Irrigação deficitária na fase vegetativa da goiabeira sob aplicação foliar de ácido ascórbico.

Abstract

Water deficit is a challenge that limits the guava tree's capacity for growth and development, with reduced availability being a limiting factor for agricultural production. However, there are methods that seek to increase the levels of functional compounds in plants, an example being the use of elicitors, with ascorbic acid being a good alternative. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the growth and physiological aspects of guava trees based on irrigation management strategies and foliar application of ascorbic acid. The research was carried out in a field environment in an area belonging to the Experimental Farm 'Rolando Enrique Rivas Castellón', linked to the Center for Agro-food Science and Technology - CCTA of the Federal University of Campina Grande – UFCG, located in the municipality of São Domingos- PB. A scheme was used in subdivided plots with three replications, each plot consisting of two irrigation manego strategies, one with 100% of the water need (full irrigation) and the other with a water deficit applied during the vegetative phase of the crop (50% of the need). culture water) and the subplots four concentrations of ascorbic acid (0; 200; 400 and 600 mg L-1). There was a reduction in stem diameter, plant height, crown volume, crown diameter, relative growth rate of stem diameter and plant height and relative water content when subjected to water deficit in the vegetative phase. The levels of chlorophyll b and carotenoids increased in guava plants cv. Paluma when exposed to water deficit in the vegetative phase. Concentrations of up to 200 mg L-1 of ascorbic acid intensified the increase in chlorophyll a and concentrations of 600 mg L-1 of ascorbic acid increased the amount of total chlorophyll in guava plants cv. Palma when exposed to water deficit in the vegetative phase.