Effect of Irrigation Regimes on Water Status and Photosynthetic Parameters of Peach-Almond Hybrid (GF677) Seedlings and Cuttings

摘要

Almond is one of the drought resistant species suitable for growing in the dry lands of Iran. To evaluate the response of seedlings and cuttings of peach-almond hybrid (GF677) to different irrigation regimes, an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in 2007. The stratified kernels and uniform rooted cuttings were planted in 20-L pots. After determination of field capacity (FC) of pot soils, irrigation treatments were imposed by daily irrigation to FC level or irrigation to FC at intervals 2, 4, or 8 days for 96 days. Stem water potential (SWP), relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate, sub-stomatal CO2, and water use efficiency were determined at 32 day intervals during the experimental period. Results showed that SWP at the three measurement times was lower in seedlings under 8 day irrigation intervals (-2.14 MPa) than in the cuttings (-1.95 MPa). The reduction of RWC throughout the experimental period was higher for seedlings (7.1%) than cuttings (5.1%). Therefore. cuttings of GF677, through better control of stomata, decreased transpiration, increased water use efficiency and appear to be more drought-resistant than their seedling counterparts.