THE EFFECT OF ANTITRANSPIRANT ON THE CONTENT OF MICROELEMENTS AND TRACE ELEMENTS IN SWEET CHERRY LEAVES AND FRUITS

The conducted study was aimed at evaluation of the effect of antitranspirant produced with natural resins under the trade name Vapor Gard on the content of microelements and trace elements in sweet cherry leaves and fruits. A single-factor experiment was conducted in the randomised block design, with five replications, in 2010-2011. Examinations were performed on 13-year-old sweet cherry trees of the cultivar 'Burlat', being grafted on the 'PHL-A' rootstock. Tree spraying with antitranspirant Vapor Gard, at a 0.75% concentration, was applied at the stage of fruit colouration. The total content of manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, lead and cadmium in the leaves and fruits was determined by the AAS method. Antitranspirant Vapor Gard had an effect on increasing significantly the manganese, copper, zinc, nickel and cadmium quantities and decreasing the content of lead in the sweet cherry leaves. The antitranspirant being applied did not have any effect on the quantity of microelements and trace elements in the sweet cherry fruits of the cultivar 'Burlat'.