ISHS Acta Horticulturae 297: II International Symposium on Kiwifruit
RESPONSES TO FROST IN KIWIFRUIT PROPAGATED BY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES |
| Authors: | R. Massai, D. Piccotino, G. Baroni, C. Xiloyannis |
| Keywords: | micropropagation, hardwood cuttings, xylem, leaf area |
| Abstract:
Trials were carried out on two-year-old kiwifruit vines (cv. Hayward), obtained from either micropropagation or from hardwood cuttings. Damage to trunk and canopy ensuing from a sharp fall in temperatures to -7.2 C was observed in early November, 1988. The percentage of damaged vines was assessed. Measurements were made of the number and size of xylem vessels, bark thickness of the main stem and of the partitioning of assimilates in the various organs of the vines. The following year, vegetative activity and root system development were observed on both undamaged and damaged vines. Results indicated that vines obtained from cuttings were more sensitive to low temperatures than those obtained by micropropagation. The main stems of damaged vines had a smaller number of xylem vessels with a larger mean diameter compared with the undamaged ones, irrespective of the original method of propagation. Leaves on damaged micropropagated vines, cut back in the following spring, showed higher chlorophyll concentration and higher assimilation rates than those leaves on vines derived from cuttings. | |
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