Abstract
Rootstocks with size controlling potential are being used in newly planted intensive almond orchards. Due to increased water scarcity, characterizing the response of these rootstocks to water deficit is required. The current work aims to assess whether the rootstock can improve their drought tolerance. We investigated the morphological and physiological response of P. dulcis “Soleta” either self-rooted or grafted on Rootpac-20 rootstock. Plant responses were evaluated during a water stress period (withholding irrigation for 20 days) and subsequent recovery in potted plants under greenhouse conditions. Self-rooted plants had a higher capacity to control vigour than plants grafted onto Rootpac-20, both under full irrigation and no irrigation conditions. Stressed plants exhibited severe dehydration, as indicated by lower leaf water potential and relative water content. Removing irrigation reduced stomatal conductance in grafted and self-rooted plants by a similar extent, suggesting an efficient stomatal control, while the reduction in the net photosynthesis rate was more marked in grafted plants compared to non-grafted plants. Self-rooted plants under water stress increased their root to shoot ratio and water use efficiency, which are positive aspects for growth and survival of these plants.
Highlights
Almond is an important crop in the USA, Australia and Spain, which are the main world almond-producing countries
Data of vegetative growth suggest that self-rooted plants had a higher capacity to control plant vigour than plants grafted onto Rootpac-20, both under full irrigation and no irrigation conditions
This greater growth was associated with higher photosynthetic rates but involved a 50% increase in water consumption compared to self-rooted plants
Summary
Almond is an important crop in the USA, Australia and Spain, which are the main world almond-producing countries. Almond is one of the major tree crops in Spain in terms of cultivated area, 822.878 ha according to Encuesta sobre Superficies y Rendimientos de Cultivos en España (ESYRCE) 2019 [1]. In Spain, the almond production is mainly located in the Mediterranean coastal regions, but it is becoming an interesting alternative to traditional crops in other regions of Spain, such as in the interior of the country [2]. In the world’s main almond-producing country (USA), most of orchards are irrigated, there are large areas in Mediterranean countries where rainfed conditions are not uncommon [3].
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