COMPARISON BETWEEN PLANT WATER RELATIONS OF IN VITRO PLANTS AND ROOTED CUTTINGS OF KIWIFRUIT

The effects of moderate drought stress on transpiration rate, leaf xylem water potential and electrolyte leakage of three years old plants of Actinidia deliciosa cv.
Hayward obtained from in vitro and rooted cuttings culture, were examined under controlled conditions.

The relationship between transpiration rate and leaf xylem water potential of the two types of plants show significative differences between them, which can be explained by a distinc stomatic regulation and cuticular development (Cuticular transpiration of rooted cuttings plants is a 28% less that in vitro plants).

Electrolyte leakage caused by drought stress increased significantly in vitro plants, and did not differ significantly in rooted cuttings plants, along the stress, showing a distinc drought hardening.

Results suggest that the capacity for drought tolerance of the two types of plants are distinc and influence its irrigation and cultural management.

I International Symposium on Kiwifruit

R. Savé, J. Adillón

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.282.24