The Effect of Water Supply on Sweet Cherry Phytochemicals in Bud, Leaf and Fruit.

Matej Vosnjak,Davor Mrzlic,Valentina Usenik,Metka Hudina

doi:10.3390/plants10061131

Abstract

The influence of a water supply on the content of phytochemicals (sugars, organic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, flavanols and anthocyanins) in the bud, leaf and fruit of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) was studied in two growing seasons. In addition, the shoot length, yield efficiency and fruit weight were determined. The trees of the cultivar ‘Regina’ on Weiroot 72 or Gisela 5 rootstocks were either irrigated or non-irrigated. Irrigated trees received, in addition to rainfall, an amount of water equal to 100% of evapotranspiration, while non-irrigated trees received only rainwater (40% less). An analysis of phytochemicals was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Irrigated trees had a higher content of total sugars in leaf and bud, higher content of total organic acids in the fruit, and lower content of total hydroxycinnamic acids, total flavonols and flavanols in the leaf and fruit. Irrigated trees also had higher shoot length, fruit weight and lower yield efficiency. The content of phytochemicals in bud and leaf was not affected by rootstock, but the fruit phytochemical composition, shoot length and yield efficiency were. The content of phytochemicals in the bud and leaf was influenced by the presence or absence of fruits. Our results show that irrigation, rootstock and the presence of fruits had an influence on the composition of phytochemicals in sweet cherry.

Highlights

IntroductionWater is an important factor in fruit production and irrigation is essential in areas where rainfall is limited or not well distributed
Sorbitol made up the largest part of the total sugar content measured in the sweet cherry bud and leaf, while glucose accounted for most of the measured in the sweet cherry bud and leaf, while glucose accounted for most of the totaltotal sugar inthe thefruit
The phenolic compounds identified in the bud, leaf and fruit of sweet cherry are the same as those previously identified in the bud of P. avium [24,27], leaf of P. cerasus [28] and fruit of P. avium [25,29]

Summary

Introduction

Water is an important factor in fruit production and irrigation is essential in areas where rainfall is limited or not well distributed. Water supply influences growth [1,2,3,4,5], yield and fruit quality characteristics of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) [3,6]. The sweet cherry is an economically important stone fruit, which is highly appreciated by consumers. The rootstock plays a key role in the tree’s response to water supply [1,8,9,10] and influences numerous scion parameters such as vegetative growth, fruit quality and yield [6], water and gas exchange status [11,12]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion