Response of stem diameter variations to water stress in greenhouse-grown vegetable crops

Summary The ability of indices derived from stem diameter variations (SDV) to detect water stress in vegetable crops grown under greenhouse conditions was evaluated. Two crops, an Autumn-Winter pepper crop and a Spring-Summer melon crop, were grown in soil, in an unheated plastic greenhouse with drip irrigation, in conditions similar to commercial production. A pot study with pepper was also conducted during Autumn-Winter. In each study, two drying cycles were imposed for 7–21 d during the fruit production stage, and un-watered plants were compared with well-watered plants. During each drying cycle, linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) sensors were used to measure SDV continuously, and daily measurements were made of leaf ( leaf) and stem water potential ( stem). Several indices derived from SDV measurements, including maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and daily stem diameter growth rate (SGR) were evaluated. In the drying cycles of soil-grown pepper, conducted during Winter, under climatic conditions of low evaporative demand, SDV-derived indices were unaffected by 20-21 d of soil drying, despite both stem and leaf being moderately affected. Pepper plants grown in pots under very similar climatic conditions had appreciable and rapid responses in SDV-derived indices, with MDS increasing and SGR decreasing. In the drying cycles of soil-grown melon, imposed during the relatively higher evaporative demand conditions of Spring and Summer, MDS responded earlier and had larger “signal” values (ratio of values from un-watered to control plants) than leaf or stem. However, there was more variation associated with MDS. In melon, there were strong linear relationships between MDS and both leaf and stem. The present study suggested that SDV-derived indices can be sensitive indicators of plant water status in melon and pepper when grown (a) in pots with a restricted root volume under any climatic conditions, and (b) in soil during periods that do not include climatic conditions of low evaporative demand.

[1]  E. Garnier,et al.  [Dynamics of regional ecological frangibility under natural hazard stress: a case study in Qingping Town of Sichuan Province, Southwest China]. , 1986 .

[2]  Elias Fereres,et al.  Irrigation scheduling protocols using continuously recorded trunk diameter measurements , 2001, Irrigation Science.

[3]  T. Améglio,et al.  YIELD AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WALNUT TREES IN SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS: APPLICATION TO IRRIGATION SCHEDULING , 1997 .

[4]  T. Kozlowski.  CHAPTER 1 – SHRINKING AND SWELLING OF PLANT TISSUES , 1972 .

[5]  J. Girona,et al.  Patterns of Soil and Tree Water Status and Leaf Functioning during Regulated Deficit Irrigation Scheduling in Peach , 1993 .

[6]  N. Katerji,et al.  Diagnostic des périodes de contrainte hydrique chez des plantes d'aubergine cultivées en serre, au moyen des microvariations des tiges , 1990 .

[7]  H. M. Taylor,et al.  Utility of Stem Diameter Changes as Predictors of Plant Canopy Water Potential1 , 1979 .

[8]  S. Grattan,et al.  Developmental changes in tomato fruit composition in response to water deficit and salinity , 1991 .

[9]  D. Remorini,et al.  Comparison of water status indicators for young peach trees , 2003, Irrigation Science.

[10]  R. B. Curry,et al.  Water Stress Effects on Photosynthesis and Stem Diameter in Soybean Plants 1 , 1971 .

[11]  P. Costigan,et al.  The Relationship between Stem Diameter and Water Potentials in Stems of Young Cabbage Plants , 1984 .

[12]  J. Y. Lorendeau,et al.  Specific micromorphometric reactions of fruit trees to water stress and irrigation scheduling automation , 1992 .

[13]  E. Fereres,et al.  Suitability of stem diameter variations and water potential as indicators for irrigation scheduling of almond trees , 2003 .

[14]  Jordi Marsal,et al.  Phenology and drought affects the relationship between daily trunk shrinkage and midday stem water potential of peach trees , 2002 .

[15]  Betty Klepper,et al.  Water Relations of Cotton. II. Continuous Estimates of Plant Water Potential from Stem Diameter Measurements1 , 1977 .

[16]  E. Garnier,et al.  Effect of water stress on stem diameter changes of peach trees growing in the field , 1986 .

[17]  N. Castilla,et al.  Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops Worldwide , 1995 .

[18]  E. Fereres,et al.  Irrigation scheduling of almond trees with trunk diameter sensors , 2004, Irrigation Science.

[19]  J. A. Juan,et al.  Production of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) under controlled deficit irrigation in a semi-arid climate , 2002 .

[20]  D. Intrigliolo,et al.  Continuous measurement of plant and soil water status for irrigation scheduling in plum , 2004, Irrigation Science.

[21]  E. Fereresa,et al.  Evapotranspiration of horticultural crops in an unheated plastic greenhouse , 2005 .

[22]  F. Molz,et al.  On the Mechanism of Water-Stress-Induced Stem Deformation1 , 1973 .

[23]  Joan Girona,et al.  Sensitivity of Continuous and Discrete Plant and Soil Water Status Monitoring in Peach Trees Subjected to Deficit Irrigation , 1999 .

[24]  T. Hsiao,et al.  Physiological Responses to Moderate Water Stress , 1982 .

[25]  M. Gallardo,et al.  Use of stem diameter variations to detect plant water stress in tomato , 2006, Irrigation Science.

[26]  O. Bethenod,et al.  Behavior of Maize Stem Diameter during Drying Cycles: Comparison of Two Methods for Detecting Water Stress , 1994 .

[27]  J. Girona,et al.  Comparison of continuous and discrete plant-based monitoring for detecting tree water deficits and barriers to grower adoption for irrigation management. , 2000 .

[28]  E. Fereres,et al.  Plant indicators for scheduling irrigation of young olive trees , 2002, Irrigation Science.

[29]  K. Hasegawa,et al.  A COMPUTER CONTROLLED IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR MUSKMELON USING STEM DIAMETER SENSOR , 1995 .