Response of three citrus rootstocks to short-term waterlogging

Climate change is altering water cycles, producing severe droughts or aberrant heavy precipitation which can lead to waterlogging and flooding.
Thus, farmers need rootstocks able to endure these difficult conditions with minimal damage in order to maintain crop yields.
In this study, three citrus rootstocks (‘Alemow’, ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Forner Alcaide no. 5’) were physiologically evaluated during and after short-term waterlogging.
The plants were placed in a controlled climate chamber for 30 days before being submitted to waterlogging for 7 days, and their response to this stress and their subsequent recovery (a further 7 days) was studied.
Plant water status and growth, net CO₂ assimilation, transpiration and stomatal conductance were measured in order to assess and compare genotype performance in waterlogging conditions. ‘Cleopatra’ seemed to suffer more in this respect than the other two genotypes.
The photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration of ‘Cleopatra’ were reduced both by exposure to waterlogging and during the recovery period.
In the case of ‘Forner Alcaide no. 5’, stomatal conductance and the transpiration rate were reduced, but the levels of both recovered after waterlogging.
A rapid decrease and recovery were detected in ‘Alemow’ during and after waterlogging.
Trunk diameter was only greater than in control conditions after the recovery period in all three genotypes.
The relative water content remained unaltered in ‘Forner Alcaide no. 5’ but decreased in ‘Alemow’ and ‘Cleopatra’.

IV International Symposium on Horticulture in Europe – SHE2021

M. Pérez-Jiménez, H. Maimouni, N. Miralles, C. Rojo, N. Navarro-García, O. Pérez-Tornero

climate change, photosynthesis, water stress, Citrus macrophylla, Cleopatra Forner Alcaide no. 5

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1327.84