Dry matter partitioning and vegetative growth of young peach trees under water stress [Prunus persica (L.)]

Steinberg, S.L.; Miller, J.C. . Dept. of Horticultural Sciences; McFarland, M.J. . Dept. of Agricultural Engineering

Dry matter partitioning and vegetative growth of young peach trees under water stress [Prunus persica (L.)]

1990

Steinberg, S.L. | Miller, J.C. (Texas A and M Univ., College Station (USA). Dept. of Horticultural Sciences) | McFarland, M.J. (Texas A and M Univ., College Station (USA). Dept. of Agricultural Engineering)

Water stress affected the growth and dry matter partioning of young peach trees grown in pots in a greenhouse. When the trees were subjected to 4 watering treatments, 100, 75, 50 and 25 percent of full water, total dry matter production was reduced with each incremental decrease in applied water. A reduction or halting of lateral branching and new leaf production was observed soon after water stress was imposed, and these 2 factors were the major contributors to differences in tree biomass production. Currently growing leaves and internodes of the drier treatments reached maturity at a smaller size. In contrast to internode lengthening, leaf area expansion slowed in the final growth phase. This correlated well with leaf unfolding.

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