Macronutrient Omission Affects the Seedling Performance of Eugenia dysenterica DC., an Important Fruiting Species of the Cerrado Biome

Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) seedling production is currently important for the restoration of degraded areas of the Cerrado biome and to supply the demand for its fruits for regional food production. The plants of Cagaita have been described in the literature as resistant to nutrient-poor soils, but the studies remain inconclusive. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that initial E. dysenterica seedling development could be affected by the lack of specific nutrients. We planted seedlings of this species in complete hydroponic solution and under individual macronutrient omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The development of macronutrient deficiency symptoms was visually monitored for 120 days after transplantation in response to the treatment solution, and growth characteristics and tissue contents of different macronutrients were determined. The omissions of Mg and P were the treatments with the strongest effects on seedling growth. The most commonly observed deficiency symptoms were chlorosis and necrosis, in addition to leaf purpling (P deprivation), impaired root hair development (Ca and S deprivation) and a reduced number of leaves (Mg and P deprivation). The macronutrients Ca and N were most accumulated in the shoots and roots of plants subjected to complete nutrient solution, showing the importance of the availability of these nutrients in the initial stages of seedling development for the production of healthy Cagaita plants, with greater viability in the field.