Establishment of stem water potential thresholds for the response of 'O'Henry' peach fruit growth to water stress during stage III of fruit development.

摘要

The response of fruit dry and fresh weight to stem water potential was studied in three different deficit irrigation experiments, considering an ample range of tree ages (from 3 to 20 years old) and crop management conditions (container and field grown (Spain)). The commonality in those experiments was that they all were performed in 'O'Henry' peach trees and that irrigation, in part of the trees, was substantially reduced during stage III to significantly reduce fruit dry matter. The results of these correlations consistently indicated that growth in fruit dry weight is not affected by average midday stem water potential during stage III for values less negative than -1.12 MPa. However, for values of stem water potential more negative than -1.12 MPa, fruit growth in dry mass was significantly reduced. On the other hand, fruit growth in fresh mass did not have a threshold response as clear as growth in dry weight..