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Annual shoot and trunk xylem growth increment of `Starkspur Supreme' in the 1984 NC-140 uniform rootstock trial was studied of 10 selected rootstocks representing a range of tree sizes. Shoot growth was measured weekly from budbreak through harvest in each of four seasons. After 11 seasons of growth, whole trees were cut, placed in water containing diffuse fuschin dye for 30 to 60 min during mid-day. After that, a section of trunk (10 to 15 cm long) was excised at 25 cm above the graft union. Trunk xylem thickness and percent of water transport active xylem were measured. Shoot length during the study was related to both the duration and rate of growth; however, growth duration contributed more to variation among stocks. In all stocks, it appears that almost all xylem translocated water and that there was very little “plugged” or active xylem. There were no differences among stocks for the relative percentage of active xylem. Annual xylem increment width varied with stock. The vegetative growth of these trees will be discussed relative to the production efficiency of scions on these stocks.
AGRI 1203 “Introduction to Plant Sciences” is a college core requirement for students in the College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. One of the objectives is accomplished in part by writing a scientific research-review paper (term paper) on a subject of the student's interest. After several semesters of assigning the term paper, it was apparent that students had extensive variation in experience and skills in writing and documenting references. A SOLO was created so that students could develop and practice techniques in reading, understanding, summarizing, and documenting references in a research paper. The SOLO is a self-instructional exercise consisting of three parts: l) a statement of learning objectives, 2) activities on how to achieve the objectives; and 3) exercises to measure mastery level of the exercise's objectives. The SOLO and student and instructor evaluations of the SOLO will be presented and discussed in the poster.
Alternative fruit thinners and pesticides are needed for certified organic fruit growers. A transient reduction in photosynthesis has proven to be an effective technique used for fruit thinning. Conversely, pesticides, which reduce Pn may be detrimental to plant growth. This study was developed to measure plant response to foliar applications of various organic acids as potential horticultural chemicals Treatments were applied to vegetative apple trees under controlled environmental conditions to study photosynthetic effects. CO2 assimilation significantly decreased temporarily 3 days after treatment with citric acid. Decreased trends of evapotranspiration were observed for all treatments 1 day after foliar application; however, not significant. Salicylic acid significantly decreased stomatal conductance 1 and 15 days after treatment. Average leaf area was not significantly affected but oxalic acid increased plant stem growth while acetic acid application reduced growth. This model system for screening new and alternative compounds will be a basis to study agents that may have potential to be used as certified pesticides or fruit thinning agents.
Fifty apple cultivars and 30 Malus species were evaluated for resistance to four isolates of bitter rot pathogens, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum, in controlled conditions. Fruit were wound-inoculated by placing 0.1 ml of inoculum (106 conidia/ml) into puncture wounds (2 mm in diameter), and intact fruit were inoculated by spraying with inoculum. Inoculated fruit were incubated at 25 to 28C for 2 weeks. `Golden Delicious' (susceptible) and `Red Delicious' (resistant) were used as controls. Diseases were quantified by measuring lesion diameter, and disease severity was objectively rated. Relative lesion diameter and severity rating were calculated as [X × 100/RD – 100] and (X – RD) × 100/7 (X = parameter of given cultivar or species, RD = parameter of `Red Delicious') to determine relative resistance. Conclusions were as follows: 1) different levels of resistance were identified in apple cultivars and Malus species and also were detected within `Golden Delicious' and `Red Delicious' types; 2) `Jonagold', `Oregon Spur II', `Spartan', `Melrose', `Red Cort', `Jonafree', `VPI-9', and `Red Delicious showed good relative resistant; 3) M. halliana, angustifolia, prunifolia, sylvestris, and fusca were more resistant than `Delicious'; 4) M. angustifolia was immune to two isolates of C. acutatum.
Roots of one year old grape cvs. Concord, White Riesling, Grenache and Semillon were frozen to 0, -5, -10, -15 and -20°C in a programmable freezer. The tops were protected from cold by insulating them. For survival test, 4 plants of each cv. were planted in the greenhouse and their growth observed. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), using a computer attached to a programmable freezer was performed on roots. To aid in the interpretation of DTA, triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) was performed. Hardiness determinations were based on DTA, TTC and the survival tests. DTA patterns representing exothermic response showed an exotherm associated with extracellular free water in tissue which appeared at about the same temperature range for all cvs. This is not associated with hardiness. Additional minor exotherms related to hardiness appeared at lower temperatures than the extracellular water exotherm. Their location differed from one cv. to another. Based on these tests, Concord roots appear to be hardier than other cvs. with important but minor differences in the hardiness of other cvs.
Roots of one year old grape cvs. Concord, White Riesling, Grenache and Semillon were frozen to 0, -5, -10, -15 and -20°C in a programmable freezer. The tops were protected from cold by insulating them. For survival test, 4 plants of each cv. were planted in the greenhouse and their growth observed. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), using a computer attached to a programmable freezer was performed on roots. To aid in the interpretation of DTA, triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) was performed. Hardiness determinations were based on DTA, TTC and the survival tests. DTA patterns representing exothermic response showed an exotherm associated with extracellular free water in tissue which appeared at about the same temperature range for all cvs. This is not associated with hardiness. Additional minor exotherms related to hardiness appeared at lower temperatures than the extracellular water exotherm. Their location differed from one cv. to another. Based on these tests, Concord roots appear to be hardier than other cvs. with important but minor differences in the hardiness of other cvs.
Abstract
Spur ‘Redchief’ and ‘Granspur’ and non-spur ‘Imperial Double Red Delicious’ and ‘Granny Smith’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) on MM 106 and MM 111 rootstocks were field-set 18 cm deeper than in the nursery row using two planting methods. Trees were dug and root systems evaluated at the end of one growing season. Planting method resulted in differential scion growth, but no differences in adventitious root development on the buried rootstock shank. Rootstock did not affect incidence of shank rooting, although the MM 111 stock had a tendency to produce more roots per rooting site. Cultivar type significantly affected shank root development, with nonspur cultivars having an increased percentage of shanks rooting and a significantly increased number of burrknots with developing roots produced on each rootstock shank.
The susceptibility of five apple cultivars to bitter rot was examined by inoculating fruit with multiple isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum. Fruit were inoculated at three maturity dates in 1994. Fruit maturity was analyzed for firmness, soluble solids, and acidity. `Smoothee' and `Red Rome' were wounded-inoculated by placing 0.1 ml of inoculum (106 conidia/ml) into wounds while `Granny Smith', `Golden Delicious', and `Red Delicious' were inoculated by spraying unwounded fruit with inoculum until runoff. Free moisture was maintained on fruit for 15 h by enclosing fruit in a plastic bag. Bitter rot was quantified by counting lesion number and measuring lesion diameter. In general, more-mature fruit had a higher number and larger lesions than younger fruit. Lesion diameter was highly correlated with increased fruit soluble solids (r = 0.76) and decreased firmness (r = –0.77). The results indicate that fruit susceptibility increases as fruit ages. Differences in susceptibility were observed among apple cultivars and differences in virulence were observed among bitter rot pathogens.
Disease reactions of 11 apple genotypes (Braeburn, Empire, Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Jonagold, MacIntosh, Red Delicious, Red Rome and Spartan) to 3 genetically distinct bitter rot pathogens (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides [teleomorph (T) and nonteleomorph (NT)] and C. acutatum) were examined. Fruit were surface sterilized, and then inoculated either by placing a 100 ul spore suspension (2×104 spores/ml) into wounds or spraying the inoculum onto unwounded fruit. Inoculated fruit were incubated at 26C and 100% RH. Disease reactions were quantified by measuring lesion diameter and depth in wounded fruit, or counting the number of lesions on unwounded fruit. There was a significant interaction between apple genotypes and all 3 pathogenic isolates. The T isolate was the most virulent on all genotypes. In general, cultivars with the smallest lesions in the wound test had the fewest lesions in the unwounded test. Lesion number and size were significantly lower on Granny Smith, Jonagold, Jonathan, Red Delicious and Red Rome. Of the genotypes tested, Braeburn, Gala and MacIntosh apparently were the most susceptible.