Toxicity symptoms and tissue levels associated with excess boron in pear trees

Abstract
High levels of B were applied to the soil around ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d'Anjou’ pear trees in a non‐irrigated orchard. B levels in the soil profile and in the flowers, leaves and fruit were monitored for 6 years. Levels of B in the soil dropped to below 2 ppm within 5 years following the application. By then all visible symptoms of toxicity had disappeared. The B content of ‘Bartlett’ tissues was always higher than that of ‘d'Anjou’ and the symptoms of toxicity were more severe. Under conditions of this research, full bloom blossom cluster levels and levels in the fruit at harvest time were better indicators of toxicity than were the levels in leaves. Boron levels in blossom clusters above 90 and 115 ppm and in fruit above 55 and 45 ppm for ‘d'Anjou’ and ‘Bartlett’ pears respectively were considered to be toxic.

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