Rootstock Effect on Stem Water Potential Gradients in cv. 'Armking' Nectarine Trees
- Autori: MOTISI A; PERNICE F; SOTTILE F; CARUSO T
- Anno di pubblicazione: 2004
- Tipologia: Proceedings
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/20395
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.