Response of Tahiti lime fruits (Citrus latifólia Tan.) to different percentages of wet area

Author(s)

Fábio Jordão Rocha

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2009-02-03

Examining board members

Marcos Vinicius Folegatti; Luís Fernando de Souza Magno Campeche; Rubens Duarte Coelho

• Advisor: Marcos Vinicius Folegatti

Abstract

The irrigation in citrus gained great importance in the last eight years, due to the use of rootstocks less tolerant to drought. Currently, much of the citrus is irrigated by drip irrigation system, where only a percentage of the root system receives water. These items make great value for studies related to the responses of plants subjected to different áreas of wet soil and also to water stress. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological responses of Tahiti lime fruit a small percentage of wetted area. Was evaluated stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (T), leaf temperture (Tf), the leaf water potential (), chlorophyll content and productivity and quality of fruit. The experiment was conducted at the farm Areão ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, Brazil, in a orchard of 1 ha of Tahit lime fruit (Citrus latifolia Tanaka) grafted in a citromelo Swingle (Poncitrus trifoliata (L.) x Citrus paradise Macf.) in a spacing of 7x4 m. For readings of stomatal condutance and transpiration was used a steady-state null-balcance porometer. For leaf temperature was used a infrared thermometer (Scantenp). To determine the potential of water on the sheet was used a Board of Scholander (Model 3005 - Soil Mosture Equipament Co., Santa Barbara, CA), and to determine the level of chlorophyll was used a clorofiLOG (Falker). The evaluate of quality of fruits was made following the methodology proposed by Bleinroth et al. (1976). The different percentages of wetted area were given by different numbers and types of drip, so as to always apply the same depth of irrigation. The results showed that there was no significant difference among treatments for gs, T, and Tf, but Tf was always higher than the air temperature and can be an indicator of water stress. As the water potential of the leaves, the non-irrigated treatment had lower values in relation to treatment of larger irrigated área. The nonirrigated treatment had lower levels of chlorophyll, especially the content of chlorophyll b, in the south side (more shaded). The production and quality of fruit showed no significant differences. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/05966-7 - Responses of 'Tahiti' lime fruits to different range of wetted soils
• Grantee: Fábio Jordão Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master