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

• 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
• ISSN: 0931-2250; 1439-037X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-037X.2010.00454.x

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.