INVESTIGADORES
MAESTRI Damian Modesto
artículos
Título:
Water relations, biochemical-physiological and yield responses of olive trees (Olea europaea L. cvs. Arbequina and Manzanilla) under drought stress during the pre- flowering and flowering period
Autor/es:
PIERLUIGI PIERANTOZZI; MARIELA TORRES; ROMINA BODOIRA; DAMIÁN MAESTRI
Revista:
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 125 p. 13 - 25
ISSN:
0378-3774
Resumen:
In arid and semiarid regions from Argentina, where the main olive
production areas are located, evapotranspiration is high and rainfall is
minimal during winter and spring months, as compared with the Mediterranean
region where winter rainfall precludes the need of irrigation in such period.
The aim of the work was to study water relations,
biochemical-physiological and yield responses of olive trees (Olea europaea L., Arbequina and
Manzanilla cultivars) under different drought
stress levels applied during the
pre-flowering flowering period. Increasing
levels of water deficit affected plant water relations as measured by
pronounced drops of stem water potentials (near -4.0 MPa) in treatments with severe water
deprivation at the end of the flowering period. Deficit irrigation was associated with some leaf-level
biochemical-physiological responses (accumulation of osmotically active
substances, increased concentration of high molecular weight hydrocarbons and
cuticle thickening), which can be interpreted as adaptation mechanisms of olive
to water deficit. Water stress was also associated with increased lipid
peroxidation and decreased levels of photosynthetic pigments, stomatal
conductance and photosynthetic rate. During the first crop year analyzed, a
significant decrease in fruit set and fruit yield was observed in treatments
under water deprivation. Also, all treatments evaluated showed strong drops in
fruiting and yield parameters during the second crop year suggesting a marked
bearing pattern for both olive cultivars. From a practical standpoint, little
irrigation (50 % ETc) may be sufficient to maintain adequate plant water
potentials for the coldest winter months, but high (75 % ETc) or full (100 %
ETc) irrigation rates could be needed by mid-August (approximately 2 months
before flowering) to avoid detrimental effects of water stress on
biochemical-physiological and yield parameters of olive trees cultivated in
areas with dry winter-spring season.