Fire Blight Management: Physiological Assessment of Cultural Control by Pruning in Pear Orchards

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Mendes, RJ (Author) Other; Mariz Ponte, N (Author) Other; Correia, CV (Author) Other; Dias, MC (Author) Other; De Sousa, ML (Author) Other; Fernando Tavares (Author) FCUP; Santos, C (Author) FCUP

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: Agriculture

Vol. 66

Pages: 128-136

ISSN: 0551-3677

Indexing

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-A11

DOI: 10.2478/agri-2020-0012

Abstract (EN): The aim of this work was to evaluate the photosynthetic performance of Pear trees (cv. 'Rocha') infected with Erwinia amylovora, three months after suffering a pruning of infected branches (P-trees) compared with asymptomatic trees (C-trees) of the same orchard. Three months after pruning, P-trees looked healthy and were negative for the presence of E. amylovora. In September of 2018, fully expanded leaves of both P- and C- trees were sampled and analysed for photosynthetic parameters related to chlorophyll a fluorescence and gas exchange, alongside with pigments, total soluble sugars, starch, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) contents. No significant differences were found in chlorophyll and carotenoids levels, but anthocyanins significantly decreased in P-trees. Also, despite the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) significantly decreased in P-trees, the effective quantum yield of the PSII was maintained, paralleled with no changes in gas exchange parameters (PN, gs, Ci, E, iWUE, PN/gs), nor in RuBisCO relative content. Finally, the maintenance of the levels of total soluble sugars and starch also supports that the photosynthetic performance of P-trees, three months after pruning, reached values similar to those of the C-trees, contributing to the normal development and ripening of the fruit. Data support that pruning represents a reliable control measure against this quarantine pathogen. This work is the first evaluation of pruning in fire blight management regarding carbon metabolism in P. communis trees. © 2020 Rafael J. Mendes et al., published by Sciendo 2020.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific