González Martínez, Sofía Cristina

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    Evaluación de bioestimulantes, fertilizantes y fungicidas en granada (Punica granatum) en Puerto Rico
    (2020-05-29) González Martínez, Sofía Cristina; Morales Payán, José P.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Ferwerda, Feiko H.; Almodóvar Caraballo, Wanda I.; Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences; Ortiz Ríos, Gloribell
    Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) presents an opportunity of economic growth (fresh fruit, ornamental, medicinal and industrial sector) in Puerto Rico due to its superfruit status and global interest, however, information on its management is limited. During 2018-2019, a series of experiments were carried in order to study the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization combined with the use of plant biostimulants on the vegetative growth of the varieties ‘Palermo’ and ‘Parfianka’ in the Agricultural Experimental Station in Lajas, Puerto Rico. The variables studied were height and canopy diameter gain, number of trunks or basal shoots and leaves, foliar area, relative chlorophyll content, concentration of foliar nutrients, pests and diseases. The following treatments were drenched around the base of the plant: a standard dose of 100 g N/plant/year (N1) and an incremented one of 125g N/plant/year (N2). These were applied in combination with the plant biostimulants which were based on algae extracts (EA), aminoacids (AA), peptides (PEP), and humic acid (AH). Applications of N1-EA increased the canopy diameter, and the N2-PEP, the N content in the leaf in ‘Palermo’ plants. N2-EA applications increased the height and canopy diameter in ‘Parfianka’ before a pruning was done early that year. After this event, the plants that were treated with N1 exhibited a significant height growth in comparison to the other treatments. The insect Lysathia occidentalis and the leaf spot caused by Pseudocercospora punicae were identified in both varieties and it was speculated that their presence and severity was dependent on climatological factors. Applications of aminoacids-based biostimulants could reduce the severity of leaf spot in both varieties. Another experiment was done to evaluate the effect of fungicide rotations on the incidence and severity of leaf spot diseases in ‘Palermo’ grown in 6.5-gallon containers. During the three-month evaluation period, it was shown that the best fungicide rotations were those that included chlorothalonil or mancozeb in their program. The climate conditions (specially, rain, temperature and solar radiation) could have influenced the proliferation of these diseases. The results indicated that applications of an incremented dose of N weren’t necessary for the juvenile period of pomegranate development. Agricultural production could benefit from using biostimulants such as EA and AA to increase canopy diameter and provide an additional layer of protection that could reduce fruit sunburn. These results provide an opportunity to evaluate the combination of fungicides with biostimulants for disease reduction in pomegranate.