Resumo A deformação da raiz (RD) causada por erros no processo de repicagem é irreversível e difícil de detectar em mudas produzidas em embalagens no momento do plantio no campo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do RD nas trocas gasosas foliares, crescimento, alocação de biomassa e nutrição mineral de mudas de G. americana na fase de recuperação após o alagamento do solo. Mudas com quatro meses de idade, com e sem RD, foram alagadas por 42 dias e a sua recuperação foi avaliada 28 dias após a drenagem do solo. Não houve interação significativa entre RD e alagamento do solo nas trocas gasosas foliares, crescimento e nutrição mineral após a drenagem, com exceção das concentrações de P foliar. Em plantas sem RD, a concentração de P nas folhas de plantas não alagadas foi significativamente maior que a das plantas com RD. O alagamento do solo e a RD não influenciaram as concentrações de N nas folhas e raízes, e no conteúdo de N na planta inteira. A RD aumentou a concentração de K nas raízes, mas não nas folhas. Alterações nas concentrações de nutrientes nas folhas e raízes indicam que a RD pode afetar o desempenho fisiológico das mudas após o plantio no campo.

Abstract Root deformation (RD) caused by errors in the pricking out process are irreversible and very difficult to detect in container-grown seedlings at the time of planting in the field. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of RD on leaf gas exchange, growth, biomass allocation and mineral nutrition of G. americana seedlings during the recovery phase after soil flooding. Four-months-old seedlings, with and without RD, were flooded for 42 days and their recovery was evaluated 28 days after soil drainage. There were no significant interactions between RD and soil flooding for all leaf gas exchange, growth and mineral nutrition after soil drainage, with the exception of leaf P concentrations. In plants with no RD, the P concentration in leaves of non-flooded plants was significantly higher than that of plants with RD. Soil flooding and RD did not influence leaf or root N concentrations or whole-plant N content. RD increased the K concentration in the roots, but not in the leaves. Changes in the nutrient concentrations in leaves and roots indicate that RD may affect physiological performance of seedlings after planting in the field.

In Chile, expansion of avocado production has resulted in many orchards established in marginal soils that are poorly drained and have high soil water-to-air ratios when soil moisture is at field capacity. However, avocado trees are sensitive to poor soil aeration. A study was conducted to determine the effects of different soil water-to-air ratios (W/A) on biomass and nutrient content of avocado trees. Two-year-old avocado trees were grown for 2 seasons in containers in soils, with different W/A, collected from different avocado growing regions of Chile. There were five treatments corresponding to each of the five soils. At field capacity, the two-season average W/A was 1.7, 1.3, 0.6, 0.4 or 0.3 for treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, or T5, respectively. The same amount of fertilizer was applied to each soil. Mineral element concentrations and total mineral element contents in leaves, shoots, wood and roots were determined for each tree in each treatment at the end of the experimental period. Shoot and root fresh and dry weights, leaf area and leaf retention were also determined. Although all treatments showed non-limiting soil oxygen conditions for avocado root growth, trees in soils with lower W/A had greater shoot and root dry weights and longer autumn leaf retention. Macro- and micronutrient concentrations in any plant tissue were not related to soil W/A. However, total tissue contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, C, N and B in roots and whole plants were highest in treatments with lower soil W/A. The results indicate that soil W/A significantly affects growth and mineral nutrition of avocado trees and should be considered for avocado site selection and management.