Photosynthetic response of ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees covered with photoselective anti-hail nets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of photoselective anti-hail nets in the leaf content of photosynthetic pigments and in the photosynthetic response of ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees.
The experiment was carried out during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 growing seasons, in a commercial orchard located in Monte Alegre dos Campos city, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees from an uncovered area (no netting), covered with black anti-hail net (standard hail net) and photoseletive anti-hail nets (yellow ChromatiNet^®, blue ChromatiNet^® and red ChromatiNet^®) were used to determine the levels of carotenoids and chlorophylls, leaf area, specific leaf area and CO₂ assimilation rate curves (A) in response to an increase of the photosynthetic photon flux density.
The dispersion of blue and red light emitted by the red ChromatiNet^® and blue ChromatiNet^® photoseletive nets stimulated the maximum rate of CO₂ assimilation in ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees in response to an increase of photosynthetic photon flux density, under the climatic conditions of southern Brazil, favoring a better foliar photosynthetic efficiency.

XI International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates and I International Symposium on Nettings and Screens in Horticulture

D.S. Mauta, F.J. Hawerroth, C.V.T. Amarante, C.S. Mota, J.C. Vilvert

Malus domestica Borkh., CO₂ assimilation, chlorophylls, climatic conditions of southern Brazil

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1268.44