scholarly journals The Effects of Combined Pre and Postharvest Deficit Irrigation on Loquat Yield, Fruit Quality and Handling Aptitude

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Juan J. Hueso ◽  
Francisca Alonso ◽  
María L. Cañete ◽  
Mónica González ◽  
Virginia Pinillos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Lower Extent

Loquat prices depend on fruit size and earliness. Earliness is improved by postharvest deficit irrigation (DI), without negative effects on fruit size. An optimization of postharvest DI strategies carried out by limiting the dry period led to greater harvest date advancement, but water savings were reduced. To further improve fruit earliness and quality and increase water savings, we combined pre and postharvest DI strategies. Treatments were T1: trees not irrigated during six weeks after harvest (no preharvest DI applied); T2: trees that, in addition to postharvest DI, were not watered from the rapid fruit growth phase to harvest (nine extra weeks of DI); T3: trees that, in addition to postharvest DI, were not watered from color break to harvest (six weeks of DI plus postharvest DI); and T4: trees that in addition to postharvest DI were not watered during rapid fruit growth, but were re-irrigated at color break (2–3 weeks of DI, depending on the season). Full-irrigated trees were grown for comparison. T1 saved 18% water with respect to full-irrigation, and advanced harvesting by 16 days. T2 saved more water, had an earlier harvest and produced a higher early yield. Shorter dry periods were beneficial to a lower extent. Fruit size was significantly diminished by T2, but not by T4. A major advantage of T3 and T4 was the better performance of fruit during handling and shelf life. T2 fruits were favored by panelists for their sweetness but criticized for their smaller size.

scholarly journals Water Use, Growth, and Fruit Yield of `Hosui' Asian Pears under Deficit Irrigation

1994 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horst W. Caspari ◽  
M. Hossein Behboudian ◽  
David J. Chalmers
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Volume Measurements ◽  
Pyrus Serotina ◽  
Return Bloom

Five-year old `Hosui' Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehder) trees growing in drainage lysimeters and trained onto a Tatura trellis were subjected to three different irrigation regimes. Weekly water use (WU) was calculated using the mass-balance approach. Soil-water content of control lysimeters was kept at pot capacity, while deficit irrigation was applied before [regulated deficit irrigation (RDI)] and during the period of rapid fruit growth [late deficit irrigation (LDI)]. Soil-water content was maintained at ≈50% and 75% of pot capacity for RDI and LDI, respectively. Deficit irrigation reduced mean WU during RDI and LDI by 20%. The reduced WU was caused by lower stomatal conductance (gs) on deficit-irrigated trees. RDI trees had more-negative diurnal leaf water potentials (ψl). The ψl, gs, and WU remained lower for 2 weeks after RDI was discontinued. RDI reduced shoot extension and summer pruning weights, whereas winter pruning weights were not different between treatments. Except for the final week of RDI, fruit growth was not reduced, and fruit from RDI grew faster than the control during the first week after RDI. In contrast, fruit volume measurements showed that fruit growth was clearly inhibited by LDI. Final fruit size and yield, however, were not different between treatments. Return bloom was reduced by RDI but was not affected by LDI.

Responses of 'Pink Lady ' apple to deficit irrigation and partial rootzone drying: physiology, growth, yield, and fruit quality

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark G. O'Connell ◽  
Ian Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Stem Water Potential ◽  
Crop Evapotranspiration ◽  
Stem Water ◽  
Partial Rootzone Drying

Partial rootzone drying (PRD) is a new irrigation strategy whereby water is withheld from part of the rootzone while another part is well watered. A successful PRD strategy should reduce tree water use through stomatal control of transpiration and reduce vegetative growth while maintaining fruit size and yield. A field experiment examined crop water relations and production performance of PRD in a commercial apple orchard on loam soil in the Goulburn Valley, Australia. The orchard consisted of high-density (1420 trees/ha) 8-year-old ‘Pink Lady’ apple trees trained as central leader and irrigated by microjets. The effects of PRD on leaf/stem water potential, vegetative growth, yield components and fruit quality were investigated during two seasons (2001–02, Year 1 and 2002–03, Year 2). The 2-year average growing season reference crop evapotranspiration and rainfall was 954 and 168 mm, respectively. Three irrigation treatments were established: (1) deficit irrigation (DI, supplied 50% of water to a fixed side of tree); (2) PRD supplied 50% of water to alternating sides of tree; (3) and conventional irrigation (CI, supplied 100% water to both sides of tree). Irrigation inputs under the CI treatment were 334 and 529 mm for Year 1 and Year 2, respectively. In Year 1, the volume of irrigation applied to CI treatment inputs equated to the replacement of predicted crop evapotranspiration (ETc) based on a mid-season FAO-56 crop coefficient with adjustment for tree size. Vegetative growth, fruit production and water status showed both PRD and DI treatments led to a classical ‘deficit irrigation’ water stress response. Leaf water potential, leaf conductance, fruit size, shoot growth and yield were reduced on PRD and DI trees compared to the fully watered (CI) trees. In Year 2, CI inputs exceeded estimated ETc by 2-fold. Consequently, minimal or no differences between irrigation regimes were measured in stem water potential, vegetative growth, yield components and fruit quality. Fruit disorders (sunburn, russet, misshape, markings, frost damage) were not affected by irrigation regime in either season. We contend that further effort is required to determine under what circumstances or environments there is a PRD response that saves water and maintains yield and quality for apple.

scholarly journals Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Reid ◽  
Lee Kalcsits
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Stem Water Potential ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Bitter Pit ◽  
Return Bloom ◽  
Stem Water ◽  
Water Limitations ◽  
Control Water

Irrigation is critical to maintain plant growth and productivity in many apple-producing regions. ‘Honeycrisp’ apple characteristically develops large fruit that are also susceptible to bitter pit. Limiting fruit size by restricting irrigation may represent an opportunity to control bitter pit in ‘Honeycrisp’. For three seasons, ‘Honeycrisp’ trees were subject to water limitations in 30-day increments and compared to a fully watered control. Water limitations were imposed from 16–45, 46–75, and 76–105 days after full bloom (DAFB). Soil moisture for the well-watered control was maintained at 80–90% of field capacity for the entire season. For two years, physiological measurements were made every 15 days from 30 to 105 DAFB. Fruit quality, bitter pit incidence, shoot length, and return bloom were also measured to assess impacts on growth and productivity. When water was limited, stomatal conductance and net gas exchange were lower compared to the well-watered control and stem water potential decreased by 30–50% throughout the growing season. Early season water limitations had a lower impact on plant response to abiotic stress compared to late-season limitations. Overall, water deficits during fruit expansion phases contributed to fewer large fruit and decreased overall bitter pit incidence with no negative effects on fruit quality.

scholarly journals Postveraison Deficit Irrigation Effects on Fruit Quality and Yield of “Flame Seedless” Table Grape Cultivated under Greenhouse and Net

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1437
Author(s):  
Virginia Pinillos ◽  
Sonia Ibáñez ◽  
Jéssica M. Cunha ◽  
Juan J. Hueso ◽  
Julián Cuevas
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Solid Content ◽  
Table Grape ◽  
Soluble Solid Content ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Noticeable Effect ◽  
Modest Improvement ◽  
Berry Size

Lack of color in the skin of red table grape varieties is a serious problem in areas of warm climate. This problem is often addressed by the application of ethylene release products such as ethephon. Strict regulation in the use of this product in EU forces European grape producers to look for suitable alternatives. With the aim to increase red skin color, we applied regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies from veraison until harvest on “Flame Seedless” table grape vines cultivated under nets and under a plastic greenhouse in South East Spain, and compared yield and fruit quality with vines fully irrigated under the same net and plastic greenhouses. Our results show a modest improvement in the percentage of commercial clusters with better skin color, probably because the short duration of the deficit irrigation period only caused a slight decrease in soil water content and a mild water stress in RDI vines. Larger differences were observed under the more limiting conditions of the plastic greenhouse for light environment, especially when berry skin color was measured by CIRG (color index of red grape). More noticeable effect of RDI was noted on fruit earliness. Water savings were also remarkable. Negative effects of RDI on berry size or total soluble solid content were not perceived. Our results suggest that RDI is a suitable strategy to save irrigation water without substantial negative effects on yield and berry size. However, the effects on skin color were insufficient in the trial conditions.

scholarly journals Potential of Deficit Irrigation, Irrigation Cutoffs, and Crop Thinning to Maintain Yield and Fruit Quality with Less Water in Northern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid F. Almutairi ◽  
David R. Bryla ◽  
Bernadine C. Strik
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Stem Water Potential ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Stem Water

Drought and mandatory water restrictions are limiting the availability of irrigation water in many important blueberry growing regions, such as Oregon, Washington, and California. New strategies are needed to maintain yield and fruit quality with less water. To address the issue, three potential options for reducing water use, including deficit irrigation, irrigation cutoffs, and crop thinning, were evaluated for 2 years in a mature planting of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Elliott’). Treatments consisted of no thinning and 50% crop removal in combination with either full irrigation at 100% of estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc), deficit irrigation at 50% ETc (applied for the entire growing season), or full irrigation with irrigation cutoff for 4–6 weeks during early (early- to late-green fruit) or late (fruit coloring to harvest) stages of fruit development. Stem water potential was similar with full and deficit irrigation but, regardless of crop thinning, declined by 0.5–0.6 MPa when irrigation was cutoff early and by >2.0 MPa when irrigation was cutoff late. In one or both years, the fruiting season was advanced with either deficit irrigation or late cutoff, whereas cutting off irrigation early delayed the season. Yield was unaffected by deficit irrigation in plants with a full crop load but was reduced by an average of 35% when irrigation was cutoff late each year. Cutting off irrigation early likewise reduced yield, but only in the 2nd year when the plants were not thinned; however, early cutoff also reduced fruit soluble solids and berry weight by 7% to 24% compared with full irrigation. Cutting off irrigation late produced the smallest and firmest fruit with the highest soluble solids and total acidity among the treatments, as well as the slowest rate of fruit loss in cold storage. Deficit irrigation had the least effect on fruit quality and, based on these results, appears to be the most viable option for maintaining yield with less water in northern highbush blueberry. Relative to full irrigation, the practice reduced water use by 2.5 ML·ha−1 per season.

scholarly journals INTERACTION OF TRAINING SYSTEM, SUMMER PRUNING AND ROOT PRUNING ON YIELD AND CANOPY DENSITY OF PEACH

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1168g-1168
Author(s):  
W.C. Olien ◽  
R.E. Williamson ◽  
C.E. Hood ◽  
D.R. Decoteau ◽  
D.C. Coston
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Training System ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Parallel Study ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Canopy Density ◽  
Training Systems

Factorial combinations of ± root pruning (RP) and ± summer pruning (SP) were initiated in 1991 as subplots within a Redhaven/Lovell study of orchard training systems: Open Center (OC), Y-Trellis (YT), Central Leader (CL), and Meadow Orchard (MO) established in 1985. Root pruning was imposed at bloom (March 28) at 76 cm from the trunk to a depth of 45 cm. Summer pruning consisted of preharvest removal of water sprouts (June 5). Canopy density, quantified by transmittance of PAR radiation through the canopy, was greatest in OC and MO and least in YT and CL systems. SP and RP treatments further reduced canopy density by 35 to 80%. There were no main or interactive effects of SP and RP on 1991 yields or fruit quality, and also no interactive effects of orchard systems with SP and RP. Thus, SP and RP reduced canopy density without negative effects on fruit. RP, however, advanced harvest date by ca 4 days. A parallel study was also initiated in 1991 to determine the effects of root pruning distance (30, 60, 90 cm from the trunk, or no RP) on canopy density, yield, and fruit quality of mature, OC-trained Redhaven/ and Jefferson/Lovell. Reduction in canopy density without loss of yield or fruit size was obtained at a RP distance between 60 and 90 cm.

Effects of deficit irrigation on growth, yield and fruit quality of eggplant under semi-arid conditions

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halil Kirnak ◽  
Ismail Tas ◽  
Cengiz Kaya ◽  
David Higgs
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Pan Evaporation ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Leaf Relative Water Content ◽  
Use Efficiency

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cv. Pala was grown in the field from March to August 2001 in order to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation on fruit yield and quality (i.e. soluble dry matter, fruit size), leaf relative water content, leaf area index (LAI), leaf chlorophyll concentration, electrolyte leakage, and leaf nutrient composition (N, P, K) in eggplant. Treatments were: (1) well-watered treatment receiving 100% replenishment of A pan evaporation on a daily basis (C); (2) water-stressed treatment receiving 90% replenishment of A pan evaporation at 4-day intervals (WS1); (3) water-stressed treatment receiving 80% replenishment of A pan evaporation at 8-day intervals (WS2); and (4) water-stressed treatment receiving 70% replenishment of A pan evaporation at 12-day intervals (WS3). A total of 1276 mm of water was applied to C treatment, and the seasonal water use of eggplant ranged from 905 to 1373 mm. The C treatment had the highest yield as well as the largest and the heaviest fruit. WS1 did not significantly affect fruit yield or fruit size but fruits were slightly lighter; plant height, stem diameter, and shoot and root dry weights, LAI, leaf relative water content, nutrient concentrations, and chlorophyll concentrations in leaves were the same as in C; SDM was higher than C. The WS2 and WS3 treatments caused reductions in most parameters, except water-soluble dry matter (SDM) concentrations in fruits, compared with the unstressed (C) treatment. WS2 and WS3 treatments enhanced fruit quality (in terms of SDM) and increased electrolyte leakage compared with C. WS2 and WS3 reduced marketable yield by 12% and 28.6%, respectively, compared with C. The highest total water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency were in WS2, resulting in a 20.4% water saving compared with C. The results revealed that the optimal irrigation strategy for eggplant could depend on balancing the situational requirements in terms of irrigation water, yields, and fruit size and quality.

scholarly journals Effect of Reflective Fabric on Yield of Mature ‘d’Anjou’ Pear Trees

HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1580-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd C. Einhorn ◽  
Janet Turner ◽  
Debra Laraway
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Cold Storage ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Full Bloom ◽  
Final Size ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Fruit Number

Reflective fabric was installed before bloom in 2009 and 2010 in alleyways of a mature, low-density ‘Anjou’ pear orchard (269 trees/ha). Four treatments were applied to study intracanopy light environments on fruit growth rate and size, cropload, yield, and fruit quality: 1) no fabric (NF); 2) partial-season fabric applied before full bloom (FB) and removed 75 days after full bloom (dafb) (PSF); 3) full-season fabric applied before FB and removed at harvest (FSF); and 4) shadecloth (60%) applied 60 dafb through harvest (SC). PSF and FSF improved yield by 12% and 18%, respectively, over the two-year period relative to NF. The high yields of fabric treatments were attributed to fruit number in the lower (less than 2.4 m) interior, mid-, and exterior zones of the canopy. Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was increased by fabric 28%, 95%, and 30% in the lower exterior, mid-, and interior canopy, respectively. Photosynthesis:light response curves indicated improved carbon assimilation of pear leaves developing in the elevated PAR environment of the lower canopy. Fruit growth rate and final size were unaffected by fabric treatments. FSF fruit size was similar to NF despite higher fruit density. Compared with NF, FSF had a small, non-significant effect on fruit maturity (increased softening) at harvest. Yield and fruit size of SC fruit were significantly reduced. The number of fruit in SC trees did not differ from NF in 2009, but the effect of shade reduced fruit number in 2010. Fabric did not affect fruit quality attributes after three and six months of regular atmosphere cold storage. Pears from SC trees did not attain ripening capacity after three months of cold storage and a 7-day ripening period and had lower sugar content compared with other treatments. The cumulative yield advantages associated with FSF support its use in mature pear orchards.

scholarly journals Quantitative Analysis of Tomato Yield and Comprehensive Fruit Quality in Response to Deficit Irrigation at Different Growth Stages

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1409-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuelian Jiang ◽  
Yueling Zhao ◽  
Ling Tong ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Sheng Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Linear Correlation ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Tomato Yield ◽  
Quality Indexes ◽  
Different Growth Stages

To investigate the quantitative response of tomato yield and fruit quality to deficit irrigation applied at different growth stages, greenhouse experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018. Three irrigation treatments (full irrigation and two-thirds or one-third of full irrigation) were applied to greenhouse-grown tomato plants at flowering and fruit development (stage 2) and at fruit maturation stage (stage 3). Grey relational analysis (GRA), the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), and principal components analysis (PCA) were used to calculate the comprehensive fruit quality indexes, and combinatorial evaluation method was determined. The results showed that deficit irrigation significantly reduced evapotranspiration (ET) and tomato yield and that relative yield had a negative linear correlation with relative seasonal water deficit (1−ETi/ETc). However, deficit irrigation improved fruit quality, especially at stage 2. Total soluble solids, the total soluble sugar concentration, the sugar-to-acid ratio, and vitamin C in the tomatoes all increased significantly in plants that were deficit irrigated compared with fully irrigated plants, while organic acids and lycopene decreased in both years. There were linear correlations between fruit quality parameters and 1−ETi/ETc. The comprehensive quality index derived from GRA and PCA is reliable, and the comprehensive quality indexes given by GRA, PCA, and a combination of GRA and PCA showed positive linear correlation with 1−ETi/ETc. The comprehensive quality ranking showed that in both years, F2/3M1 (two-thirds full irrigation at stage 2) gave a better result and CK (full irrigation) the worst. An appropriate water deficit at the flowering and fruit development stage, which results in a trade-off between acceptable yield and improved fruit quality, is recommended. Our results provide a sound basis for tomato production that has a desirable balance between high yield and high fruit quality.

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