ISHS Acta Horticulturae 574: VII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
A CARBON BASED MODEL OF ADVENTITIOUS ROOT INFORMATION: EXAMPLES FROM BLUEBERRY PROPAGATION |
| Authors: | G. Piller, M. Fukushima, F. Broom, S. Iwahori |
| Keywords: | softwood cuttings, water stress, humidity, irradiance, establishment rates |
| Abstract:
Propagation procedures for Vaccinium softwood cuttings need to be adapted to local nursery facilities and conditions. To help facilitate this adaptation process, a qualitative carbon based model of the growth of cuttings during the early stages of adventitious root formation has been developed, formalizing the main interactions between the environment, cutting water relations, and carbon acquisition and utilization. A systems dynamic framework (ithink ver. 6.0 software; High Performance Systems) has been used to map the interactions between shoot growth, photosynthesis, water reserves, stem (carbon) reserves, root growth, humidity and irradiance. In the model, humidity and irradiance have a pivotal role in determining photosynthesis and shoot growth rates, and consequently water and carbon reserves in the cutting. Diminishing reserve levels are thought to be associated with poor cutting establishment rates. Simulation results from the model are compared with empirical data obtained from a propagation tunnel with a step change increase/decrease in humidity and a perpendicular step change in light level. Growth and establishment rates for the highbush cultivars Spartan and Berkeley and the rabbiteye cultivars Tifblue and Woodard after 6 weeks propagation are presented. | |
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