Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Disentangling the Physiological Responses of Sweet Orange Citrus Trees to Optimize the Design of Deficit Irrigation Strategies

Version 1 : Received: 15 April 2024 / Approved: 18 April 2024 / Online: 18 April 2024 (13:38:06 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Rubio-Casal, A.E.; Durán-Zuazo, V.H.; García-Tejero, I.F. Disentangling the Physiological Responses of Sweet Orange Citrus Trees to Optimize the Design of Deficit Irrigation Strategies. Agronomy 2024, 14, 1149. Rubio-Casal, A.E.; Durán-Zuazo, V.H.; García-Tejero, I.F. Disentangling the Physiological Responses of Sweet Orange Citrus Trees to Optimize the Design of Deficit Irrigation Strategies. Agronomy 2024, 14, 1149.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to describe the physiological limitations induced under drought conditions in young sweet orange trees, including the crop capability to recuperate its physiological status once re-watering, and after a water withholding. The trial was conducted during two consecutive months (July and August) in two-years old sweet orange trees. Three irrigation treatments were arranged: A full irrigation treatment; (FI); a low-frequency deficit-irrigation treatment (LFDI); and a sustained-deficit irrigation (SDI) treatment. The obtained results showed that for Stem values below -1.5 MPa, significant decreases in gas exchange rates, evidencing diffusive limitations to drought stress. Additionally, there was evidence of increased osmolyte synthesis, compatible as a defensive response to prevent oxidative damage. Likewise, the isohydric behaviour observed also resulted in significant decreases in gs even for moderate stress situations. In addition, it was observed that in the LFDI treatment, the stress levels reached caused a significant increase in the levels of Pro and MDA, which were not equal to those detected in FI during the recovery periods, which leads us to assume that potential values below -1.8 MPa would be causing significant oxidative damage with no capacity for subsequent recovery, and probably affecting the final yield.

Keywords

Chlorophyll fluorescence; thermography; crop physiology; drought stress

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Agricultural Science and Agronomy

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