LEAF WATER POTENTIAL, STOMATAL RESISTANCE AND TRANSPIRATION RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT WATERING IN ALMOND, PEACH AND “PIXY” PLUM.

Total leaf water potential, stomatal resistance and transpiration rate per unit leaf area were measured in open pollinated seedlings of almond, peach and in micropropagated Pixy plum maintained in a growth chamber at 90, 60 and 30%, of available water on dry weight basis.
Total leaf water potential ( w) decreased from -0.9 to -1.1 and 2.3, and from -1.1 to -1.2 and -2.0 MPa for peach and almond respectively at 90, 60 and 30% of available water.
Pixy plum w fell from -1.4 to -1.5 MPa when soil moisture decreased from 90 to 60%, while the trees did not survive at 30%. Stomatal conductance decreased from 2.9 to 1.7 and 1.1, and from 5.6 to 3.6 and 2.3, and 2.6 to 2.2 mm/sec for peach, almond and plum respectively at 90, 60 and 30% of available water.
Transpiration rate per unit leaf area decreased from 16.5 to 12.3 and 4.1, and from 26.8 to 15.0 and 10.8, and from 25.7 to 14.6 g/h/m² for peach, almond and plum respectively at 90, 60 and 30% of available water.
While a linear relationship between stomatal conductance and w was observed for peach and almond, Pixy plum showed a relatively large transpiration rate and poor resistance to drought conditions.

I International Symposium on Water Relations in Fruit Crops

S. Dettori

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.171.16