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Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, Vol. 85 No. 1, 2020.

Original scientific paper

Effects of Regulated Deficit Irrigation on Vegetative Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality of Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina Lindell 'Methly')

Ghasem Hajian orcid id orcid.org/ORCID ; Department of Horticultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Mahmood Ghasemnezhad orcid id orcid.org/ORCID ; Department of Horticultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Reza Fotouhi Ghazvini orcid id orcid.org/ORCID ; Department of Horticultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Reza Khaledian orcid id orcid.org/ORCID ; Department of Irrigation Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

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Abstract

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) can be used as an effective strategy for increasing water use efficiency (WUE) under arid and semiarid climate. Therefore, in this study the effect of RDI (50 and 75% evapotranspiration of a crop under irrigation (ETC)) as compared to control during pit hardening and after fruit harvest on vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality of Japanese plum 'Methly' was investigated during two consecutive years. The results showed that water available limitation in RDI 50% both during pit hardening and after fruit harvest significantly reduced shoot growth. RDI treatment during postharvest decreased both node number and internode length. The highest flowering rate and fruit set percentage was found when plum tree was irrigated 75% ETC during pit hardening in both years. In the first year, RDI decreased fruit yield, whereas, in the second year, RDI 75% during pit hardening even increased slightly fruit yields for 6 and 11% as compared to control and postharvest stage, respectively. Fruit weight was significantly reduced under RDI 50%. Fruit produced under 50% RDI showed higher firmness and lower soluble solids concentration (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) than control and other treatment. Furthermore, RDI treated fruits had lower N, P, Mg content and N/Ca and Mg/Ca ratio and higher Ca content than control. Overall, moderate water stress (75% RDI) improved fruit yield and saved water without undesirable effect on plum fruit quality. FA

Keywords

firmness; nutrient elements; pit hardening; vegetative growth and fruit quality

Hrčak ID:

235772

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/235772

Publication date:

17.3.2020.

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