Excess iron on growth and mineral composition in Eugenia uniflora L.

Iron, although an essential micronutrient, when present in excess can cause a reduction in the growth, and hence the productivity, of plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption, accumulation and distribution of Fe, and its consequences on growth and mineral composition in young plants of Eugenia uniflora L.. The plants were exposed to different concentrations of Fe, 0.045 (control), 1.0 and 2.0 mM, applied in the form of Fe-EDTA in Hoagland's pH 5.0 nutrient solution for 15, 30 and 45 days, when the number of leaves, shoot height, primary root length, dry mass of the roots, stems and leaves, and the levels of chlorophyll, total carotenoids and minerals were evaluated. Plants exposed to the treatments with 1.0 and 2.0 mM Fe showed an increase in levels of the element in the leaves, stem and roots, compared to the control plants, especially after 45 days of exposure. Under that condition, the plants exhibited typical symptoms of Fe toxicity, characterised by leaf bronzing, darkening of the roots, a reduction in the number of leaves, shoot height, length of the main root, dry matter production and the levels of chloroplast pigments. Excess Fe modified biomass partitioning and caused a reduction in the levels of P, Zn, Cu and Mn, especially in the roots. In addition to the direct effect of excess Fe, the resulting nutritional disorder may be associated with restrictive effects on initial vegetative growth in plants of Eugenia uniflora L..