The difference in the photosynthetic characteristics and soil moisture of different varieties of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.)

Abstract

Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly sought-after fruit in the global market due to its nutritional value and appealing sensory characteristics. This paper investigated the indicators of photosynthetic physiological characteristics and changes in soil physical properties of different varieties of sweet cherries grown in the Loess Plateau region, which strengthened the research on the ecological aspects of photosynthetic physiology of sweet cherries. By analyzing the characteristics and similarities of photosynthesis processes in different varieties, the results were obtained to showed that most of these sweet cherries showed obvious inhibition of photosynthesis at noon. The daily net photosynthetic rate (Pn) variation graph displayed a typical bimodal curve, with the lowest values occurring successively at 12:00 pm and 14:00. The Pn of sweet cherry is mainly influenced by water use efficiency (WUE) and transpiration rate (Tr). Rainier and Summit exhibited the best performance in the daily mean of Pn due to the interplay between photosynthetic physiological and ecological factors. To affect the photosynthesis of sweet cherries, covering the greenhouses with plastic film would impact the changes in light intensity and temperature. The crop management mode of uniform mulching and drip irrigation can affect the water content of different soil depths, leading to a reduction in Pn due to the varying WUE and Tr of different varieties of sweet cherries. The order of photosynthetic physiological characteristics of different varieties of sweet cherries, as revealed by principal component analysis, was as follows: Rainier > 4YJimei > 2YTieon > 4YTieon > Summit > Jimei > Tieon > Hongdeng. These results provide a scientific theoretical basis for the introduction, promote the production of sweet cherries and provide a new understanding of the plantation management mode.