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Seedling tolerance of mango (Mangifera indica L.) varieties to high soil aluminum levels
Thesis Abstract:
The performance of mango varieties ‘Carabao’, ‘Pico’, ‘Pahutan’, and ‘Kachamitha’ were evaluated at three levels of aluminium (Al), namely: 0, 250, and 500 μM AlCl3 under two soil types (Lipa clay loam and Maligaya clay loam). Lipa clay loam has a pH of 6.9 and Maligaya clay loam has a pH of 5.0.
The application of 500 μM AlCl3 reduced total root length, root length density, and specific root length of mango seedlings. Leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, and stem dry weight were also lessened. The decrease in total root length, root length density, and specific root length of mango seedling in acidic Maligaya clay loam was consistent with the detrimental effect of induced soil acidity. Among the varieties, ‘Carabao’ had the highest specific root length and shoot root ratio while ‘Kachamitha’
had the greatest stem diameter, higher root volume, and root dry weight.
The exchangeable soil Al was detectable only in Maligaya clay loam which had a lower pH of 4.7. When 500 μM AlCl3 was applied, the soil pH decreased from 6.5 to 6.3. The highest accumulation of Al and iron (Fe) in the leaves was observed in 500 μM AlCl3 while Al, Fe, and manganese (Mn) concentrations in the roots did not vary among Al levels. In contrast, leaf Al, Fe, and Mn concentrations did not differ between two soil types. More Al and Fe were deposited in the roots of
seedlings grown in Maligaya clay loam. The different response in terms of nutrient concentration in leaves and roots between natural and induced acidic soils may be due to their variation in soil pH, 4.7 in the former and 6.3 in the latter.
‘Kachamitha’ was superior in root growth compared to the others. Since the lowest Al concentration in the roots and highest in the leaves (which reflects the varietal tolerance to soil Al toxicity) was also observed in ‘Kachamitha’, it can be concluded that ‘Kachamitha’ is the best mango variety that can be grown successfully in acidic soil condition.