Studies into the nutritional efficiency of grafted coffee plants is essential for the selection of graft/rootstock combinations for a maximum development and production. Our objective was the evaluation of the influence of rootstocks on the efficiency of uptake, translocation and use of Ca, Mg, and S in young Coffee arabica L. plants in hydroponic cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and lasted 170 days, using sand as substratum and circulating nutritive solution. Four genotypes of Coffea arabica L. were utilized as grafts: varieties Catuaí Vermelho IAC 15 and Oeiras MG 6851, and lines H 419-10-3-1-5 and H 514-5-5-3. Four non-grafted plants and four rootstocks, which comprised three genotypes of Coffea canephora Pierre et Froenher (Apoatã LC 2258, Conillon Muriaé-1, and Robustão Capixaba (EMCAPA 8141)) and one genotype of Coffea arabica L. (Mundo Novo IAC 376-4), were also studied. The experimental layout was a randomized block design with four replicates. Means of the non-grafted plants and graft/rootstock combinations were compared. The efficiency of uptake, translocation and use of Ca, Mg and S in the young coffee plants varied with the graft/rootstock combinations. Only the translocation efficiency of Ca was not altered by the graft/rootstock combination. Rootstocks Apoatã LC 2258 and Mundo Novo IAC 376-4 brought forth an enhanced use efficiency of Mg and dry matter yield in line H 514-5-5-3, and Mundo Novo IAC 376-4 an improved use efficiency of Ca and S
Coffea canephora; grafting; hydroponics; nutritive solution; nutrient uptake; nutrient transport
