Growth of Betula pendula Roth. the first season after transplanting at two phenological stages

The root extension rate of Betula pendula, transplanted at two phenological stages, was studied in a Nordic climate. Landscape-size trees were transplanted from the field into root-study boxes (rhizotron) in early and late spring of 1999 and 2000. In early spring, 6 trees were transplanted when the leaves had just started to unfold; likewise, in late spring, six trees were transplanted when the leaves were fully unfolded and the shoot extension was in progress. Root growth was recorded during the first post-transplant season and the tree roots were finally excavated. Results indicate that the root extension rate of B. pendula follows seasonal soil temperature. The mean root extension rates at ten days intervals varied from 4 to 11 mm/day with a total average for the growing season of 7 mm/day in 1999 and varied from 4 to 9 mm/day with a total average for the growing season of 4 mm/day for 2000. The average length of new roots was 89 cm and there was no significant difference in length, dry weight or number of new roots between the two transplant times. It appears, therefore, that the phenological stage at transplanting during the period from bud break to fully developed leaves has minor effect on landscape establishment of B. pendula, when an adequate amount of water is provided.     

Root damage affects nitrogen uptake and growth of young Fuji/M.26 apple trees

Summary

Effects of root damage during the transplant process on growth and nitrogen (N) uptake were studied with one-year-old bench-grafted Malus domestica Borkh ‘Fuji’ on M.26 rootstock apple nursery plants. Plants were potted after grafting and grown outside for one season. At the end of the season uniform trees were selected and randomly divided into four groups. One group of plants were moved into a 2°C cold room with soil and container intact (IR Treatment). Plants in other groups were removed from pots and stored as bareroot in the same cold room for three months. In the spring, bareroot plants were either: (1) transplanted with about 10% of the root system damaged during transplant (TP Treatment and Control-CK); or (2) root pruned by 25% (by volume) prior to transplant (RP treatment). Five trees from each treatment received 1 g of ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ at 12, 41 and 76 d after repotting. Control (CK) trees received no N. Trees were harvested 10 d after each N application, and plant growth and total N and ¹⁵N content of different tissues were determined. Root pruning reduced plant total biomass and root biomass at the first two harvests, but the plants from the RP treatment had highest total plant biomass and root biomass at the third harvest. There was no significant difference in the new stem and leaf growth among IR, RP and CK treatments at harvests but the TP treatment reduced new shoot biomass. Plants with intact roots (IR) had the higher total N content while control plants (CK) had the lowest. Root pruning reduced ¹⁵N uptake rate at the first two harvests but promoted it at the third harvest. Our results suggest that plant growth and nutrient uptake was suppressed by root pruning/damage during transplanting only in the early season, and the negative effects on growth and N uptake were offset later in the season by compensative root regeneration.     

Post-transplant growth of five deciduous ordic tree species as affected by transplanting date and root pruning

Shoot growth and leaf surface area were recorded during three seasons subsequent to transplanting five deciduous street tree species in Norway: Acer platanoides L., Aesculus hippocastanum L., Prunus avium L., Sorbus aucuparia L. and Tilia x europaea L. ‘Pallida’. Trees were transplanted at four dates, early and late autumn (August 25^th and October 23^rd), and early and late spring (April 23^rd and May 5^th–19^th, depending on species), with two root ball diameters (3 and 5 times the stem circumference). Control trees were not transplanted. Shoot growth in all species, except S. aucuparia, was reduced by 38 to 86% of control trees and leaf surface area by 13 to 61% in the first season after transplanting. In A. platanoides and A. hippocastanum shoot growth was also reduced in the second season (71 and 81% respectively). All species except A. hippocastanum resumed pre-transplant growth in the third season. Early autumn transplanting was least favourable in all the species, resulting in delayed establishment as well as reduced shoot growth and leaf surface area. Early spring transplanting was found favorable for A. platanoides and P. avium, but unfavorable for S. aucuparia. The experiment confirmed that the larger root balls are preferred over smaller root balls.     

Rootstock and pruning effects on first season dry weight distribution in delicious apple trees

Redchief Delicious apple trees on MM. 106 and M.9 rootstocks were left unpruned, dormant headed at planting, or summer headed 12 weeks after planting, to investigate pruning and rootstock effects on dry weight distribution between roots and shoots during the first growing season. Dormant heading stimulated new shoot dry weight and reduced new root dry weight during the first six weeks after planting. However, by 12 weeks differences in new root dry weight and new shoot dry weight were insignificant. Summer heading resulted in a significant increase in new shoot growth and decrease in new root growth. This caused the root/shoot ratio in headed trees to return to the unpruned value within six weeks after summer heading. New root growth was reduced over a longer time by dormant heading trees on MM. 106 than those on M.9. New shoot growth was increased longer in trees on M.9. Allometric constants (K) of new shoot growth relative to new root growth were significantly changed by dormant heading with both rootstocks. Summer heading had the greatest effect on K values by shifting growth heavily toward new shoots. Root/shoot ratios in all treatments for both rootstocks showed no differences 24 weeks after planting.     

Root shoot interactions in passionfruit (Passiflora sp.) under the influence of changing root volumes and soil temperatures

Summary

Passionfruit are grown in the tropics and subtropics where mean monthly soil temperatures at 15 cm range from about 10° to 30°C. The choice of rootstock can also influence production with most industries exploiting either the purple (Passiflora edulis f. edulis) or golden passionfruit (P. edulis tflavicarpa). We examined the relationship between shoot and root growth in purple x golden hybrid E-23 grafted onto golden passionfruit seedlings. Growth was manipulated by varying the volume of the soil available to the roots or temperature of the root zone. Shoot and root growth increased as root zone volume increased from 0.3, 1.4, 4, 12 to 24 1. Shoot weight (W_s) was correlated with root weight (W_R):W_S = 12.697 + 5.272 W_R + 0.195 W_R² (r² = 91%, P<0.001), with the plants allocating a smaller proportion of dry matter to the roots as root weight increased. Differences in shoot growth with pot volume were not due to changes in water or nutrient status. In the temperature experiment, the two critical root zone temperatures at 90% of maximum growth were about 20° and 35° C for vine extension, leaf area, node and leaf production, and 20° and 30°C for flower production. Leaf and stem dry weight were optimal between about 18° and 34°C, while maximum root growth occurred at 38°C. There was a weak relationship between shoot (W_s) and root dry weight (W_R): W_s = ?19.346 + 24.500 W_R ?1.046 W_R² (r² = 53%, .P<0.001). Apparently, variations in shoot growth at different soil temperatures cannot be explained solely by differences in root growth. Reduced growth at 10°C was associated with lower chlorophyll concentration, stomatal conductance and net CO₂ assimilation, but not lower leaf water potential. The concentration of most nutrients were lower at 10°C than at higher temperatures, but none was outside the range which would be expected to restrict growth. There appears to be a co-ordination of shoot and root growth as the soil volume available for root growth increases, whereas root temperature affects the roots and tops differently. The results of the pot volume experiment demonstrate the importance of rootstock vigour in passionfruit breeding. Productivity would be affected in cool subtropical areas with soil <20°C and in tropical areas with soil >30°C.     

Carbohydrates and their effects on the growth and establishment of Tilia and Betula: II. The early season movement of carbohydrates between shoots and roots

^l4C applied as labelled ¹⁴CO₂ was shown to move from leaves and shoots to roots of young Betula transplants as early as two weeks after budburst, approximately one week before the first visible signs of new root growth. Similar translocation in young transplanted Tilia was not noted until four weeks after budburst, again about one week before the onset of new root growth, which begins later after budburst in this species. The maintenance of a basal stem girdle over the period between planting and approximately eight weeks after budburst severely inhibited new root growth in both genera and also reduced individual leaf area and extension shoot growth. Carbohydrate content within the roots of both species declined in the first month after budburst. Girdling had no effect upon Tilia root carbohydrate content but severely reduced that of Betula. Total carbohydrate content of Betula shoots and leaves increased in the month following budburst, whereas that of Tilia declined slightly. Defoliation one month after budburst also reduced new root growth of both species in the subsequent month; shoot growth of Tilia, but not Betula, was reduced by defoliation. The results are discussed in relation to transplanting success with Tilia and Betula.     

The Reinvigoration of Apple Trees by the Inarching of Vigorous Rootstocks

Summary

The purpose of this research was to determine if established, orchard-grown apple trees that were con®ned in root-restricting membranes received adequate water for growth when irrigated. Previous data had shown positive effects of root restriction on reducing shoot extension growth in apple. Soil matric potential (Ψ_sm), leaf stomatal conductance (g) and leaf water potentials (Ψ_l) were measured over daily cycles during the period of maximum tree water use (July and August). Measurements were also made of the Ψ_sm and fruit size throughout the growing season. Daily and seasonal Ψ_sm showed that the soil within the root restricting membranes (+R) when irrigated (+I) remained closed to field capacity (<100 HPa), which was not the case for unirrigated soil within the membranes (-I +R). Ψ_l measured before dawn, showed that similar levels of drought stress were evident between irrigated and restricted (+I +R) and unrestricted (+I -R and -I -R) trees. The Ψ_sm, and Ψ_l for trees with roots within restricting membranes were significantly more negative, in the absence of irrigation (-I +R). Measurement of g showed that root restricted trees were transpiring at similar rates in the presence of irrigation (+I +R) as unrestricted trees (+I -R) with or without irrigation. Stomatal closure could not explain the increased Ψ_l observed for the restricted irrigated (+I +R) treatment compared with unrestricted (-R) trees. A reduced stomatal aperture was the most likely explanation for the reduction in growth previously observed with the restricted unirrigated trees. Fruit size was also affected by root restriction and the effect became greater as the roots became more restricted with tree age. Similarly, there was also a negative effect, in one year, of root restriction on fruit size at harvest, even in the presence of irrigation. Data show that reductions in soil water availability, Ψ_l and g, for the root-restricted trees (+I +R), were unlikely to be the causes for the previously observed reductions in shoot growth (tree size). These results imply that other factors were in operation, among which root-synthesized chemical regulators of shoot growth are the most likely candidates.     

Effect of nursery regimes and establishment irrigation on root development of Lotus creticus seedlings following transplanting

Summary

The influence of irrigation and temperature regimes in the nursery on the dynamics of root development after being transplanted with minimum management conditions was investigated in Lotus creticus. In the nursery period (three months), plants were pot-grown in greenhouses, heated and unheated, located on the Southeast Mediterranean coast of Spain. Drip irrigation was used, with three irrigation treatments: T-6, plants watered 6.d a week at the water-holding capacity; T-3, plants watered 3.d a week; and T-2, plants watered twice a week. The total water applied over the whole nursery period was (in litres per plant): T-6, 7; T-3, 3.5; and T-2, 2.3. After the nursery period, plants were transplanted in a growth chamber into transparent containers (round acrylic tubes 8.cm diameter and 100.cm tall) and just one establishment irrigation was applied. Three treatments were applied, using three different amounts of water in the establishment irrigation: 10, 30 and 60.mm. The containers were kept in the growth chamber for one month, until the end of experiment. The harsher the conditions after transplanting (less water in the establishment irrigation) the more evident was the positive effect of hardening in the nursery. The regime involving least water and lowest temperature in the nursery period produced plants best adapted to stress at transplanting: a greater root length:shoot length ratio, higher percentage of brown roots and lower fresh weight:length ratio in shoots. All the plants survived transplanting. The most stressed plants in the nursery (least water and no heating) showed greater and more rapid root growth than the less stressed plants, especially when soil moisture was low.     

Root growth following defruiting improves peach tree water status

Summary

Tree growth and water status throughout the growing season and after fruit removal were studied in container-grown peach trees. Trees with fruit (F) and defruited (DF) trees were sampled destructively at bud break (8 March), 1 month after fruit removal (3 June), at harvest (6 August), and before leaf fall (15 October) to determine the mass of leaves, current season shoots, branches, trunk, and the entire root system. Tree water status was determined from the mid-day stem water potential (SWP) the day before each sampling date. Root growth in DF trees was greater than that observed in F trees, while the above-ground biomass was similar in DF and F trees. DF trees therefore had lower leaf:root biomass ratios than F trees throughout the fruit growing season. Environmental factors did not fully explain the seasonal variations in SWP, but there was a significant correlation between leaf:root biomass ratios and SWP. Reductions in leaf:root biomass ratios were accompanied by increases in SWP and, ultimately, DF trees had higher SWP values than F trees in mid-Summer. Improvements in tree water status following fruit removal can be explained, in part, by additional root growth.     

Orange varieties as interstocks increase the salt tolerance of lemon trees

Summary

We investigated the ability of interstocks to increase salt tolerance in lemon trees. We compared 2-year-old ‘Verna’ lemon trees [Citrus limon (L.) Burm.; VL] grafted on Sour Orange (C. aurantium L.; SO) rootstock either without an interstock (VL/SO), or interstocked with ‘Valencia’ orange (C. sinensis Osbeck; VL/V/SO), or with ‘Castellano’ orange (C. sinensis Osbeck; VL/C/SO). Trees were grown under greenhouse conditions and supplied with nutrient solutions containing 0, 30, or 60 mM NaCl. Reductions in leaf growth caused by salt treatment were greatest in non-interstocked (VL/SO) trees, followed by VL/C/SO trees, and were the least in VL/V/SO trees. Although the levels of Cl^? and Na⁺ ions in the roots and stems were not affected by either interstock, leaf concentrations of Cl^? and Na⁺ were higher in VL/SO trees than in VL/C/SO or VL/V/SO trees, suggesting that an interstock in Citrus trees could limit the uptake and transport of such ions to the shoots. Saline-treated VL/SO trees also tended to have the lowest shoot:root (S:R) ratios; so, overall, there was a negative relationship between S:R ratio and leaf Cl- ion concentration. Leaf transpiration (E_leaf) may also be involved in the reduction in leaf Cl^? concentration, as interstocked trees had lower E_leaf values at mid-day than non-interstocked trees. Salinity increased leaf concentrations of Ca²⁺ in VL/C/SO trees and increased both leaf K⁺ and N concentrations in all trees, regardless of interstock. Salinity reduced leaf water potentials and osmotic potentials, such that leaf turgor was increased in all trees.     

Effects of tree age at planting,root manipulation and trickle irrigation on growth and cropping of apple (Malus pumila) cultivar Queen Cox on M.9 rootstock

Summary

The apple cultivar Queen Cox on M.9 rootstock cropped more precociously when planted as two year old trees than when planted as one year old trees, even though there were no significant differences in the sizes (leader height and branch length) of the trees at the time of planting. However, the two year old trees had larger root systems at planting. As the trees aged, those planted as one year olds grew more vigorously and bore higher cumulative yields than those planted as two year olds. Annual root pruning of the trees, commencing 15 months after planting, reduced extension shoot growth, crown volume and grubbing weights (final fresh weights of scions) severely. In some seasons root pruning increased the number of spur and terminal floral buds produced and also the final sets and yield efficiencies on the treated trees. Planting trees within semi-permeable fabric membranes also reduced extension shoot growth and tree size, but less severely than the root-pruning treatment. Root restriction increased the efficiency of fruit set and yields and also improved the grades of fruits produced. Trickle irrigation treatments increased shoot growth and tree fresh weight at the time of grubbing, but had inconsistent and small effects on fruit set and yields. Interactions between tree age at the time of planting and the root manipulative treatments were significant.     

Light penetration,growth, and fruit productivity in ‘Fuji’ apple trees trained to four growing systems

The study was conducted to document the range in soil nutrients, trunk and shoot growth, leaf characteristics and nutrient content, flower bud characteristics, yield, fruit quality, disease occurrence, light penetration, and shoot bark color in a 15-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard on M.26 rootstocks trained to four growing systems. SS trees naturally growing had greater width and volume than the LT lightly heading, MLT heavily heading, and S trees thinning and bending. LT trees had more upward terminal shoots at old branches, large numbers of lateral shoots, and longer total shoot length. Leaf [N], [P], and [K] were the lowest for the MLT trees. SS and S trees had greater flower bud density and fruit yield, but LT trees had poor fruit color and less soluble solids and firmness. Percent light penetration into the canopy was the highest with the S system but not different from MLT or SS. The lowest was for the LT system, however, it was not statistically different from MLT or SS.     

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) root growth and its relation to shoot growth in response to nitrogen

Summary

The main objective of this work was to investigate shoot and root morphology of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) (cvs Early Calwonder, Keystone Resistant Giant, Jupiter, Shamrock and Gator Belle) grown in sand culture at three N-levels, 56,84 and 112 mg l^?1. Shoot, root, and root components were evaluated 40, 50 and 60 days after seeding. Tap, basal and lateral root accounted for 1%, 40% and 53%, respectively, of the total root dry weight. Shoot: root ratios did not differ between cultivars. Basal root length, basal root number and first-order lateral root number increased with increasing N. Cultivars with either long lateral roots or basal roots had short basal roots or lateral roots respectively, although only small differences were observed in other root and shoot characteristics. In this greenhouse environment, shoot/root ratio was constant. Nitrogen stimulated root and shoot growth, and this effect was significantly different for the root components.     

Relationships between sap flow,hydraulic conductivity,and the anatomical characteristics of stems and roots in apple rootstocks of different vigour

Summary

To find a useful parameter that could be related to the degree of rootstock vigour, for rootstock breeding programmes, sap flow, hydraulic conductivity, and the anatomical characteristics of stems and roots were measured in 1-year-old trees of apple rootstocks of different vigour. Sap flow was less active in dwarfing rootstocks than in invigorating rootstocks, when taking leaf area into account, under a controlled temperature of 20ºC with the root zone at 15ºC. The hydraulic conductivities of stems and roots were not consistent with the degree of dwarfing.The hydraulic conductivity of the stem appeared to be related to the diameter and density of the large vessels in the xylem. On the other hand, the phloem-to-xylem ratio in roots with diameters of 1.5 – 2.0 mm, was closely-related to sap flow and the degree of dwarfing. The phloem-to-xylem ratio decreased as the degree of vigour increased. Moreover, the phloem-to-xylem ratio was considered to be related to the ability of roots to absorb and transport water, which was expressed as the root-specific sap flow. Therefore, the phloem-to-xylem ratio could be a useful index for evaluating the potential of apple trees as dwarfing rootstocks.     

The effect of pre-planting desiccation stress and root pruning on the physiological condition and subsequent field performance of one year old Prunus avium and P. cerasifera seedlings

Summary

Severe desiccation of dormant seedlings of wild cherry (Prunus avium) and cherry plum (P. cerasifera) did not affect their immediate survival, but caused significant reductions in subsequent shoot growth and root volume which were not recovered in a single growing season. Damage to the fine roots, as indicated by the physiological plant quality measures of tetrazolium absorbance and root electrolyte leakage, increased rapidly over drying periods of ca. 6 h, further damage requiring progressively longer periods of desiccation. Root pruning prior to planting did not mitigate desiccation damage and severe pruning was highly injurious to subsequent growth. Generally the removal of the fine roots was equivalent to a relatively short desiccation period, but pruning of fine roots prior to, instead of after, desiccation in P. cerasifera resulted in more lateral shoots, possibly indicating the production of growth retardant substances by the dried root systems. All measures of physiological plant quality at the beginning of the growing season were effective as predictors of plant performance at the end. In the species tested, the most cost-effective routines are likely to be fine root electrolyte leakage and root moisture content, with tetrazolium testing and stem water potential measurements requiring both greater reproducibility and more sophisticated equipment.     

Effect of pruning and plant spacing on the growth of cherry rootstocks and their influence on stem water potential of sweet cherry trees

Summary

The aims of this work are to describe the effects of pruning and planting density on growth and water relations of ungrafted and grafted sweet cherry trees. A trial with cherry rootstocks ‘Prunus avium’, ‘CAB 11E’, ‘Maxma 14’, ‘Gisela 5’ and ‘Edabriz’ was begun in 1997. Pruning severities were applied to the rootstocks (0, 30, 60 and 90% of the vegetative growth was removed corresponding to P1, P2, P3 and P4 treatments, respectively) after planting to two plant spacings (S1 = 0.25 × 1.0 m and S2= 0.45 × 1.5 m). Canopy, root growth and leaf water potential (ψ_leaf) were quantified throughout the growing season. Pruning significantly affected root length and root weight of the rootstocks. Uncut plants (P1) showed a heavier and expanded root biomass (231 g and 108 m) than the intensively pruned plants (P4) (187 g and 75 m). The greater root biomass was obtained with the spacing/pruning combination, S1/P1 (285 g), and the smaller with S1/P4 (180 g) and S2/P4 (176 g). ψ_leaf varied significantly between the rootstocks and plant spacing but not with pruning. ‘Maxma 14’ and ‘P. avium’ attained the lowest values of midday ψ_leaf, –2.28 and –2.04 MPa, but the highest values of predawn ψ_leaf, –0.29 and –0.25 MPa, respectively. Generally, with high density (S1), the rootstocks exhibited lower predawn and midday ψ_leaf. In 1998, cultivars ‘Burlat’, ‘Summit’ and ‘Van’ were grafted onto rootstocks and a trial was installed in 1999. Predawn and midday stem water potential (ψ_stem) on cherry trees, measured in 2002, were affected significantly by the rootstock/genotype combination. Cultivars grafted on ‘P. avium’ and ‘Maxma 14’ showed the less negative midday ψ_stem, –1.36 and –1.42 MPa respectively, so these rootstock genotypes perhaps induced a higher drought resistance to the scion. Recorded data show that the scion-rootstock interaction with regard to production performance under water deficits may be an important consideration in cherry tree planting strategies.     

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation of micropropagated fruit trees

Micropropagated plantlets of OH x F 51 and GF 677, respectively pear (Pyrus communis L.) and peach (Prunus persica x Prunus amygdalus) clonal rootstocks were inoculated during an early weaning stage of acclimatization with Glomus sp. Both rootstocks were well colonized, although the infection of OH x F 51 spread more slowly. At the end of initial vegetative growth, mycorrhizal plants of both rootstocks showed a three-fold increase in shoot length over control plants. Mycorrhizal plants also had longer internode and greater fresh mass. The root/shoot ratio was especially altered by arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in OH x F 51 plants, which showed a greater increase in shoot rather than in root biomass. The growth-promoting ability of endomycorrhizal fungus persisted throughout the experimental period: Glomus sp. induced a greater development of both rootstocks in the second growing year, after overwintering. Colonization of micropropagated plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus appears to alter the carbohydrate status in stems and roots. Mycorrhizal plants always had a higher content of total soluble sugar, although there were no differences in soluble carbohydrate concentration between inoculated and uninoculated plants. Starch accumulation was found only in mycorrhizal plants of the peach rootstock.     

Growth,allocation of N and carbohydrates,and stomatal conductance of greenhouse grown apple treated with prohexadione-Ca and gibberellins

Summary

Potted M.26 apple (Mahis domestica) liners were treated with the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor prohexadione-Ca (Apogee®) at 0 to 500 mg l”¹ as a foliar spray. Apogee inhibited stem elongation, leaf formation, total leaf area and shoot dry weight, while significantly increasing specific leaf weight, root dry weight and root: shoot ratio, regardless of rate. Foliar application of gibberellin A4₊₇ (GA4₊₇) at 200 mg l”¹ to Apogee-treated plants one day later reversed these effects, especially stem elongation, root dry-matter production and root: shoot ratio. Apogee increased N concentration in stems but not in leaves and roots. There was no effect on the pattern of N allocation amongst organs. GA4+7 increased leaf N concentration but decreased stem and root N concentrations compared with untreated controls, with N allocation shifting from roots to stem. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), expressed either on a concentration or content basis, increased in all parts of the Apogee-treated plants, due to increased levels of starch rather than soluble sugars, without altering allocation pattern. Conversely, GA4₊₇ reduced TNC levels (mainly starch levels) in all parts, with the pattern of allocation slightly shifted from roots to stem. The afternoon decline in stomatal conductance occurred earlier in the Apogee treated plants, measured 10 d after stem elongation had ceased. Starch buildup in the Apogee-treated plants appeared to be associated with this effect, suggesting an involvement of a feedback inhibition of photosynthesis in the Apogee-induced stomatal control.     

Respiration Rate,Catalase Activity,Peroxidase Activity and Growth of Roots of Citrus Rootstocks*

Observations of respiration rate, catalase activity, peroxidase activity ("physiological activity”) and some growth characteristics of roots of citrus rootstocks were made. These were carried out on seedlings of six rootstocks (five months old) grown in a standard nutrient solution and on seven- to ten-year-old budded trees growing in the orchard. The orchard trees, budded to only one scion, were propagated from the same rootstocks as were used in the study of seedlings. A comparison was also made of five additional scions budded on one rootstock.

A technique was developed to obtain roots from orchard trees for the study of their physiological and morphological characteristics.

Significant differences were found in the “physiological activity” of the roots of the various rootstock seedlings. A significant negative correlation existed between the final length of the main root and the physiological activity of the roots.

Significant differences were found in the physiological activity of the roots of the various mature rootstocks budded with Shamouti sweet orange.

A clear and marked influence of the various scions on the physiological activity of the roots of sour-orange was observed.

An obvious positive correlation existed between respiration rate, catalase activity and peroxidase activity of the roots. The use of two different H-donors resulted in differences in the peroxidase activity measured.

The significance of the variations in physiological response of the roots is discussed.     

Influence of endogenous IAA levels and exogenous IBA on rooting and quality of leafy cuttings of Prunus ‘GiSelA 5’

Summary

The influence of exogenously applied indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on root and shoot development of leafy cuttings was analysed in Prunus cerasus P. canescens ‘GiSelA 5’, a dwarfing cherry rootstock, in two successive years. Compared to control cuttings, IBA application (4 g l^–1 in 2003; 2.5 g l^–1 in 2004) caused higher indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) accumulation in the cutting bases, but that did not influence the percentage of rooted cuttings, nor their survival in either year. However, IBA inhibited callus formation and, consequently, influenced the quality of the developed cuttings. Callus formation impeded root development, reducing the number of main roots, and inhibited the growth of the cuttings, reducing the average total length of shoots formed by individual cuttings. Callus formation was most reduced in the cuttings in the second experimental year, with high initial IAA concentrations.