Retranslocation of nutrients in coffee leaves of cultivars Red Catuaí IAC 144 and IAC 125 RN

Knowledge of the retranslocation of nutrients in plants can help in the management of coffee fertilization, especially with regard to the ideal time and method of application and the need for installments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retranslocation of nutrients in coffee leaves of two varieties. The treatments consisted of two varieties of coffee (Red Catuaí IAC 144 and IAC 125 RN) and coffee leaves in four phenological stages (young leaves, diagnostic, senescent and deciduous). The index leaf of Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 showed the highest photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, while the internal conductance of CO2 was higher in young and senescent leaves, and the index and senescent leaves showed the highest efficiencies in the use of water. The chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll has higher concentrations in the index leaf, while the highest carotenoids occurred in young and senescent leaves. The highest levels of N, P, K and Zn in Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 was occurred in young leaves and the highest Ca and Fe in senescent leaves. The highest levels of N, P and K in the IAC 125 RN variety was occurred in young leaves, Ca and Mg in deciduous leaves and S in senescent and deciduous leaves. Nutrients with low mobility in the plant must be parceled, the application of Zn leaves is an alternative method of supplying this nutrient, as it has retranslocation via phloem