ISHS Acta Horticulturae 636: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Key Processes in the Growth and Cropping of Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees
LATE SEASON LEAF GAS EXCHANGE OF THREE YOUNG CHERRY CULTIVARS GROWING ON FIVE ROOTSTOCKS |
| Authors: | A. Santos, J.M. Moutinho-Pereira |
| Keywords: | Prunus avium, CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, growth control, dwarfing |
| Abstract:
Two three-year-old cherry trees of each of the sweet cherry cultivars ‘Burlat’, ‘Van’ and ‘Summit’ on the rootstocks ‘Edabriz’, ‘Gisela 5’, ‘Maxma 14’, ‘Cab 11E’ and ‘Prunus avium’ were selected to establish a randomized complete block design. The objective was to evaluate the rootstock and cultivar effects on plant leaf gas exchanges near the end of the growing season (September 4th), to get better acquainted on the causes of dwarfing effects of low-vigour rootstocks. The ‘Summit’ cultivar had the highest net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, but its intrinsic water use efficiency was lower than that of the others. As for the rootstocks, two distinct groups could be identified (Pav-Mxm-Cab and Gsl-Edb), the first one being the most active. The interactions Bur*Pav and Sum*Pav were the most active in the first week of September, and the lowest CO2 assimilation rates were observed on the ‘Van’ cultivar when growing on the dwarfing rootstocks, ‘Gisela 5’ and ‘Edabriz’. This fact allows the inference that invigorating rootstocks could keep scion growth active for longer periods, lengthening the photosynthetically active season and individual shoot growth. This could be a consequence of a delayed arrival of the flux of hormonal compounds to the canopy, that determine the entrance into dormancy and leaf senescence and fall. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
