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Acclimation of apple spur leaf nutrient concentrations and gas exchange to summer‐pruning
Author(s) -
Keutgen Anna J.,
Keutgen Norbert
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/1522-2624(200102)164:1<91::aid-jpln91>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - chemistry , chlorophyll , photosynthesis , transpiration , horticulture , nutrient , phosphorus , botany , chlorophyll a , potassium , biology , organic chemistry , biochemistry
Foliar concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chlorophyll were measured in shade‐adapted and sun‐adapted spur leaves of apple cvs ”Golden Delicious” and ”Granny Smith” as well as in shade‐adapted leaves after summer‐pruning. The shade‐to‐sun transition of summer‐pruned leaves resulted in concentration changes towards the level of sun‐adapted leaves, which were accompanied by significant increases in net photosynthesis and transpiration rates as well as maximum photosynthesis rates. Gas exchange parameters of fully expanded spur leaves after the shade‐to‐sun transition did not differ from those of sun adapted leaves. This indicates the capacity of fully expanded apple spur leaves to adapt to a new light environment and supports the hypothesis that nutrients are distributed to leaves growing under the highest light intensity in order to maximize their photosynthesis.