Influence of root pruning and water stress on growth and physiological factors of potted apple, grape, peach and pear trees

Abstract

Apple, grape, peach and pear trees were grown with roots divided between two pots for 2 months and then assigned to the following treatments: (1) control, receiving 100% of total plant transpiration (TPT) distributed equally between both pots; (2) pruned, receiving 100% of TPT in one pot with removal of roots in the second pot; (3) stressed, receiving 100% of TPT in one pot with water withheld from the other. Shoot growth of all species except peach was reduced only by root pruning (20%, 30% and 40% less than control in grape, pear and apple, respectively). New root growth of pruned and stressed plants was generally less than control (25% on average). During the first 15 days after treatment, both root pruning and water stress depressed transpiration and net photosynthesis. Thereafter, stressed plants did not differ from control; transpiration and net photosynthesis of pruned plants approached those of control only after 50 days. At the end of the experiment unchanged shoot:root ratios were found in stressed trees of each crop compared with control, while root pruning caused a variable shoot:root ratio depending on the degree of canopy reduction. The findings indicate the ability of the examined crops to adapt to drastic manipulations of the root system.