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Isohydric stomatal behaviour alters fruit vascular flows and minimizes fruit size reductions in drought-stressed 'Hass' avocado (Persea americana Mill.).
- Source :
-
Annals of botany [Ann Bot] 2024 May 13; Vol. 133 (7), pp. 969-982. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background and Aims: Plant water status is important for fruit development, because many fleshy fruits contain large amounts of water. However, there is no information on vascular flows of Persea americana 'Hass' avocado. The aims of this research were to explore the impact of drought stress on the water relationships of the 'Hass' avocado plant and its fruit growth.<br />Methods: Well-watered and water-stressed 'Hass' avocado plants were compared. Over 4 weeks, water flows through the shoot and fruit pedicel were monitored using external sap flow gauges. Fruit diameter was monitored using linear transducers, and stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis (A) and leaf and stem water potentials (Ѱleaf and Ѱstem) were measured to assess the response of the plants to water supply.<br />Key Results: In well-watered conditions, the average water inflow to the shoot was 72 g day-1. Fruit water inflow was 2.72 g day-1, but there was water loss of 0.37 g day-1 caused by the outflow (loss back into the tree) through the vascular tissues and 1.06 g day-1 from the fruit skin. Overall, fruit volume increased by 1.4 cm3 day-1. In contrast, water flow into fruit of water-stressed plants decreased to 1.88 g day-1, with the outflow increasing to 0.61 g day-1. As a result, increases in fruit volume were reduced to 0.4 cm3 day-1. The values of A, gs and sap flow to shoots were also reduced during drought conditions. Changes in the hourly time-courses of pedicel sap flow, fruit volume and stem water potential during drought suggest that the stomatal response prevented larger increases in outflow from the fruit. Following re-watering, a substantial recovery in growth rate was observed.<br />Conclusions: In summary, a reduction in growth of avocado fruit was observed with induced water deficit, but the isohydric stomatal behaviour of the leaves helped to minimize negative changes in water balance. Also, there was substantial recovery after re-watering, hence the short-term water stress did not decrease avocado fruit size. Negative impacts might appear if the drought treatment were prolonged.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)
- Subjects :
- Plant Leaves physiology
Plant Leaves growth & development
Plant Transpiration physiology
Plant Stems physiology
Plant Stems growth & development
Plant Stems anatomy & histology
Plant Shoots physiology
Plant Shoots growth & development
Stress, Physiological physiology
Dehydration
Persea physiology
Persea growth & development
Plant Stomata physiology
Droughts
Fruit physiology
Fruit growth & development
Water physiology
Water metabolism
Photosynthesis physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1095-8290
- Volume :
- 133
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Annals of botany
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38366557
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcae024