Analysis of phosphorus use efficiency traits in Coffea genotypes reveals Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora have contrasting phosphorus uptake and utilization efficiencies

Background and Aims: Phosphate (Pi) is one of the most limiting nutrients for agricultural production in Brazilian soils due to low soil Pi concentrations and rapid fixation of fertilizer Pi by adsorption to oxidic minerals and/or precipitation by iron and aluminum ions. The objectives of this study were to quantify phosphorus (P) uptake and use efficiency in cultivars of the species Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora L., and group them in terms of efficiency and response to Pi availability. Methods: Plants of 21 cultivars of C. arabica and four cultivars of C. canephora were grown under contrasting soil Pi availabilities. Biomass accumulation, tissue P concentration and accumulation and efficiency indices for P use were measured. Key Results: Coffee plant growth was significantly reduced under low Pi availability, and P concentration was higher in cultivars of C. canephora. The young leaves accumulated more P than any other tissue. The cultivars of C. canephora had a higher root/shoot ratio and were significantly more efficient in P uptake, while the cultivars of C. arabica were more efficient in P utilization. Agronomic P use efficiency varied among coffee cultivars and E16 Shoa, E22 Sidamo, Iêmen and Acaiá cultivars were classified as the most efficient and responsive to Pi supply. A positive correlation between P uptake efficiency and root to shoot ratio was observed across all cultivars at low Pi supply. These data identify Coffea genotypes better adapted to low soil Pi availabilities, and the traits that contribute to improved P uptake and use efficiency. These data could be used to select current genotypes with improved P uptake or utilization efficiencies for use on soils with low Pi availability and also provide potential breeding material and targets for breeding new cultivars better adapted to the low Pi status of Brazilian soils. This could ultimately reduce the use of Pi fertilizers in tropical soils, and contribute to more sustainable coffee production

Simple procedure for nutrient analysis of coffee plant with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF)

Nutrient analysis is used to estimate nutrient content of crop plants to manage fertilizer application for sustained crop production. Direct solid analysis of agricultural and environmental samples by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) was chosen as alternative technique to evaluate the simultaneous multielemental quantification of the most important essential elements in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and certified reference materials made from leaves were used to calibrate and check the trueness of EDXRF method for the determination of the concentration of several nutrients in coffee leaves and branches. Fluorescence spectrometry proved to be advantageous and presented low cost as loose powder samples could be used. Samples collected from a field experiment where coffee plants were treated with excess of Ni and Zn were used to verify the practical application of the method. Good relationships were achieved between certified values and data obtained by EDXRF, with recoveries ranging from 82 to 117 %.26326

Metabolism and beverage quality of coffee plants exposed to cadmium, nickel and zinc

A contaminação ambiental por metais pesados, entre os quais o cádmio (Cd), níquel (Ni) e zinco (Zn), tanto nos solos cultivados quanto nos produtos agrícolas, demanda constante monitoramento do solo, bem como a quantificação desses elementos nos diferentes órgãos dos vegetais. No manejo da adubação e outras práticas culturais, há contaminação indesejável de metais pesados que se acumulam nos solos ao longo dos anos, podendo causar danos ao crescimento vegetal, produção e/ou qualidade do produto agrícola. Considerando a relevância da problemática dos metais pesados nos sistemas agrícolas, é essencial o conhecimento da ação do Cd, Ni e Zn nos processos metabólicos no cafeeiro. A proposta desta pesquisa foi verificar a influência das aplicações de doses crescentes de Cd, Ni e Zn sobre as características nutricionais, fisiológicas e bioquímicas em plantas de cafeeiro em produção e na qualidade da bebida. Por meio dos parâmetros analisados até 128 dias, a ordem crescente de toxidez é de Ni, Zn e Cd. A distribuição de Cd é maior nos ramos, grãos e folha; Ni nas folhas, ramos e grãos e Zn nos ramos, folhas e grãos. O estado nutricional do cafeeiro não é afetado pela aplicação dos metais, com exceção do nitrogênio e do fósforo, que reduz nas maiores doses de Cd e Zn. A produtividade e qualidade da bebida são reduzidas em razão da aplicação dos metais.Environmental contamination by heavy metals, including Cd, Ni and Zn, in both cultivated soils and agricultural products, takes constant monitoring of soils and the quantification of these elements in different plant parts. The management of fertilizer and other cultural practices, there are undesirable contamination of heavy metals that accumulate in soils over the years, causing damage to plant growth, production and/or quality of products. Considering the growing concern with heavy metals in agricultural systems is essential research focused on the physiological mechanism of Cd, Ni and Zn in coffee plants. Therefore, to evaluate the translocation of metals to coffee beans, the monitoring and the quantification of these elements in soils and different organs of coffee plants are required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of applications times and rates of Cd, Ni and Zn on the nutritional, physiological and biochemical changes in coffee plants as well as cup quality drink under field condition. According to the results evaluated up to 128 days exposure to metals, the order of increasing toxicity was Ni>Zn>Cd. The distribution of Cd was higher in the plagiotropic branches>grain>leaf; Ni in leaves>stems>grains, and Zn in stems>leaves>grains, respectively. The nutritional status of coffee plants was not affected by the application of metals, except nitrogen and phosphorus, which reduced the highest levels of Cd and Zn. The coffee yield and cup quality drink decreased due to metals exposition

Nitrogen metabolism and senescence process in coffee plants exposed to nickel

O nitrogênio é o nutriente exigido em maior quantidade pelo cafeeiro e o segundo mais exportado pela planta. Usualmente se aplica ureia no cafeeiro e o N desta fonte é rapidamente metabolizado e incorporado na forma de aminoácidos e amidas. A assimilação do nitrogênio é afetada por diversos micronutrientes, entre eles o níquel (Ni), por ser este um constituinte da enzima urease, responsável pela degradação da ureia. O entendimento da interação do Ni com o metabolismo do N e o processo de senescência no cafeeiro é importante para o uso eficiente do nitrogênio pelas plantas. Pouco se sabe a respeito da nutrição com Ni no metabolismo do N, na senescência foliar e na interferência na absorção e transferência de outros nutrientes. A presente pesquisa foi realizada para avaliar se a aplicação de Ni (i) interferiria na absorção e transferência de outros nutrientes, bem como na partição de biomassa do cafeeiro e; (ii) aumentaria a eficiência de uso do N, tanto pela maior degradação da ureia, via atividade da urease, quanto pelo aumento da redistribuição de reservas de nitrogênio, por meio do incremento do catabolismo da arginina; e (iii) se o fornecimento de Ni atrasaria a senescência foliar, pela diminuição da produção de etileno endógeno na planta, o que aumentaria a duração foliar. A aplicação de Ni reduziu a biomassa do cafeeiro somente no maior teor do elemento disponível no solo (105 mg DM-3), e essa redução na biomassa afetou a concentração e acúmulo, principalmente, dos macronutrientes (N, P, K, Ca e Mg). Com relação aos micronutrientes metálicos (Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn), o incremento gradual no teor de Ni disponível, reduziu ou elevou gradualmente a concentração desses micronutrientes no cafeeiro. Os coeficientes de eficiência de uso de N pelo cafeeiro foram afetados somente em razão do nível de N, sem alteração em função do Ni disponível no solo. A aplicação de Ni no solo até teores de 60 mg dm-3 não afetou o crescimento da planta de cafeeiro, mas aumentou a retenção foliar no nível deficiente de N. O Ni reduziu a biossíntese de etileno na planta, apesar das concentrações de MDA e prolina aumentarem com o teor disponível de Ni no solo na pré-antese. Com relação ao N, houve incremento na redistribuição de N dos órgãos de reserva (ramo) para atender a demanda de folha e fruto.Nitrogen is the nutrient required in greatest quantity by the coffee and the second most exported within the plant. Usually, N is applied as urea to coffee and urea-N is rapidly metabolized and incorporated into amino acids and amides. The assimilation of N is affected by several micronutrients, including nickel (Ni). Ni is a constituent of urease, the sole enzyme responsible for degradation (and subsequent assimilation) of urea. Understanding Ni interaction with N metabolism and the aging process is important for the efficient use of nitrogen by coffee, and by plants in general. Little is known about Ni nutrition as it relates to N metabolism in leaf senescence and its possible interference in the absorption and transfer of other nutrients. The present study was conducted in coffee to assess whether the application of Ni (i) interferes with the absorption and transfer of other nutrients as well as biomass partitioning; (Ii) increases the nitrogen use efficiency, both for greater degradation of urea via urease activity, and increased redistribution of nitrogen reserves by increased catabolism of arginine; and (iii) delays leaf senescence by decreasing endogenous ethylene production, thereby increasing leaf duration. Ni application reduced biomass of coffee only at the highest level of soil availability (105 mg dm-3). This level also brought about the reduction in biomass concentration and accumulation of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and mg). With respect to mineral micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn), gradual increases in available Ni content, either reduced or gradually increased the concentration of these micronutrients. N-use efficiency ratios in coffee were affected only by variations in management of N, and not by changes in available soil Ni . Soil Ni applications to 60 mg dm-3 did not affect the growth of the coffee plant, but increased foliar retention under N limitation. Ni reduced plant ethylene biosynthesis, in spite of the concentrations of MDA and proline increasing rising with increasing soil Ni during pre-anthesis. As Ni levels rose, there was an increase in the redistribution of N of storage organs (branch) to meet the demand of leaf and fruit

Simple procedure for nutrient analysis of coffee plant with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF)

Nutrient analysis is used to estimate nutrient content of crop plants to manage fertilizer application for sustained crop production. Direct solid analysis of agricultural and environmental samples by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) was chosen as alternative technique to evaluate the simultaneous multielemental quantification of the most important essential elements in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and certified reference materials made from leaves were used to calibrate and check the trueness of EDXRF method for the determination of the concentration of several nutrients in coffee leaves and branches. Fluorescence spectrometry proved to be advantageous and presented low cost as loose powder samples could be used. Samples collected from a field experiment where coffee plants were treated with excess of Ni and Zn were used to verify the practical application of the method. Good relationships were achieved between certified values and data obtained by EDXRF, with recoveries ranging from 82 to 117 %

Deletion Of The Single Ureg Urease Activation Gene In Soybean Nil Lines: Characterization And Pleiotropic Effects

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The soybean eu3-a mutant (formerly, eu3-e1) lacks all ureolytic activity. Eu3 encodes urease accessory (Ni insertion) protein, UreG. Eu3 (Glycine max v1.1 Glyma08g08970.1) is the only UreG-encoding gene in the soybean genome. Here we show that the eu3-a lesion is a 2.4 kb deletion, beginning 50 bp upstream of the transcription start, and covering 94 % of the deduced amino acid sequence of UreG, explaining the urease activity-null phenotype of eu3-a. We established near-isogenic lines (NILs), eu3-a versus Eu3, and confirmed a striking accumulation of endogenous urea in eu3-a and none in Eu3, and the greater resistance of eu3-a leaf discs to external urea. However, incubation of discs in light alleviated urea sensitivity in Eu3, apparently by providing C skeletons for urea-released NH3. Hence, urea, endogenous and exogenous, is apparently less toxic than urea-derived NH3. eu3-a and Eu3 plants, however, did not differ in seed Ni content, nor in pool sizes of metabolites that generate urea via arginine. The NILs differed in patterns of nodulation by Bradyrhizobium japonicum and by Bradyrhizobium elkanii. Ureases have been reported to be fungitoxic. However, eu3-a and Eu3 NIL seedlings were equally sensitive to the pathogenic Basidiomycete fungus, Rhizoctonia solani. Since eu3-a accumulates at least some apo-urease, we examined a specific anti-fungal role of the seed urease in seedlings of a second NIL pair, differing in the presence (Eu1) and absence (eu1-a) of the seed urease. Again, this second NIL pair exhibited equal sensitivity to R. solani. To our knowledge, we report only the second test of fungal resistance influenced by urease levels in intact plants.283307320Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP-Brazil) [11/05928-6, 11/22245-0, 14/09730-4]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq-Brazil)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Coffee is highly tolerant to cadmium, nickel and zinc: Plant and soil nutritional status, metal distribution and bean yield

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Sewage sludge has been used to fertilize coffee, increasing the risk of metal contamination in this crop. The aim of this work was to study the effects of Cd, Zn and Ni in adult coffee plants growing under field conditions. Seven-year-old coffee plants growing in the field received one of three;loses of Cd, Zn or Ni: 15,45 and 90 g Cd plant(-1); 35, 105 and 210 g Ni plant(-1); and 100, 300 and 600 g Zn plant(-1), with all three metals in the form of sulphate salts. After three months, we noticed good penetration of the three metals into the soil, especially in the first 50 cm, which is the region where most coffee plant roots are concentrated. Leaf concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe and Mn were nor affected. N levels did not change with the application of Ni or Zn but were reduced with either 45 or 90 g Cd plant(-1). Foliar P concentrations decreased with the addition of 45 and 90 g Cd plant(-1) and 600 g Zn plant(-1). Zn levels in leaves were not affected by the application of Cd or Ni. The highest concentrations. of Zn were found in branches (30-230 mg kg(-1)), leaves (7-35 mg kg(-1)) and beam (4-6.5 mg kg(-1)); Ni was found in leaves (4-45 mg kg(-1)), branches (3-18 mg kg(-1)) and beans (1-5 mg kg(-1)); and Cd was found in branches (0-6.2 mg kg(-1)) and beans (0-1.5 mg kg(-1)) but was absent in leaves. The mean yield of two harvests was not affected by Ni, but it decreased at the highest dose of Zn (600 g plant(-1)) and the two higher doses of Cd (45 and 90 g plant(-1)). Plants died when treated with the highest dose of Cd and showed symptoms of toxicity with the highest dose of Zn. Nevertheless, based on the amounts of metal used and the results obtained, we conclude that coffee plants are highly tolerant to the three metals tested. Moreover, even at high doses, there was very little transport to the beans, which is the part consumed by humans. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.1252534Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Simple procedure for nutrient analysis of coffee plant with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF)

Nutrient analysis is used to estimate nutrient content of crop plants to manage fertilizer application for sustained crop production. Direct solid analysis of agricultural and environmental samples by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) was chosen as alternative technique to evaluate the simultaneous multielemental quantification of the most important essential elements in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and certified reference materials made from leaves were used to calibrate and check the trueness of EDXRF method for the determination of the concentration of several nutrients in coffee leaves and branches. Fluorescence spectrometry proved to be advantageous and presented low cost as loose powder samples could be used. Samples collected from a field experiment where coffee plants were treated with excess of Ni and Zn were used to verify the practical application of the method. Good relationships were achieved between certified values and data obtained by EDXRF, with recoveries ranging from 82 to 117 %.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Coffee is highly tolerant to cadmium, nickel and zinc: Plant and soil nutritional status, metal distribution and bean yield

Sewage sludge has been used to fertilize coffee, increasing the risk of metal contamination in this crop. The aim of this work was to study the effects of Cd, Zn and Ni in adult coffee plants growing under field conditions. Seven-year-old coffee plants growing in the field received one of three;loses of Cd, Zn or Ni: 15,45 and 90 g Cd plant(-1); 35, 105 and 210 g Ni plant(-1); and 100, 300 and 600 g Zn plant(-1), with all three metals in the form of sulphate salts. After three months, we noticed good penetration of the three metals into the soil, especially in the first 50 cm, which is the region where most coffee plant roots are concentrated. Leaf concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe and Mn were nor affected. N levels did not change with the application of Ni or Zn but were reduced with either 45 or 90 g Cd plant(-1). Foliar P concentrations decreased with the addition of 45 and 90 g Cd plant(-1) and 600 g Zn plant(-1). Zn levels in leaves were not affected by the application of Cd or Ni. The highest concentrations. of Zn were found in branches (30-230 mg kg(-1)), leaves (7-35 mg kg(-1)) and beam (4-6.5 mg kg(-1)); Ni was found in leaves (4-45 mg kg(-1)), branches (3-18 mg kg(-1)) and beans (1-5 mg kg(-1)); and Cd was found in branches (0-6.2 mg kg(-1)) and beans (0-1.5 mg kg(-1)) but was absent in leaves. The mean yield of two harvests was not affected by Ni, but it decreased at the highest dose of Zn (600 g plant(-1)) and the two higher doses of Cd (45 and 90 g plant(-1)). Plants died when treated with the highest dose of Cd and showed symptoms of toxicity with the highest dose of Zn. Nevertheless, based on the amounts of metal used and the results obtained, we conclude that coffee plants are highly tolerant to the three metals tested. Moreover, even at high doses, there was very little transport to the beans, which is the part consumed by humans. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq