Coriander is a oleraceous crop whose fresh mass is rich in vitamins, being widely used in a number of dishes. The seeds are condiments and the dry fruits are useful in pharmaceutical and food industry. The present study aimed to characterize the visual symptoms of deficiency of macronutrients and boron, as well as assess the effects of omitting these nutrients on the coriander plant growth, cv. Verdão, cultivated in greenhouse in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks with eight treatments: complete, and omission of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and boron, with four replications, the experimental unit consisting of 14-liter pots with nutrient solution and four plants per pot. The level of macronutrients and boron in dry mass of roots and leaves, the visual symptoms of deficiency and the dry mass production of roots, leaves, stem and total were assessed. Visual symptoms were observed until 24 days after the beginning of the applications. The nutritional deficiency symptoms arose in the following order: Ca<B<N<S<Mg<P. The level obtained in the roots and leaves when one nutrient was omitted was lower than those found in the full treatment, showing that the described symptoms were caused by the absence of that specific nutrient. Visual symptoms were not observed in potassium-deficient treatment during the period this experiment was carried out. A reduction in dry mass in all deficient treatments was observed when compared to the full treatment.
Coriandrum sativum; mineral nutrients; growth