Influence of Drought Stress on Corky Tissue Formation, a Physiological Disorder in Sapota Fruit cv. Cricket Ball

摘要

Corky tissue incidence in sapola fruit during the summer months increased in direct proportion to the intensity and duration of stress showing a possible link between drought stress and corky tissue development. Corky tissue incidence was enhanced when the growth of newly initiated shoot buds was promoted by the application of gibberellic acid and reduced when it was inhibited by paclobutrazol, indicating that newly initiated shoots were competing with developing fruits for water and assimilates. Anenhanced reverse flow of water and nutrients from fruit to newly initiated shoot buds was found to be the principal contributing factor for the increased incidence of corky tissue in sapota under drought stress.