ISHS Acta Horticulturae 658: I International Symposium on Rootstocks for Deciduous Fruit Tree Species
ROOTSTOCK EFFECT ON STEM WATER POTENTIAL GRADIENTS IN CV. 'ARMKING' NECTARINE TREES |
| Authors: | A. Motisi, F. Pernice, F. Sottile, T. Caruso |
| Keywords: | rootstock, nectarine, Prunus persica, P. cerasifera, water relations |
| Abstract:
The effects of rootstock vigour on scion xylem hydraulic conductivity were studied on potted trees of cv. ‘Armking’ nectarine grafted onto GF677 (vigorous) and MrS 2/5 (low-vigour) rootstocks. Water potential gradients of non-transpiring leaves were measured at three levels of the stem starting at 10 cm above the graft-point. Transpiration rates were estimated by weighing. Two sets of measurements were taken on the same trees, at two different transpiration-rate levels obtained by imposing a different level of evaporative demand. Measurements were taken after allowing transpiration to reach a steady-state (20 minutes after any environmental perturbation). Trees grafted onto the low-vigour rootstock (MrS 2/5) showed the lowest water potential at all levels along the stem and the lowest hydraulic conductivity along the stem, about half the values observed on GF677-grafted and self-rooted trees. | |
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