FOLIAR DOSES OF ZINC IN THE BIOFORTIFICATION OF JAMBU (Acmella Oleracea L.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess which dose of foliar zinc is most suitable for biofortifying jambu. The experiment was conducted at IFPA, Belém campus, with five foliar doses of zinc (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg mL-1, Zn source (zinc sulphate) in a hydroponic cultivation system. Five days after the seedlings were transplanted, the foliar zinc spraying experiment began and lasted 21 days. The results obtained after the analysis of variance and Tukey's test showed that the application of 10 mg/L-1 was the most suitable for the biofortification of jambu; therefore, applications of more than 10 mg/L-1 negatively influenced the jambu plants, showing characteristic symptoms of phytotoxicity. The plant disorders were smaller and darkened roots, leaf chlorosis and deformed leaves. Therefore, in this study 10mg/L-1 was the optimum dosage for the biofortification of jambu.