The aim of the study is to determine how rootstock types affects sugar accumulation in Citrus fruit. This was tested by using controlled water-deficit stress during phase II of fruit growth, that causes active osmotic adjustment by increasing the solute concentration in fruit due to sucrose being hydrolyzed to fructose and glucose.
This is important for clients and consultant to understand the physiology and interaction of different rootstocks to specific environments and how the fruit’s internal quality could be affected. The choice of rootstock type for a specific environment or microclimate could potentially have a great impact on a growers final yield (Ton/ha, fruit size) as well as internal quality. The main finding was that greater water stress had higher solute concentrations in juice sacs that simulate that of dwarfing rootstocks.
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Source:
Graham H. Barry and William S. Castle
Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida
Frederick S. Davies
Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida