Boron (10B): absorption, phloem mobility and effects in castor oil production

• Grant number: 05/04102-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Enedi Boaretto
• Grantee: Antonio Enedi Boaretto
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The growing concern with the environment and the social problems have been highlighting the castor bean crop as one of the more promising agricultural activities for certain northeastern semi-arid and with high potential in "cerrados" areas, may be the main oil source for biodiesel production in Brazil. The boron (B) function to the reproductive process of the Ricinus communis L. is evident in the seeds production. A low amount of this micronutrient occurs in most of the Brazilian soils, mainly in the most favorable areas for production of this culture. The experiments will be accomplished in the CENA/USP greenhouse, driving the Ricinus communis L cv. Savana in nutrient solution. The experiment will be entirely randomized, with 7 treatments and 3 repetitions under concentrations of 0 (control); 0.025; 0.05; 0.10; 0.27; 2.70; 5.40 mg B L-1 to evaluate the boron deficiency and toxicity. The experiment of boron phloem mobility will be carried in three treatments (leaf application with enriched 10B solution; nutrient solution 10B enriched and B-normal control) with 3 repetitions. (AU)