Deficit Irrigation as a Tool to Optimize Fruit Quality in Abbe Fetel Pear

Climate change is leading to higher plant water requirements and rootstock can play a role in tree adaptation, since the more vigorous ones are also likely to be more stress resistant. Pear trees of the cv. Abbe Fetel grafted on BA29 (more vigorous) and SYDO (more dwarfing) quince were irrigated according to three different treatments: 110 C, 80 DI and 60 DI, corresponding to 110%, 80% and 60% of the crop evapotranspiration rate (ETc), respectively. Shoot and fruit growth, water potentials, leaf gas exchanges and dry matter content were monitored during the season. Fruit quality was evaluated at harvest and after 6 months of storage at 1 degrees C. Results show how for both rootstocks, 60 DI significantly decreased their stem (psi(stem)) and leaf (psi(leaf)) water potentials as well as leaf gas exchanges. In SYDO, final fruit size was affected by irrigation, with lower values on 60 DI, but in BA29, no differences were found between treatments. After storage, BA29 60 DI fruit showed a higher soluble solid content, while in SYDO fruit, firmness was more affected by irrigation level. In conclusion, despite a slight decrease in fruit size, reduced irrigation led to fruit with higher quality features that were also maintained after a long period of storage.

Automated summary

Climate change impacts plant water requirements and rootstock choice can affect tree adaptation. Irrigation levels have significant effects on fruit growth and quality in pear trees, with reduced irrigation leading to better fruit quality features.