Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple
Irrigation is critical to maintain plant growth and productivity in many apple-producing regions. ‘Honeycrisp’ apple characteristically develops large fruit that are also susceptible to bitter pit. Limiting fruit size by restricting irrigation may represent an opportunity to control bitter pit in ‘H...
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/874 |
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doaj-5f41261908d4448f9d3c0a7db2257a782020-11-25T03:25:33ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-07-01987487410.3390/plants9070874Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ AppleMichelle Reid0Lee Kalcsits1Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA 98801, USATree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA 98801, USAIrrigation is critical to maintain plant growth and productivity in many apple-producing regions. ‘Honeycrisp’ apple characteristically develops large fruit that are also susceptible to bitter pit. Limiting fruit size by restricting irrigation may represent an opportunity to control bitter pit in ‘Honeycrisp’. For three seasons, ‘Honeycrisp’ trees were subject to water limitations in 30-day increments and compared to a fully watered control. Water limitations were imposed from 16–45, 46–75, and 76–105 days after full bloom (DAFB). Soil moisture for the well-watered control was maintained at 80–90% of field capacity for the entire season. For two years, physiological measurements were made every 15 days from 30 to 105 DAFB. Fruit quality, bitter pit incidence, shoot length, and return bloom were also measured to assess impacts on growth and productivity. When water was limited, stomatal conductance and net gas exchange were lower compared to the well-watered control and stem water potential decreased by 30–50% throughout the growing season. Early season water limitations had a lower impact on plant response to abiotic stress compared to late-season limitations. Overall, water deficits during fruit expansion phases contributed to fewer large fruit and decreased overall bitter pit incidence with no negative effects on fruit quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/874<i>Malus</i> x <i>domestica</i> Borkh.temperaturegas exchangestem water potentialshoot growth |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Michelle Reid Lee Kalcsits |
| spellingShingle |
Michelle Reid Lee Kalcsits Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple Plants <i>Malus</i> x <i>domestica</i> Borkh. temperature gas exchange stem water potential shoot growth |
| author_facet |
Michelle Reid Lee Kalcsits |
| author_sort |
Michelle Reid |
| title |
Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple |
| title_short |
Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple |
| title_full |
Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple |
| title_fullStr |
Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple |
| title_sort |
water deficit timing affects physiological drought response, fruit size, and bitter pit development for ‘honeycrisp’ apple |
| publisher |
MDPI AG |
| series |
Plants |
| issn |
2223-7747 |
| publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
| description |
Irrigation is critical to maintain plant growth and productivity in many apple-producing regions. ‘Honeycrisp’ apple characteristically develops large fruit that are also susceptible to bitter pit. Limiting fruit size by restricting irrigation may represent an opportunity to control bitter pit in ‘Honeycrisp’. For three seasons, ‘Honeycrisp’ trees were subject to water limitations in 30-day increments and compared to a fully watered control. Water limitations were imposed from 16–45, 46–75, and 76–105 days after full bloom (DAFB). Soil moisture for the well-watered control was maintained at 80–90% of field capacity for the entire season. For two years, physiological measurements were made every 15 days from 30 to 105 DAFB. Fruit quality, bitter pit incidence, shoot length, and return bloom were also measured to assess impacts on growth and productivity. When water was limited, stomatal conductance and net gas exchange were lower compared to the well-watered control and stem water potential decreased by 30–50% throughout the growing season. Early season water limitations had a lower impact on plant response to abiotic stress compared to late-season limitations. Overall, water deficits during fruit expansion phases contributed to fewer large fruit and decreased overall bitter pit incidence with no negative effects on fruit quality. |
| topic |
<i>Malus</i> x <i>domestica</i> Borkh. temperature gas exchange stem water potential shoot growth |
| url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/874 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT michellereid waterdeficittimingaffectsphysiologicaldroughtresponsefruitsizeandbitterpitdevelopmentforhoneycrispapple AT leekalcsits waterdeficittimingaffectsphysiologicaldroughtresponsefruitsizeandbitterpitdevelopmentforhoneycrispapple |
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