Water-Stress Influences on Three New Promising HLB-Tolerant Citrus Rootstocks
Lidia Aparicio-Durán,
Frederick G. Gmitter Jr.,
Juan M. Arjona-López,
Rocío Calero-Velázquez,
Áurea Hervalejo,
Francisco J. Arenas-Arenas
Affiliations
Lidia Aparicio-Durán
“Las Torres” Center, Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Technology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra km. 12.2, 41200 Alcalá del Río, Spain
Frederick G. Gmitter Jr.
Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
Juan M. Arjona-López
“Las Torres” Center, Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Technology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra km. 12.2, 41200 Alcalá del Río, Spain
Rocío Calero-Velázquez
“Las Torres” Center, Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Technology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra km. 12.2, 41200 Alcalá del Río, Spain
Áurea Hervalejo
“Las Torres” Center, Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Technology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra km. 12.2, 41200 Alcalá del Río, Spain
Francisco J. Arenas-Arenas
“Las Torres” Center, Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Technology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra km. 12.2, 41200 Alcalá del Río, Spain
Drought and flooding conditions are increasingly common abiotic factors that affect citrus crops in both the Mediterranean Basin and Florida. Furthermore, emerging diseases, such as Huanglongbing (HLB), are a potential risk for these crops in those producing areas. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior under water-stress treatments of three new citrus rootstocks (UFR-6, B11R5T60, and 2247 x 6070-02-2) with reported tolerance of HLB, comparing them with a common commercial citrus rootstock (Carrizo citrange). Four water conditions were established: Control, Medium Water Stress (MWS), Drought, and Flooding. Chlorophyll index (SPAD), growth in height, relative growth rate, biomass (fresh and dry weight) and plant water status were evaluated. Citru rootstock response were different for each genotype; Carrizo citrange was negatively affected by all water treatments in the chlorophyll index (SPAD) and biomass production. By contrast, UFR-6 showed a positive response in SPAD and growth under MWS and Drought, B11R5T60 displayed similar behavior to Control under all water stresses, and the response of 2247 x 6070-02-2 under MWS treatment was adequate but was not under Drought or Flooding conditions. Our study describes the behavior of these promising new citrus rootstocks against water stress; B11R5T60 exhibiting the best performance. These results can be useful for the citrus industry to address water-stress problems in these crops.
