Leaf Area Index, Leaf Transpiration and Stomatal Conductance as Affected by Soil Water Deficit and VPD in Processing Tomato in Semi Arid Mediterranean Climate

In order to assess the effects of soil water availability and climatic conditions on leaf growth, leaf transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) of processing tomato, under deficit irrigation regimes in the Mediterranean climate, open‐field experiments were carried out in two sites differing f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agronomy and crop science (1986) 2011-06, Vol.197 (3), p.165-176
Main Author: PATANE, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
crop physiology
Crops
deficit irrigation
Food industries
Fruit and vegetable industries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
LAI
Lycopersicon esculentum
Physical properties
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
Soil science
soil water deficit
vapour pressure deficit
Water and solute dynamics
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Summary:In order to assess the effects of soil water availability and climatic conditions on leaf growth, leaf transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) of processing tomato, under deficit irrigation regimes in the Mediterranean climate, open‐field experiments were carried out in two sites differing from soil and climatic characteristics, in Sicily, South Italy. A wide range of soil water availability from dry, deficit irrigation to full irrigation was examined. Leaf area greatly changed with soil water availability but not with the experimental site. The effect of soil drying on physiological indices was small over a certain range of soil water deficit (from 0 % to approximately 40 %). Within this range, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) strongly affected gs. To this regard, the adoption of two experimental sites differing in climatic conditions (i.e. air temperature, RH, VPD) has been useful for a better understanding of the mechanisms, which regulate stomatal opening. Therefore, in Mediterranean environment, the combined effect of soil water availability (mostly upon leaf growth) and climatic conditions (mostly upon plant physiology) must be considered in models for biomass production in tomato crop.
ISSN:0931-2250
1439-037X
DOI:10.1111/j.1439-037X.2010.00454.x