Environmentally-Related Cherry Root Cambial Plasticity

Mirjana Ljubojević,Goran Barać,Nenad Magazin,Tijana Narandžić,Jovana Dulić,Maja Miodragović,Vladislav Ognjanov,Ljiljana Dekić,Ivana Maksimović,Branislava Lalić

doi:10.3390/atmos9090358

Abstract

The general aim of this research was to determine whether the cherry root cambium possesses similar water-stress adaptation abilities as the scion. Specifically, this study aimed to determine whether there is a shift in root xylem structure due to precipitation fluctuations and temperature increase during the growing season in two cherry species. Oblačinska sour cherry and European ground cherry roots with secondary structure were anatomically surveyed in detail, and correlated with meteorological conditions occurring during the vegetation when the roots were formed. Under environmental signals, both investigated species altered their radial root growth imprinting stops and starts in a cambial activity that resulted in the occurrence of intra-annual false growth rings. Changing environmental conditions triggered the shifts of large and small vessels throughout the false growth rings, but their size seemed to be mainly genetically controlled. Taking into consideration all the above, genotypes with moderate vessel lumen area—lesser or around 1200 μm2 in the inner zone, as well as no greater than 1500 μm2 in the outer zone—are presumed to be both size-controlling and stable upon the drought events. Thus, further field trials will be focused on the SV2 European ground cherry genotype, and OV13, OV32, and OV34 Oblačinska sour cherry genotypes.

Highlights

Fruit production across the world relies on inter-specific grafted trees, rather than intra-specific seedlings, which has enabled the expansion of growing areas, including various soil and environmental conditions
The specific aim of this study was to assess whether there is a shift in root xylem structure due to precipitation fluctuations and temperature increase during the growing season in two contrasting root systems—deep and vertically oriented in P. fruticosa versus shallow in
European ground cherry genotypes were characterized with greater cross-sectional areas, with values 27.9 ± 3.70 mm2 in SV2 (Figure 2a) and 33.4 ± 10.1 mm2 in SV4 (Figure 2b), in which secondary wood and secondary cortex, as well as periderm percentage, differed

Summary

Introduction

Fruit production across the world relies on inter-specific grafted trees, rather than intra-specific seedlings, which has enabled the expansion of growing areas, including various soil and environmental conditions. Due to comprehensive scion and rootstock breeding, sweet cherry is ranked in sixth place according to total temperate fruit production [1]. Sweet cherries are cultivated in more than 40 countries worldwide, with the production increases from year to year, due to high consumer demands [2]. One rootstock is generally considered as desirable if it raises early bearing, highly productive compact fruit trees suitable for pedestrian orchards. If those planned and selected genetically inherited characteristics are present, rootstock gains prompt popularity among producers and it spreads across the world very rapidly.

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