Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-19T13:44:51.270Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of partial rootzone drying and rootstock vigour on dry matter partitioning of apple trees (Malus domestica cvar Pink Lady)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2011

R. LO BIANCO ,
G. TALLUTO  and
V. FARINA
R. LO BIANCO*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento DEMETRA, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 11, 90128 Palermo, Italy
G. TALLUTO
Affiliation:
Dipartimento DEMETRA, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 11, 90128 Palermo, Italy
V. FARINA
Affiliation:
Dipartimento DEMETRA, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 11, 90128 Palermo, Italy
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: rlb@unipa.it
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The effects of partial rootzone drying (PRD) and rootstock vigour on dry matter accumulation and partitioning among leaves, shoots, fruits, frame and roots of apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh. cvar Pink Lady) were investigated in 2005 near Caltavuturo, in Sicily. In a first field trial, trees on MM.106 rootstock were subjected to: conventional irrigation (CI), maintaining soil moisture above 0·80 of field capacity; PRD irrigation, where alternating sides of the rootzone received 0·50 of the CI irrigation water; and continuous deficit irrigation (DI), where 0·50 of the CI water was equally applied to both sides of the rootzone. In a second trial, trees on M.9 or MM.106 were subjected to CI and PRD irrigation. In trial 1, dry matter accumulation was markedly reduced by DI irrigation and to a lesser extent by PRD; PRD trees partitioned 20% less to leaves, 31% less to fruits and 24% more to woody components than CI trees; DI trees partitioned 14% less to current shoots and 18% more to fruits than CI and had the highest fruit:leaf ratio. In trial 2, there was no interaction between rootstock and irrigation treatments. MM.106 induced greater leaf, shoot, frame and root dry weights (DWs) than M.9, resulting in more vegetative growth and larger trees. PRD reduced leaf, shoot, frame and fruit DWs, while root DWs were similar to CI, and thus PRD trees were 18% smaller than CI trees. Neither rootstock nor irrigation affected dry matter partitioning among organs or root:canopy ratio, whereas PRD trees or trees on MM.106 showed better water use efficiency than CI and M.9, respectively. The results show that PRD trees did not activate drought tolerance strategies in terms of dry matter allocation that could improve acquisition of water resources, regardless of rootstock. PRD irrigation increased above-ground dry matter partitioning towards woody components at the expense of leaves and fruits.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 150 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 75 - 86
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abrisqueta, J. M., Hernansáez, A. & Franco, J. A. (1994). Root dynamics of young almond trees under different drip-irrigation rates. Journal of Horticultural Science 69, 237–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Abrisqueta, J. M., Mounzer, O., Álvarez, S., Conejero, W., García-Orellana, Y., Tapia, L. M., Vera, J., Abrisqueta, I. & Ruiz-Sánchez, M. C. (2008). Root dynamics of peach trees submitted to partial rootzone drying and continuous deficit irrigation. Agricultural Water Management 95, 959–967.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, R. G., Pereira, L. S., Raes, D. & Smith, M. (1998). Crop Evapotranspiration – Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements. Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56. Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
Atkinson, C. J., Policarpo, M., Webster, A. D. & Kuden, A. M. (1999). Drought tolerance of apple rootstocks: production and partitioning of dry matter. Plant and Soil 206, 223–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burkart, S., Manderscheid, R. & Weigel, H. J. (2004). Interactive effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations and plant available soil water content on canopy evapotranspiration and conductance of spring wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 21, 401–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caspari, H. W., Behboudian, M. H. & Chalmers, D. J. (1994). Water use, growth, and fruit yield of ‘Hosui’ Asian pears under deficit irrigation. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 119, 383–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caspari, H. W., Einhorn, T. C., Leib, B. G., Redulla, C. A., Andrews, P. K., Lombardini, L., Auvil, T. & McFerson, J. R. (2004 a). Progress in the development of partial rootzone drying of apple trees. Acta Horticulturae 664, 125–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caspari, H. W., Neal, S. & Alspach, P. (2004 b). Partial rootzone drying. A new deficit irrigation strategy for apple? Acta Horticulturae 646, 93–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dry, P. R. & Loveys, B. R. (1998). Factors influencing grapevine vigour and the potential for control with partial rootzone drying. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 4, 140–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dry, P. R. & Loveys, B. R. (1999). Grapevine shoot growth and stomatal conductance are reduced when part of the root system is dried. Vitis 38, 151–156.Google Scholar
Dry, P. R., Loveys, B. R., Botting, D. G. & Düring, H. (1996). Effects of partial rootzone drying on grapevine vigour, yield, composition of fruit and use of water. In Proceedings of the Ninth Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference (Eds Stockley, C. S., Sas, A. N., Johnstone, R. S. & Lee, T. H.), pp. 128–131. Adelaide: Winetitles.Google Scholar
Dry, P. R., Loveys, B. R. & Düring, H. (2000). Partial drying of the rootzone of grape. I. Transient changes in shoot growth and gas exchange. Vitis 39, 3–7.Google Scholar
Ebel, R. C., Proebsting, E. L. & Evans, R. G. (1995). Deficit irrigation to control vegetative growth in apple and monitoring fruit growth to schedule irrigation. HortScience 30, 1229–1232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ebel, R. C., Proebsting, E. L. & Patterson, M. E. (1993). Regulated deficit irrigation may alter apple maturity, quality, and storage life. HortScience 28, 141–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Einhorn, T. & Caspari, H. W. (2004). Partial rootzone drying and deficit irrigation of ‘Gala’ apples in a semi-arid climate. Acta Horticulturae 664, 197–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eissenstat, D. M., Bauerle, T. L., Comas, L. H., Lakso, A. N., Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G. H. & Smart, D. R. (2006). Seasonal patterns of root growth in relation to shoot phenology in grape and apple. Acta Horticulturae 721, 21–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernandez, R. T., Perry, R. L. & Flore, J. A. (1997). Drought response of young apple trees on three rootstocks: growth and development. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 122, 14–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flore, J. A. & Layne, D. R. (1999). Photoassimilate production and distribution in cherry. HortScience 34, 1015–1019.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gowing, D. J. G., Davies, W. J. & Jones, H. G. (1990). A positive root-sourced signal as an indicator of soil drying in apple, Malus×domestica Borkh. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 1535–1540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higgs, K. H. & Jones, H. G. (1991). Water relations and cropping of apple cultivars on a dwarfing rootstock in response to imposed drought. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 66, 367–379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hsiao, T. C. (1973). Plant responses to water stress. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 24, 519–570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landsberg, J. J. & Jones, H. G. (1981). Apple orchards. In Water Deficits and Plant Growth, vol. 6: Woody Plant Communities (Ed. Kozlowski, T. T.), pp. 419–469. New York: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Layne, R. E. C., Tan, C. S. & Perry, R. L. (1986). Characterization of peach roots in Fox sand as influenced by sprinkler irrigation and tree density. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 111, 670–677.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lo Bianco, R., Policarpo, M. & Scariano, L. (2003). Effects of rootstock vigour and in-row spacing on stem and root growth, conformation and dry-matter distribution of young apple trees. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 78, 828–836.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lombardini, L., Caspari, H. W., Elfving, D. C., Auvil, T. D. & McFerson, J. R. (2004). Gas exchange and water relations in ‘Fuji’ apple trees grown under deficit irrigation. Acta Horticulturae 636, 43–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lötter, J., de, V., Beukes, D. J. & Weber, H. W. (1985). Growth and quality of apples as affected by different irrigation treatments. Journal of Horticultural Science 60, 181–192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lovatt, C. J. (1990). Factors affecting fruit set/early fruit drop in avocado. California Avocado Society 1990 Yearbook 74, 93–199.Google Scholar
Marsal, J., Mata, M., Del Campo, J., Arbones, A., Vallverdú, X., Girona, J. & Olivo, N. (2008). Evaluation of partial root-zone drying for potential field use as a deficit irrigation technique in commercial vineyards according to two different pipeline layouts. Irrigation Science 26, 347–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCully, M. E. (1999). Roots in soil: unearthing the complexities of roots and their rhizospheres. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 50, 695–718.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melgar, J. C., Dunlop, J. M. & Syvertsen, J. P. (2010). Growth and physiological responses of the citrus rootstock Swingle citrumelo seedlings to partial rootzone drying and deficit irrigation. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 148, 593–602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mpelasoka, B. S., Behboudian, M. H. & Green, S. R. (2001). Water use, yield and fruit quality of lysimeter-grown apple trees, responses to deficit irrigation and to crop load. Irrigation Science 20, 107–113.Google Scholar
O'Connell, M. G. & Goodwin, I. (2007). Responses of ‘Pink Lady’ apple to deficit irrigation and partial rootzone drying: physiology, growth, yield, and fruit quality. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 1068–1076.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, W. C. & Pallardy, S. G. (1985). Genotypic variation in tissue water relations of leaves and roots of black walnut (Juglans nigra) seedlings. Physiologia Plantarum 64, 105–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Passioura, J. B. (1972). The effect of root geometry on the yield of wheat growing on stored water. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 745–752.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Psarras, G. & Merwin, I. A. (2000). Water stress affects rhizosphere respiration rates and root morphology of young ‘Mutsu’ apple trees on M.9 and MM.111 rootstocks. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 125, 588–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rom, C. R. (1996). Coordination of root and shoot growth: roots and rootstocks. In Tree Fruit Physiology: Growth and Development (Eds Maib, K. M., Andrews, P. K., Lang, G. A. & Mullinix, K.), pp. 53–67. Yakima, WA: Good Fruit Grower.Google Scholar
Romero, P., Botía, P. & García, F. (2004). Effects of regulated deficit irrigation under subsurface drip irrigation conditions on vegetative development and yield of mature almond trees. Plant and Soil 260, 169–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruiz-Canales, A., Franco, J. A., Plana, V. & Abrisqueta, J. M. (2006). Root distribution in apricot orchard (Prunus armeniaca L. ‘Búlida’) under trickle irrigation. Acta Horticulturae 717, 307–311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sakalauskaite, J., Kviklys, D., Lanauskas, J. & Duchovskis, P. (2006). Biomass production, dry weight partitioning and leaf area of apple rootstocks under drought stress. Sodininkyste Ir Darzininkyste 25, 283–291.Google Scholar
dos Santos, T. P., Lopes, C. M., Rodrigues, M. L., de Souza, C. R., Maroco, J. P., Pereira, J. S., Silva, J. R. & Chaves, M. M. (2003). Partial rootzone drying, effects on growth and fruit quality of field-grown grapevines (Vitis vinifera). Functional Plant Biology 30, 663–671.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stoll, M., Loveys, B. & Dry, P. (2000). Hormonal changes induced by partial rootzone drying of irrigated grapevine. Journal of Experimental Botany 51, 1627–1634.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stutte, G. W., Baugher, T. A., Walter, S. P., Leach, D. W., Glenn, D. M. & Tworkoski, T. J. (1994). Rootstock and training system affect dry-matter and carbohydrate distribution in ‘Golden Delicious’ apple trees. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 119, 492–497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Talluto, G., Farina, V. & Lo Bianco, R. (2007). Growth, fruit yield and quality of ‘Golden Delicious’ apple trees under fixed partial rootzone drying. Journal of Applied Horticulture 9, 50–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Talluto, G., Farina, V., Volpe, G. & Lo Bianco, R. (2008). Effects of partial rootzone drying and rootstock vigour on growth and fruit quality of ‘Pink Lady’ apple trees in Mediterranean environments. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 785–794.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Talon, M., Tadeo, F. R., Ben-Cheikh, W., Gomez-Cadenas, A., Mehouachi, J., Perez-Botella, J. & Primo-Millo, E. (1998). Hormonal regulation of fruit set and abscission in Citrus: classical concepts and new evidence. Acta Horticulturae 463, 209–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, H. M. (1983). Managing root systems for efficient water use: an overview. In Limitations to Efficient Water Use in Crop Production (Eds Taylor, H. M., Jordan, W. R. & Sinclair, T. R.), pp. 87–113. Madison, WI: ASA-CSSA-SSSA.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wardlaw, I. F. (1990). The control of carbon partitioning in plants. New Phytologist 116, 341–381.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zegbe, J. A. & Behboudian, M. H. (2008). Plant water status, CO2 assimilation, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Pacific RoseTM’ apple under partial rootzone drying. Advances in Horticultural Science 22, 27–32.Google Scholar