Uptake and Translocation of Foliar-Applied <span style="font-variant: small-caps">L</span>-Proline in Sweet Cherry (<i>Prunus avium</i> L.)
2023
Nadine Hölzel | Dugald C. Close | Sally A. Bound | Peter R. Quin | Denis C. Visentin | Nigel D. Swarts
Foliar application of nitrogen (N) may supplement soil-applied N in sweet cherry orchards. The proteinogenic amino acid <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">L</span>-proline is a potential source of organic N. However, little is understood about its uptake and effects on fruit quality. In this study, <sup>15</sup>N-labelled <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">L</span>-proline was spray-applied to branches of the cultivar ‘Lapins’ either pre- or post-harvest. Leaves, fruit, and whole branches were sampled to investigate the uptake and allocation of foliar-applied N. Both treatments resulted in elevated <sup>15</sup>N levels in leaves, with N derived from proline (%NDP) comprising 0.22% and 0.45% after pre- and post-harvest applications, respectively. The fruit was a sink for pre-harvest L-proline, with the highest %NDP in the pedicel (0.21%), followed by the skin (0.17%) and flesh (0.12%). Quality outcomes of smaller, darker fruit with lower stem retention indicate advanced maturity following <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">L</span>-proline application. Both pre- and post-harvest treatments resulted in the recovery of <sup>15</sup>N in branches at late dormancy, with %NDP in bark (0.12%), buds (0.15%), and wood (0.02%) of the post-harvest treatment twice as high compared with those from the pre-harvest treatment. This study demonstrates proof of concept of the uptake of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">L</span>-proline into the leaves of sweet cherry plants and translocation into the fruit and storage organs of the branch.
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