study of iron chlorosis in piscium guajava L-leaves

ABSTRACT

Chlorotic leaves of guava trees [Psidium gaujava L] had significantly higher levels of P, K, Na, Mg, Zn, Mn and total iron as compared with healthy green leaves. Significantly higher contents of N and Ca as well as"active" iron and ferrous were recorded in healthy green leaves. The "active" iron fraction of the leaves as extracted by etherized hydrochloric acid showed no relationship with the total iron but a very significant linear relationship was found between the "active" iron fraction and the ratio of total phosphorus to total iron. Significantly higher ratios of K/Ca, P/Fe and Mn/Fe were found in chlorotic leaves than in green ones. The activities of catalase and peroxidase enzymes were higher in green leaves than in chlorotic ones, but catalase activity was more related with leaf iron chlorosis than peroxidase