© 1996 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Water stress and crop load effects on fruit fresh and dry weights in peach (Prunus persica)
M. E. Berman and T. M. DeJong
Department of Pomology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA / Received February 29, 1996
Summary
Effects of water stress on fruit fresh and dry weights were investigated in peach trees, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch., with varying crop loads: light, moderate and heavy. In well-watered controls, tree water status was independent
of crop load. In trees receiving reduced irrigation, the degree of water stress increased with increasing crop load. Water
stress induced fruit fresh weight reductions at all crop loads. Fruit dry weight was not reduced by water stress in trees
having light to moderate crop loads, indicating that the degree of water stress imposed did not affect the dry weight sink
strength of fruit. Water-stressed trees with heavy crop loads had significantly reduced fruit dry weights, which were likely
due to carbohydrate source limitations resulting from large crop carbon demands and water stress limitations on photosynthesis.
Keywords:
carbon partitioning, drought, fruit growth.
