Open AccessEffect of growth temperature levels on photosynthetic ability and fruit quality of ‘KU-PP2’, a new low-chill peach cultivar
Author(s) -
Panawat Sikhandakasmita,
Isao Kataoka,
Takanari Ogata,
Ryosuke Mochioka,
Kenji Beppu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advances in horticultural science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.249
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1592-1573
pISSN - 0394-6169
DOI - 10.36253/ahsc-9923
Subject(s) - cultivar , photosynthesis , horticulture , biology , fruit set , chlorophyll , agronomy , botany , pollen , pollination
Temperature is a crucial factor in growing plants in a forcing system. Our goal was to introduce low-chill peach cultivars into a forcing culture for early-season peach production with high fruit quality. However, the effects of growth temperature on plant growth and fruit quality during fruit development of the ‘KU-PP2’ peach cultivar have not yet been evaluated. ‘KU-PP2’ trees were grown in containers and transferred to phytotrons after fruit set in April 2019. The air temperature was set at 20, 25, and 30°C until harvest. Photosynthetic ability, leaf characteristics, and fruit quality under each treatment were determined. Long exposure to lower growth temperatures did not cause a change in leaf characteristics or a reduction in photosynthetic ability and fruit quality in the ‘KU-PP2’ peach cultivar. In contrast, the 30°C was found to be associated with a decrease in leaf size and thickness, stomatal density, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and fruit size. Conversely, the high-temperature condition enhanced coloration of the fruit peel and hastened the harvesting period, compared with the lower-temperature treatments. These results indicated that long-term exposure to the moderately high temperature of 30°C negatively affected plant growth and fruit productivity through changed leaf characteristics and a disrupted photosynthesis.