Response of Peach, Plum and Almond to Water Restrictions Applied during Slowdown Periods of Fruit Growth

Rachid Razouk, Jamal Ibijbijen, Abdellah Kajji, Mohammed Karrou

Department of Agronomy, National Institute of Agronomic research, Meknès, Morocco.
Department of Agronomy, National Institute of Agronomic research, Meknès, Morocco..
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sci- ences, University of Moulay Ismail, Meknès, Morocco.
Integrated Water and Land Management Program, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Allepo, Syria..

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2013.43073                

Abstract

Water restrictions management for fruit rosaceous during slowdown periods of fruit growth can increase water use efficiency and improve fruit quality without reducing significantly their yield. In this context, two water restriction levels were tested during four consecutive seasons (2007-2011) in peach, plum and almond trees during slowdown periods of fruit growth corresponding to stage II for peach and plum and to stages II and III for almond. Water was applied by drip irrigation to produce different water-application treatments of 50% ETc (T₅₀) and 75% ETc (T₇₅) of non-stressed trees irrigated at 100% ETc (T₁₀₀). The response of trees is presented only for the last season of the experiment (2010-2011) where the effect of the applied water stress is more pronounced. Results show that the effect of water restrictions varied depending on the species. Yield and fruit size were reduced significantly for peach only under treatment T₅₀. Fruit quality was improved for this species with an increase of brix refractometric index and a decrease of acidity. These parameters were evolved in the same manner for plum but the observed differences were not significant. For almond, kernel quality remained unaffected by water restriction at T₇₅. However, the epidermal wrinkles of kernels were more embossed, in response to treatment T₅₀, which affected their appearance. Except leaf area, the evolution of shoots growth, chlorophyll content and leaf temperature showed that the physiology of all species was affected by water stress created by the application of the two irrigation treatments but without profound influence, particularly in plum. In conclusion, irrigation-water may be economized during slowdown periods of fruit growth without major negative effect up to 25% ETc for peach and almond and up to 50% ETc for plum.

Keywords

Prunus Persica; Prunus Domestica; Prunus Dulcis; Water Stress; Fruit Yield; Fruit Quality; Vegetative Growth

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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