit crops

77. ©panchaalB
Chlorine Toxicity
The most common source of chlorine
toxicity is from chloride in irrigation
water.
Chloride moves readily with soil water. It
can be absorbed by the crop, move in the
transpiration stream, and accumulate in
the leaves.
If the chloride concentration in the leaves
exceeds the tolerance of the crop, leaf
burn will develop, and leaves can abscise.
Allevation of Cl- toxicity
Frequent irrigation intervals help maintain a low
soil water tension and reduce salt accumulation
within the irrigated zone.
Split fertilizer applications, and use nutritional
materials with low salt index. Avoid the addition
of chloride from the application of muriate of
potash (potassium chloride).
Fig. Chloride toxicity—Leaf
burn progresses from the tip
down along the edges as
severity increases.
77

78. ©panchaalB 78
Combined utilization of
micronutrients
in different fruit crops

79. ©panchaalB
Sr.
no.
Treatments
No. of
fruit per
plant
Avg. fruit
weight
(kg)
Fruit yield
(kg /plant)
T1 Control (water spray) 24.33 0.75 18.50
T2 0.25% Copper sulphate 25.00 0.92 24.57
T3 0.25% Manganese sulphate 25.00 0.75 18.86
T4 0.1% Borax 24.33 0.88 21.55
T5
0.25% Copper sulphate + 0.25% Manganese
sulphate
28.33 1.10 31.09
T6 0.25% Copper sulphate + 0.1% Borax 29.00 1.25 32.78
T7 0.25% Manganese sulphate + 0.1% Borax 26.00 1.02 27.77
T8
0.25% Copper sulphate + 0.25% Manganese
sulphate + 0.1% Borax
30.67 1.30 40.40
SEm ± 1.3 0.05 2.04
CD at 5% 3.95 0.14 6.17
Faizabad (U.P.) Shekhar et al. (2010)
Table 15 : Effect of foliar spray of micronutrients on yield parameters of papaya
cv. Washington
Note:- Foliar spray 60 & 90 days after planting.
79

80. ©panchaalB
Sr.
no. Treatments
TSS
(°Brix)
Total
sugar
(%)
Acidity
(%)
T1 Control (water spray) 7.20 6.60 0.113
T2 0.25% Copper sulphate 7.33 8.14 0.090
T3 0.25% Manganese sulphate 8.93 6.61 0.108
T4 0.1% Borax 8.27 7.57 0.094
T5
0.25% Copper sulphate + 0.25% Manganese
sulphate
9.13 7.83 0.076
T6 0.25% Copper sulphate + 0.1% Borax 8.03 9.28 0.052
T7 0.25% Manganese sulphate + 0.1% Borax 8.93 8.22 0.068
T8
0.25% Copper sulphate + 0.25% Manganese
sulphate + 0.1% Borax
9.60 9.72 0.053
SEm ± 0.14 0.13 0.003
CD at 5% 0.43 0.39 0.010
Faizabad (U.P.) Shekhar et al. (2010)
Table 16: Effect of foliar spray of micronutrients on quality parameters of papaya
Cv. Washington
52
Note:- Foliar spray 60 & 90 days after planting
80

81. ©panchaalB
Sr.
No.
Treatments
Fruit
retention
(%)
Fruit
drop
(%)
Total
number of
fruits/tree
Yield
(kg/tree)
T1 ZnSO4 1% 1.07 91.24 541.67 107.53
T2 ZnSO4 2% 0.97 92.19 508.33 90.63
T3 FeSO4 1% 0.73 94.01 375.33 69.34
T4 FeSO4 2% 0.80 93.15 421.67 78.87
T5 Borax 0.5% 1.40 89.13 729.33 162.73
T6 Borax 1% 1.23 90.71 694.67 149.98
T7 ZnSO4 1% + FeSO4 1% 1.32 90.59 635.00 139.22
T8 ZnSO4 2% + FeSO4 2% 0.93 92.87 513.67 82.97
T9 ZnSO4 1% + FeSO4 1% + Borax 0.5% 1.73 87.66 745.33 185.09
T10 ZnSO4 2% + FeSO4 2% + Borax 1% 0.85 92.56 366.67 55.23
T11 Control 0.57 94.19 298.33 49.23
S.Em.± 0.08 1.32 41.45 10.83
C.D. at 5 % 0.25 3.89 122.27 31.94
Table 17: Effect of foliar sprays of zinc, iron and boron on yield parameters of mango
cv. Alphanso
NAU (Navsari) Gurjar et al. (2015)
Note :- Foliar application is done before initiation of flowering during Oct. and Nov.
81

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Sr.
No.
Treatments
TSS
(°Brix)
Reducing
sugar
(%)
Total
sugar
(%)
Ascorbic acid
(mg/100 g
pulp)
T1 ZnSO4 1% 17.13 5.01 15.32 26.57
T2 ZnSO4 2% 16.93 4.51 14.46 26.19
T3 FeSO4 1% 17.20 5.20 15.40 26.40
T4 FeSO4 2% 17.00 4.36 14.35 25.77
T5 Borax 0.5% 18.73 5.06 15.08 29.38
T6 Borax 1% 17.83 5.43 15.93 29.74
T7 ZnSO4 1% + FeSO4 1% 18.30 5.83 16.37 30.42
T8 ZnSO4 2% + FeSO4 2% 17.60 4.75 14.79 24.67
T9 ZnSO4 1% + FeSO4 1% + Borax 0.5% 18.10 6.09 16.93 31.60
T10 ZnSO4 2% + FeSO4 2% + Borax 1% 16.77 5.57 15.65 24.86
T11 Control 15.53 3.88 13.67 21.80
S.Em.± 0.52 0.30 0.55 1.68
C.D. at 5 % 1.52 0.88 1.64 4.95
Table 18: Effect of foliar sprays of zinc, iron and boron on quality parameters of mango
cv. Alphanso
Gurjar et al. (2015)NAU (Navsari) 82

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Treatments
Fruit set
(%)
Fruit yield
(kg/tree)
TSS
(°Brix)
Acidity
(%)
Ascorbic acid
(mg/100g )
Total sugar
(%)
T1 66.25 48.05 9.51 0.75 120.67 5.25
T2 71.68 53.81 10.51 0.75 131.67 6.25
T3 68.15 51.65 10.29 0.70 128.67 6.94
T4 70.50 52.15 10.56 0.70 125.28 7.02
T5 67.43 54.68 11.25 0.69 127.21 7.18
T6 77.49 58.71 11.02 0.68 142.82 6.94
T7 75.21 57.52 10.31 0.70 139.44 6.42
T8 80.33 61.93 11.56 0.73 145.69 7.15
T9 74.15 56.21 10.29 0.72 135.29 6.72
T10 76.58 57.42 10.55 0.70 140.27 6.55
T11 73.03 56.02 10.18 0.71 133.29 6.58
T12 81.89 65.25 12.25 0.67 149.73 7.98
T13 82.15 64.15 12.53 0.69 151.21 8.68
T14 82.13 64.21 13.55 0.66 153.21 8.81
T15 81.72 65.59 12.21 0.68 148.29 7.68
T16 83.11 69.15 14.15 0.56 160.08 10.28
SEm± 0.44 1.61 0.17 0.04 2.69 0.55
CD at 5% 0.94 3.47 0.38 0.09 5.74 1.18
Table 19: Effect of foliar application of Zinc, Iron, Boron and Magnesium on
yield and quality parameters of guava cv. L-49
Cont…Balakrishnan et al. (2005)Periyakulam (T.N.) 83

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Treatment details:
T1 – Control
T2 – ZnSO40.5 %
T3 – FeSO40.5 %
T4 – MgSO40.5 %
T5 – Borax 0.2 %
T6 – ZnSO40.5% + FeSO40.5 %
T7 – ZnSO4 0.5% + Borax0.2 %
T8 – ZnSO4 0.5% + MgSO40.5 %
T9 – FeSO40.5 %+ MgSO40.5 %
T10 – FeSO40.5 %+ Borax0.2 %
T11 – MgSO40.25 %+ Borax0.2 %
T12 – ZnSO40.25%+ FeSO40.25 %+ Borax0.1 %
T13 – ZnSO40.25%+ FeSO40.25 %+ MgSO40.25 %
T14 – ZnSO40.25%+ MgSO40.25 %+ Borax0.1 %
T15 – FeSO40.25 %+ MgSO40.25 %+ Borax0.1 %
T16 – ZnSO40.5%+ FeSO40.25 %+ MgSO40.25 %+ Borax0.1 %
Balakrishnan et al. (2005)Periyakulam (T.N.) 84

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85
Treatment no No of fruit/tree Fruit yield
(kg/ tree)
Total sugar TSS
T1 175 62.6 17.5 20.4
T2 181 64.0 18.6 20.8
T3 188 68.7 19.1 21.4
T4 193 70.3 19.4 21.6
T5 193 64.7 19.2 21.8
T6 196 68.1 20.0 22.0
T7 208 77.1 20.9 23.0
T8 213 80.3 22.6 23.8
T9 200 74.0 19.8 22.2
T10 205 75.5 20.3 22.9
T11 210 78.4 21.1 23.4
T12 220 86.0 23.1 24.3
T13 167 56.8 15.7 17.6
S.Em 6.29 2.96 0.40 0.43
CD (P=0.05) 18.27 8.38 1.14 1.22
Table 20 : Effect of micronutrients on yield and quality parameters of mango cv.
Mallika
Kacha (2020)AAU (Anand)

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T1 Soil application of FeSO4 100g
T2 Soil application of ZnSO4 100g
T3 Soil application of borax 100g
T4 Soil application of multi micronutrient grade-V 400g
T5 Foliar application of FeSO4 0.5%
T6 Foliar application of ZnSO4 0.5%
T7 Foliar application borax 0.5%
T8 Foliar application of multi micronutrient grade-IV 1.0%
T9 Soil application of FeSO4 100g followed by foliar application of FeSO4 0.5%
T10
Soil application of ZnSO4 100g followed by foliar application of ZnSO4
0.5%
T11 Soil application of borax 100g followed by foliar application borax 0.5%
T12
Soil application of multi micronutrient grade V 400g followed by foliar
application of multi micronutrient grade IV 1.0%
T13 Control
Composition of multimicronutrients:
Grades Contents(%)
Fe Mn Zn Cu B
Multimicronutrients Grade-IV 4.0 1.0 6.0 0.5 0.5
Multimicronutrients Grade-V 2.0 0.5 5.0 0.2 0.5
Treatment details:
Kacha (2020)AAU (Anand) 86

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Conclusion
• Deficiency or toxicity of these nutrients impacts the growth,
quality and yield of fruit crops. Since, a major portion of
Indian soils falls under deficient range of micronutrients, their
efficient use and management is highly essential in order to
sustain perennial crop production in this era of climate shift.
87
From the foregoing discussion it can be concluded that application
of micronutrients improves the growth, yield and quality
parameters in different fruit crops. It also acts to resist against the
abiotic stress impact like cracking and leave shedding.
 Identification of the limiting nutrient via modern diagnostic
tools and appropriate management steps is pre requisite in this
aspect of sustainable cultivation of long term crops like fruits.

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Crop Recommended Micronutrients Reference
Mango
cv. Himsagar Boric acid (3000 ppm) Dutta (2004)
cv. Alphanso Boric acid 0.02% spray Sankar et al. (2013)
ZnSO4 1% + FeSO4 1% + Borax 0.5% Gurjar et al. (2015)
cv. Mallika 400g Multi micronutrients grade- V(Soil
application) & grade IV(foliar application)-
1%
Kacha (2020)
Banana cv. Grand Naine. ZnEDTA-40g + RDF Yadav et al. (2010)
cv. Basrai 30 kg FeSO4/ha soil application ; foliar
application of ZnSO4 (0.5%) + FeSO4
(0.5%)
Patel et al. (2010)
cv. Martaman. FeSO4 0.5% ; ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.5%, Pathak et al. (2011)
Guava Cv. Sardar ZnSO4 – 0.4% Goswami et al. (2012)
cv. L-49 Zn at 0.25% + Fe at 0.25% + Mg at 0.25% +
borax at 0.1%
Balakrishnan (2000)
cv. Allahbad safeda Cu-0.4% Singh and Singh (2002)
Pomegrante( cv. Wonderful and
Acco)
Nickel sprays (100mM Ni; 100 mM Ni +
100 mM B)
Dichala et al. (2018)
Apple cv. Golden delicicios Mn- 2 splits of 50 cc/hl(ppm) Porro et al. (2002)
Strawberry cv. Akihime Mo fertilization (135 g ha–1) Li et al. (2017)
Papaya cv. Washington 0.25% CuSO4 + 0.25% MnSO4 + 0.1%
borax
Shekhar et al. (2010)

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