Cotton is responsive to boron fertilization, however, results on the mobility of this nutrient in the plant are few and controversial. This study had the objective of evaluating boron translocation and accumulation in cotton cultivars. Four cotton cultivars (FM 993, FM 910, FMT 701, and FMT 523) were grown for six weeks in 8 L pots with washed sand and nutrient solution at two boron concentrations (0 and 4.5 ∝mol L-1). After six weeks, plants were sampled for four more weeks to determine dry matter yield and total boron accumulation in root and shoots, boron distribution in plant tissues, and boron content and accumulation in leaves from different plant nodes. The experiment was arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial with sub plots (sampling time) and four replications. Dry matter yield and boron accumulation in roots were highest in the cultivars FM 993 and FMT 523. Cotton plants grown in non-deficient B solutions accumulate more than 50 % of the absorbed B in leaves, but in B deficient plants, B is found at a higher proportion in roots and stems. There is no evidence of B translocation in different cotton cultivars, even in plants under B deficiency.
Gossypium hirsutum L.; boron deficiency; mineral nutrition; micronutrient
