Relationship of water status to vegetative growth and leaf gas exchange of peach (Prunus persica) trees on different rootstocks

We investigated relationships between tree water status, vegetative growth and leaf gas exchange of peach trees growing on different rootstocks under field conditions. Tree water status was manipulated by partially covering (0, approximately 30 and approximately 60%) the tree canopies on individual days and then evaluating the effects of tree water status on vegetative growth and leaf gas exchange. Early morning stem water potentials were approximately -0.4 MPa for trees in all treatments, but mean midday values ranged from -1.1 to -1.7 MPa depending on rootstock and canopy coverage treatment. Relative shoot extension growth rate, leaf conductance, transpiration rate and net CO2 exchange rate differed significantly among trees in the different rootstocks and canopy coverage treatments. Shoot extension growth rate, leaf conductance, leaf transpiration rate and leaf net CO2 exchange rate were linearly correlated with midday stem water potential. These relationships were independent of the rootstock and canopy coverage treatments, indicating that tree water relations are probably directly involved in the mechanism that imparts vegetative growth control by selected peach rootstocks.     

Effects of timing of nitrogen fertilization on shoot development in peach (Prunus persica) trees

Shoot development was studied for two consecutive years in peach trees fertilized with N either in the previous fall or in the middle of the growing season. During the first year, two additional treatments were studied: no N supply and nitrate supplied in the irrigation water throughout the growing season. The number of shoots that developed depended on nitrogen availability in the period following bud break. During shoot development, leaf emergence occurred in one, two, or three stages, which ended at about 500 to 600 degree days, 1,000 to 1,200 degree days, and 1,500 to 2,000 degree days after bloom, respectively. The proportion of shoots exhibiting a second or third developmental stage depended on nitrogen availability at the beginning of that stage. Increasing nitrogen availability during a developmental stage prolonged the stage and increased the number of leaves produced.     

Trophic control of bud break in peach (Prunus persica) trees: a possible role of hexoses

Vegetative buds of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch.) trees act as strong sinks and their bud break capacity can be profoundly affected by carbohydrate availability during the rest period (November-February). Analysis of xylem sap revealed seasonal changes in concentrations of sorbitol and hexoses (glucose and fructose). Sorbitol concentrations decreased and hexose concentrations increased with increasing bud break capacity. Sucrose concentration in xylem sap increased significantly but remained low. To clarify their respective roles in the early events of bud break, carbohydrate concentrations and uptake rates, and activities of NAD-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), sorbitol oxidase (SOX) and cell wall invertase (CWI) were determined in meristematic tissues, cushion tissues and stem segments. Only CWI activity increased in meristematic tissues shortly before bud break. In buds displaying high bud break capacity (during January and February), concentrations of sorbitol and sucrose in meristematic tissues were almost unchanged, paralleling their low rates of uptake and utilization by meristematic tissues, and indicating that sorbitol and sucrose play a negligible role in the bud break process. Hexose concentrations in meristematic tissues and glucose imported by meristematic tissues correlated positively with bud break capacity, suggesting that hexoses are involved in the early events of bud break. These findings were confirmed by data for buds that were unable to break because they had been collected from trees deprived of cold. We therefore conclude that hexoses are of greater importance than sorbitol or sucrose in the early events of bud break in peach trees.     

桃水孔蛋白基因克隆及序列分析

为给水孔蛋白(AQP)在低温对花芽发育和休眠调控中的作用研究奠定基础,以低温休眠的桃"满天红"花芽为试材,提取总RNA,根据其它植物AQP基因保守区设计简并引物,采用RT-PCR方法,扩增出3个编码长约147个氨基酸序列的水孔蛋白基因PpPIP1-1、PpPIP1-2和PpPIP2-1。同源性比对结果表明这些序列与其它物种AQP基因具有较高的同源性。这3个AQP基因的氨基酸序列均具有MIP家族的特征信号序列SGXHXNPAVT,还具有植物质膜水孔蛋白(PIP)家族的特征信号序列GGGANXXXXGY和TGI/TNPARSL/FGAAI/VI/VF/YN。经系统发育分析将这3个AQP基因分为2类,分属PIP蛋白的PIP1和PIP2亚家族成员。     

The influence of severe shoot pruning on growth,carbon and nitrogen status in young peach trees (Prunus persica)

One-year-old peach trees (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) were severely pruned in July by removing 60% of the shoots. Tree responses were analyzed in terms of architecture and nutritional status. Tree growth was recorded from July to September by nondestructive (leaf production, thickening and branching of the remaining secondary axes) and destructive measurements (biomass partitioning and concentrations of total nitrogen (N) and nonstructural carbohydrates (NC) in specific tissues). The dry weights of pruned trees were lower than those of control trees at the end of the growing season (i.e., 2.5 months after pruning), whereas shoot:root ratios were restored to the initial values. Tree response occurred in two stages. During the first 24 days following pruning, the growth components of the remaining secondary axes were similar to the control, and new secondary axes were produced. During the next 17 days, increases in both diameter and branching of secondary axes contributed to the maintenance of pruned tree growth rate (similar to that of control trees) and restoration of initial shoot:root ratios. No significant effect of pruning was observed on NC concentrations, whereas N concentrations increased in several organs of the pruned trees during the first growth period. The transient increase in internal N availability contributed to the initiation of new axes and the restoration of a more functional biomass partitioning between shoots and roots.     

Effects of nitrogen content on growth and hydraulic characteristics of peach （Prunus persica L.） seedlings under different soil moisture condi- tions

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen content [N1(no fertilizer), N2(0.15 g?kg–1), and N3(0.3 g?kg–1)] on the growth and the hydraulic characteristics of peach seedlings under different soil moisture conditions(W1, W2 and W3, in which the soil water content was 45% to 55%, 60% to 70%, and 75% to 80% of the field water capacity, respectively) by using a specialized high pressure flow meter with a root chamber and a coupling, which was connected to plant organs. Leaf area and leaf hydraulic conductivity(KL) increased significantly in the seedlings because of increased soil moisture and N content. KL increased with leaf area. A linear correlation was documented between KL and leaf area. KL was higher in the morning and began to decline sharply after 16:00, at which KL declined after an initial increase. Soil moisture and N content enhanced shoot(Ks) and root(Kr) hydraulic conductivities, thereby improving the low soil moisture condition to a large extent. Ks and Kr of the seedlings were reduced by 32% and 27% respectively in N1, and by 14.7% and 9.4%, respectively in N2, and both in W1, compared with the control treatment. N3 had no significant effect on Ks and Kr under similar conditions. Linear negative correlations were observed between Kr and the excised root diameter as well as between Ks and the shoot stem diameter. The shoot-to-root ratio increased with increase in N content. The shoot-to-root ratio in N3 was increased by 14.37%, compared with N1 in W1 as well as by 12% and 4.39% in W2 and W3, respectively. Knowledge of the effects of soil moisture and N fertilizer on hydraulic characteristics and growth is important. Our results provide basic guidelines for the implementation of water-saving irrigation and fertilization management of nursery stock.     

Crop load and water stress effects on daily stem growth in peach (Prunus persica)

We investigated crop load and water stress effects on diurnal stem extension growth of field-grown peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) trees. Neither the presence of fruit nor reduced irrigation significantly altered the timing of diurnal fluctuations in stem growth rate. Stems with subtending fruit had significantly reduced growth compared to stems with no subtending fruit. Crop load had no significant effect on relative stem extension rates and the majority of the reduction in absolute growth was the result of a smaller zone of elongation in fruit-bearing stems than in stems with no subtending fruit. Fruit removal did not increase growth rates within 24 h. When irrigation was reduced, the length of the stem elongation zone and total daily stem growth were significantly decreased relative to well-irrigated controls and the decreases were highly correlated with stem water potential. Compared with well-irrigated controls, relative stem extension rates of water-stressed trees were reduced at several times during the 24-h period, but the degree of reduction was not proportional to the difference in stem water potentials between the treatments.     

Distribution and partial characterization of seasonally expressed proteins in different aged shoots and roots of 'Loring' peach (Prunus persica)

During autumnal leaf senescence, leaf nitrogen in deciduous trees is translocated to storage sites, especially bark and xylem tissues. Proteins that accumulate in large amounts in bark and xylem in winter and are absent from these organs in summer are called storage proteins, and are believed to be vehicles for storing nitrogen reserves. These reserves are important for spring growth and help trees tolerate or recover from both abiotic and biotic stresses. Based on seasonal patterns of accumulation, we previously identified three storage proteins with molecular masses of 60, 19 and 16 kDa in bark tissues of 'Loring' peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). To characterize the distribution of these proteins in different-aged tissues and to determine if they have any function other than nitrogen storage, we examined their seasonal distribution in bark tissues of current-year and 1-year-old shoots, scaffold branches, main trunks and 4-5-year-old roots of 'Loring' peach. Verification of protein identity was based on molecular mass and reactions with antibodies directed against each specific protein. Protein distribution was variable. For all three proteins, the greatest amount was present in mid-winter in current-year and 1-year-old shoots. These tissues also showed the greatest seasonal variation in the amount of protein present. The 16 kDa protein was present only in the youngest shoots, whereas the 19 kDa protein was present in all tissues examined. The 60 kDa protein was absent in root tissue. The amino acid composition and sequence of each protein were determined. The 60 kDa protein was identified as a dehydrin, and the 19 kDa protein appeared to be related to a family of allergen proteins in Rosaceous plants, some members of which are associated with pathogenesis-related proteins. The amino acid sequence of the 16 kDa protein appeared to have no homology with any proteins in the SwissProt database. Therefore, it is likely that the 16 kDa protein, in a strict sense, is a bark storage protein. Defining storage proteins solely by their pattern of accumulation and the extent to which they accumulate may not be a good functional definition. It is possible that storage proteins have functional roles in addition to nitrogen storage.     

Water stress and crop load effects on fruit fresh and dry weights in peach (Prunus persica)

Effects of water stress on fruit fresh and dry weights were investigated in peach trees, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch., with varying crop loads: light, moderate and heavy. In well-watered controls, tree water status was independent of crop load. In trees receiving reduced irrigation, the degree of water stress increased with increasing crop load. Water stress induced fruit fresh weight reductions at all crop loads. Fruit dry weight was not reduced by water stress in trees having light to moderate crop loads, indicating that the degree of water stress imposed did not affect the dry weight sink strength of fruit. Water-stressed trees with heavy crop loads had significantly reduced fruit dry weights, which were likely due to carbohydrate source limitations resulting from large crop carbon demands and water stress limitations on photosynthesis.     

Gas exchange,biomass, whole-plant water-use efficiency and water uptake of peach (Prunus persica) seedlings in response to elevated carbon dioxide concentration and water availability

We examined the interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and water stress on growth and physiology of 1-year-old peach (Prunus persica L.) seedlings grown in 10-dm3 pots in open-top chambers with ambient (350 micromol mol-1) or elevated (700 micromol mol-1) [CO2]. Seedlings were supplied weekly with a non-limiting nutrient solution. Water was withheld from half of the plants in each treatment for a 4-week drying cycle, to simulate a sudden and severe water stress during the phase of rapid plant growth. Throughout the growing season, seedlings in elevated [CO2] had higher assimilation rates, measured at the growth [CO2], than seedlings in ambient [CO2], and this caused an increase in total dry mass of about 33%. Stomatal conductance, total water uptake, leaf area and leaf number were unaffected by elevated [CO2]. Because seedlings in the two CO2 treatments had similar transpiration despite large differences in total dry mass, water-use efficiency (WUE) of well-watered and water-stressed seedlings grown in elevated [CO2] was an average of 51 and 63% higher, respectively, than WUE of comparable seedlings grown in ambient [CO2]. Elevated [CO2] enhanced total biomass of water-stressed seedlings by 31%, and thus ameliorated the effects of water limitation. However, the percentage increases in total dry mass between well-watered and water-stressed seedlings were similar in ambient (53%) and elevated (58%) [CO2], demonstrating that there was no interaction between elevated [CO2] and water stress. This finding should be considered when predicting responses of trees to global climate change in hot and dry environments, where predicted temperature increases will raise evaporative demands and exacerbate the effects of drought on tree growth.     

Differential regulation of two dehydrin genes from peach (Prunus persica) by photoperiod, low temperature and water deficit

Dehydrins are one of several proteins that have been specifically associated with qualitative and quantitative changes in cold hardiness. Recent evidence indicates that the regulation of dehydrin genes by low nonfreezing temperature (LT) and short photoperiod (SD) can be complex and deserves more detailed analysis to better understand the role of specific dehydrin genes and proteins in the response of woody plants to environmental stress. We have identified a new peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) dehydrin gene (PpDhn2) and examined the responses of this gene and a previously identified dehydrin (PpDhn1) to SD, LT and water deficit. PpDhn2 was strongly induced by water deficit but not by LT or SD. It was also present in the mature embryos of peach. In contrast, PpDhn1 was induced by water deficit and LT but not by SD. We conducted an in silico analysis of the promoters of these genes and found that the promoter region of PpDhn1 contained two dehydration-responsive-elements (DRE)/C-repeats that are responsive to LT and several abscisic acid (ABA)-response elements (ABREs). In contrast, the promoter region of PpDhn2 contained no LT elements but contained several ABREs and an MYCERD1 motif. Both promoter analyses were consistent with the observed expression patterns. The discrepancy between field-collected samples and growth-chamber experiments in the expression of PpDhn1 in response to SD suggests that SD-induced expression of dehydrin genes is complex and may be the result of several interacting factors.     

Daily shoot extension growth of peach trees growing on rootstocks that reduce scion growth is related to daily dynamics of stem water potential

We studied relationships between diurnal patterns of stem water potential (PsiSTEM) and stem extension growth of the same scion cultivar growing on three rootstocks with differing size-controlling potentials. The peach trees (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) used in this field experiment consisted of an early-maturing freestone cultivar, 'Flavorcrest,' grafted onto three different rootstocks: Nemaguard (a vigorous seed-propagated control, P. persica x P. davidiana hybrid), Hiawatha (an intermediate vigor rootstock, derived from an open pollinated seedling of a P. besseyi x P. salicina hybrid) and K-146-43 (a semi-dwarfing rootstock, P. salicina x P. persica hybrid). Diurnal patterns of PsiSTEM and stem extension growth were measured on six dates (March 29, April 12, April 26, May 10, May 24 and June 18) during the primary period of peach shoot extension growth. Rootstocks clearly affected diurnal patterns of PsiSTEM and stem extension growth. Trees on K-146-43 had the lowest midday PsiSTEM and stem extension growth. Differences among rootstocks in the amount of diurnal oscillation in PsiSTEM explained stem extension rate differences induced by the three rootstocks. The sensitivity of shoot extension growth to tree water relations tended to decrease as the season progressed and was not apparent by mid-June. The results of the study indicate that water relations may play an important role in the dwarfing mechanism induced by size-controlling peach rootstocks.     

Novel in silico EST-SSR markers and bioinformatic approaches to detect genetic variation among peach(Prunus persica L.)germplasm

Because there are thousands of peach cultivars,cultivar classification is a critical step before starting a breeding project.Various molecular markers such as simple sequence repeats(SSRs) can be used.In this study,67 polymorphic primers produced 302 bands.Higher values for SI index(1.903) suggested higher genetic variability in the genotype under investigation.Mean values for observed alleles(Na),expected heterozygosity(He),effective alleles(Ne),Nei's information index(h),and polymorphic information content(PIC) were 4.5,0.83,5.45,0.83,and 0.81,respectively.The dendrogram constructed based on Jaccard's similarity coefficients outlined four distinct clusters in the entire germplasm.In addition,an analysis of molecular variance(AMOVA) showed that70.68% of the total variation was due to within-population variation,while 29.32% was due to variation among populations.According to this research,all primers were successfully used for the peach accessions.The EST-SSR markers should be useful in peach breeding programs and other research.     

Storage of foliar-absorbed nitrogen and remobilization for spring growth in young nectarine (Prunus persica var. nectarina) trees

The effectiveness of spraying foliage with urea to provide nitrogen (N) to augment the seasonal internal cycling of N in young nectarine trees (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nectarina (Ait. f. Maxim.), cv. Stark Red Gold) was studied. One-year-old trees were grown with contrasting N supplies during the summer and foliage was sprayed with a 2% urea solution labeled with (15)N just before leaf senescence started. After leaf abscission had finished, the trees were repotted in sand and given no further N. Remobilization of both labeled and unlabeled N for leaf growth the following spring was quantified. Leaves absorbed between 58 and 69% of the (15)N intercepted by the canopy irrespective of tree N status. During leaf senescence, the majority of (15)N was withdrawn from the leaves into the shoot and roots. Remobilization of (15)N the following spring was also unaffected by tree N status. About 38-46% of (15)N in the trees was recovered in the new growth. More unlabeled N (derived from root uptake) was remobilized for leaf growth in the spring than was withdrawn from leaves during canopy senescence the previous autumn. Therefore, soil-applied N augmented N storage pools directly, and contributed more to N remobilization the following spring than did foliar-absorbed (15)N.     

Changes in fruit sugar concentrations in response to assimilate supply,metabolism and dilution: a modeling approach applied to peach fruit (Prunus persica)

The influence of assimilate supply, metabolism and dilution on sugar concentrations in the mesocarp of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) fruit during the main stage of fruit enlargement was analyzed with the SUGAR model of Génard and Souty (1996). The model predicts the partitioning of carbon into sucrose, sorbitol, glucose and fructose in the mesocarp of peach fruit. Based on measured data and the model, we determined values for the relative rates of sugar transformation. These rates were constant, varied with time or varied with relative fruit growth rate, depending on the type of sugar. Equations were derived to describe these rates and incorporated into the SUGAR model. The model simulated the effects of changing assimilate supply and fruit volume on sugar concentrations. The set of equations for the SUGAR model was rewritten to include the three components influencing sugar concentrations: assimilate supply, metabolism and dilution. The sugar types differed in sensitivity to these components. Sucrose was highly sensitive to changes in assimilate supply and to the dilution effect; it was not subject to intense metabolic transformation. Sorbitol was the most important carbohydrate in fruit metabolism, which explains why the sorbitol concentration was always low despite the strong positive effect of assimilate supply. The reducing sugars constituted a transitory storage pool and their concentrations were closely related to metabolism.     

黄土丘陵区不同立地条件沙棘水分特征与生物量研究

研究了峁顶、阳坡、阴坡三种立地类型条件下的沙棘蒸腾特性，观测了环境因子、沙棘叶的蒸腾速率（Tr)以及植株生物量，以水分为主分析不同立地条件下沙棘生产力产生差异的生理生态学原理。结果表明：阳坡沙棘总蒸腾量较大，但在黄土高原土壤含水量较低的情况下，沙棘组织失水过多，自身很难维持正常的代谢水平，对生物产量的累积不利；相反阴坡沙棘蒸腾日较平缓，组织失水少能维持正常的代谢水平，生物量累积较多。     

Effect of lopping on water potential, transpiration, regrowth, (14)C-photosynthate distribution and biomass production in Alnus glutinosa

The effects of light, moderate and heavy branch pruning or lopping treatments (resulting in removal of 28-31, 56-60 and 80-82% of the foliage, respectively, unlopped control = 0%) were studied in 3-year-old black alder (Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn.) plants. Within 24 h of lopping, transpiration rates decreased and water potentials increased. The effects of lopping continued for 48 days. The improved water status of the lopped plants enhanced water-use efficiency during the first 30 days. Regrowth was related to a combination of enhanced net assimilation rates during the first 30 days after lopping, use of current photoassimilates and stored carbohydrates in the roots (particularly in medium and heavily lopped plants) for the production of new leaf area, and delayed leaf senescence. The lightly and moderately lopped plants developed 62 and 57% more leaf area, respectively, than the unlopped plants, but total leaf area development was slower in the heavily lopped plants. Lightly lopped plants produced total biomass equivalent to that of unlopped plants, but the moderately and heavily lopped plants produced less biomass than the unlopped plants. During the first 30 days after lopping, there was a net loss of nodule dry matter and recovery to control values did not occur during the period of study. Immediately (24 h) after lopping, more (14)C-photosynthate was translocated to the roots of lopped plants than to the roots of unlopped plants. When a branch near the base of the main stem was fed (14)CO(2), (14)C-photosynthate translocation to the shoot increased with increasing intensity of lopping, at 50 days after lopping.     

Effects of nurse trees,spacing, and tree species on biomass production in mixed forest plantations

Growing concern about increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and resulting global climate change, has spurred a growing demand for renewable energy. In this study, we hypothesized that a nurse tree crop may provide additional early yields of biomass for fuel, while in the longterm leading to deciduous stands that are believed to better meet the demands for other ecosystem services. Ten different species combinations were planted, with two different stocking densities, at three different sites in Denmark. Significant differences, with regard to biomass production, were observed among the different sites (P?P??1?yr^?1 more biomass. The additional biomass production was similar to what was obtained in stands with conifers only (Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir and Japanese larch), which produced 4.9–6.1?t ha^?1yr^?1 more biomass than the pure beech stands. No effects of initial planting density (P?=?.19), or of initial weeding (P?=?.81), on biomass production were observed. Biomass production of the broadleaved crop was in most cases reduced due to competition. However, provided timely thinning of nurse trees, the qualitative development of the trees will allow for long-term timber production.     

Needle and stem wood production in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees of different age,size and competitive status

We studied effects of tree age, size and competitive status on foliage and stem production of 43 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees in southern Finland. The tree attributes related to competition included foliage density, crown ratio and height/diameter ratio. Needle mass was considered to be the primary cause of growth through photosynthesis. Both stem growth and foliage growth were strongly correlated with foliage mass. Consequently, differences in growth allocation between needles and stem wood in trees of different age, size, or position were small. However, increasing relative height increased the sum of stem growth and foliage growth per unit foliage mass, indicating an effect of available light. Suppressed trees seemed to allocate more growth to stem wood than dominant trees, and their stem growth per unit foliage mass was larger. Similarly, trees in dense stands allocated more growth to stem wood than trees in sparse stands. The results conformed to the pipe model theory but seemed to contradict the priority principle of allocation.