Evaluation of the Nutrients Variability in Sap of Different Petiole Samples in Tomato Plant

The aim of this trial was to study the variability of anions and cations concentrations in the different petiole samples: young leaves (YL), mature leaves (ML) and aged leaves (AL). The experimental design consisted of four blocks and four plants per block being each plant one replication. In each plant, petiole samples were collected at 135 days after transplanting (DAT) to determine chloride, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorus, sulfate-sulfur, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (Cl--,Cl- NO3-N, H2PO4-P, SO42-S, Na-+,Na- K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) concentrations. Our results showed that the selection of sample petiole in the tomato crop did not modify the Ca2+, Cl-, SO42-S and Na+ concentrations, while NO3-N, K+, Mg2+ and H2PO4-P concentrations showed a great variability due to the selection of the sample petiole, therefore it is necessary to be careful with the sample selection.