Assessment of the productivity of plum and apple trees, depending on growing conditions and genotype
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Lack of precipitation, long periods of drought and heat have a negative impact on the metabolism of fruit plants and, consequently, on the productivity and stability of the harvest of various fruit crops. In the Republic of Moldova, plum is one of the main fruit crops, occupying the second place after apple and the first place among stone fruit species. A distinctive feature of plum is its resistance to adverse environmental factors, which is confirmed by the cultivated areas in most regions of the country, characterized by constant temperature changes, excess or lack of precipitation. At the same time, under stress conditions (drought) the adaptability of the crop in general, and of varieties in particular, decreases. Apple tolerates drought better than other fruit crops due to its deeper root system. However, some varieties have a superficial (shallow) root system, in which case they are more demanding on moisture than other varieties. Based on the above, the aim was to evaluate the productivity of plum and apple trees under conditions of insufficient humidity, which would allow the subsequent development of procedures to strengthen the functionality of the production system in fruit trees in the context of climate change. The object of study was plum trees of two late varieties: Stanley (of foreign selection) and Udlinionnaia (of local selection), as well as two winter apple varieties: Granny Smith and Golden Spur from the lysimeters of the Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection of the State University of Moldova. The research was carried out according to the scheme: a) experimental variant: plants grown under non-irrigated conditions; b) control variant: plants grown under irrigated conditions (soil humidity – 70%). The average amount of fruit per tree was determined by weighing. It was found that the growing conditions influence the productivity of the trees and the quality of the harvest. Regarding the average quantity of plum fruits obtained from a single tree, we mention that the Udlinionnaia variety from the variant with plants grown under non-irrigated conditions recorded a decrease in yield by 22.6%, compared to the control. This law also applies to the Stanley variety, as well as apple varieties. Thus, in the case of the Stanley variety of foreign selection, a decrease in yield was recorded by 15%, which represents a decrease of 7.6% compared to the Udlinionnaia variety of local origin. The Golden Spur apple variety grown under non-irrigated conditions recorded a decrease in yield by 35.28%, compared to the control, and the Granny Smith variety – approximately by 36%. Thus, we can conclude that plum and apple trees grown under non-irrigated conditions were distinguished by lower yields, compared to trees grown under optimal conditions (with irrigation). Studying the peculiarities of plant growth and development under unfavorable conditions represents a cardinal moment in understanding the mechanisms of plant tolerance to drought, which could serve as a basis for developing procedures for directed management of the functional state and optimization of the production process.
Institution: Moldova State University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204692999