קישורים

The aim of this research was to evaluate postharvest cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum (L.) Mill.) yield and fruit quality as affected by grafting and irrigation water quality in the desert region of Israel. Tomato plants (scion cv. Lorka) were grafted onto 3 commercial tomato rootstocks (Resistar, Beaufort and TRS2) and were irrigated with 2 water qualities: fresh water (electrical conductivity (EC)-1.6 dS m⁻¹) and salty water (EC-4.0 dS m⁻¹). Fresh water significantly increased fruit yield by an average of 17% and fruit size, regardless of plant grafting and rootstock, but there were no significant differences in fruit size between the water treatments. However, salty water, but not grafting, significantly improved several quality parameters of fruit stored for 12 d at 12 °C followed by 2 d at 20 °C in simulated sea transport of produce from Israel to Europe and marketing. Fruit harvested from plants irrigated with salty water showed higher sweetness, sourness and, especially, better general taste, and significantly reduced off-flavor, compared with those irrigated with fresh water. The combination of ‘Lorka’ on ‘Resistar’ rootstock and resulted in the best external, internal, and sensory quality parameters at the end of storability and marketing simulation, while the lowest-quality parameters were in fruit harvested from ‘Lorka’ on ‘Beaufort’ rootstock.

A reliable forecast of potential evapotranspiration (ET₀) is key to precise irrigation scheduling toward reducing water and agrochemical use while optimizing crop yield. In this study, we examine the benefits of using the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model for ET0 and precipitation forecasts with simulations at a 3-km grid spatial resolution and an hourly temporal resolution output over Israel. The simulated parameters needed to calculate ET₀ using the Penman–Monteith (PM) approach, as well as calculated ET₀and precipitation, were compared to observations from a network of meteorological stations. WRF forecasts of all PM meteorological parameters, except wind speed (W_s), were significantly sensitive to seasonality and synoptic conditions, whereas forecasts of W_s consistently showed high bias associated with strong local effects, leading to high bias in the evaluated PM–ET₀. Local W_s bias correction using observations on days preceding forecast and interpolation of the resulting PM–ET₀ to other locations led to significant improvement in ET₀ forecasts over the investigated area. By using this hybrid forecast approach (WRF_BC) that combines WRF numerical simulations with statistical bias corrections, daily ET₀ forecast bias was reduced from an annual mean of 13% with WRF to 3% with WRF_BC, while maintaining a high model–observation correlation. WRF was successful in predicting precipitation events on a daily event basis for all four forecast lead days. Considering the benefit of the hybrid approach for forecasting ET₀, the WRF model was found to be a high-potential tool for improving crop irrigation management.

Abscisic acid (ABA) levels increase significantly in plants under stress conditions and ABA is thought to serve as a key stress-response regulator. However, the direct effect of ABA on photosynthesis and the effect of mesophyll ABA on yield under both well-watered and drought conditions are still the subject of debate. Here, we examined this issue using transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants carrying a dominant ABA-signaling inhibitor under the control of a mesophyll-specific promoter (FBPase::abi1-1, abbreviated to fa). Under normal conditions, fa plants displayed slightly higher stomatal conductance and carbon assimilation than wild-type (WT) plants; however, these parameters were comparable following ABA treatment. These observations suggest that ABA does not directly inhibit photosynthesis in the short term. fa plants also exhibited a variety of altered phenotypes under optimal conditions, including more vigorous initial growth, earlier flowering, smaller flowers and delayed chlorophyll degradation. Furthermore, under optimal conditions, fa plant seed production was less than a third of that observed for the WT. However, under drought conditions, WT and fa seed yields were similar due to a significant reduction in WT seed and no reduction in fa seed. These findings suggest that endogenous basal ABA inhibits a stress-escape response under non-stress conditions, allowing plants to accumulate biomass and maximize yield. The lack of a correlation between flowering time and plant biomass combined with delayed chlorophyll degradation suggests that this stress-escape behavior is regulated independently and upstream of other ABA-induced effects such as rapid growth and flowering.

Plants can detect pathogen invasion by sensing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). This sensing process leads to the induction of defense responses. Most PAMP mechanisms of action have been described in the guard cells. Here, we describe the effects of chitin, a PAMP found in fungal cell walls, on the cellular osmotic water permeability (Pf) of the leaf vascular bundle-sheath (BS) and mesophyll cells and its subsequent effect on leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf). The BS is a parenchymatic tissue that tightly encases the vascular system. BS cells have been shown to control Kleaf through changes in their Pf, for example, in response to ABA. It was recently reported that, in Arabidopsis, the chitin receptors chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 (CERK1) and LYSINE MOTIF RECEPTOR KINASE 5 (LYK5) are highly expressed in the BS, as well as the neighboring mesophyll. Therefore, we studied the possible impact of chitin on these cells. Our results revealed that both BS cells and mesophyll cells exhibit a sharp decrease in Pf in response to chitin treatment. In addition, xylem-fed chitin decreased Kleaf and led to stomatal closure. However, an Atlyk5 mutant showed none of these responses. Complimenting AtLYK5 specifically in the BS cells (using the SCARECROW promoter) and transient expresion in mesophyll cells each resulted in a response to chitin that was similar to that observed in the wild type. These results suggest that BS and mesophyll cells each play a role in the perception of apoplastic chitin and in initiating chitin-triggered immunity.

Seminal roots constitute the initial wheat root system and provide the main route for water absorption during early stages of development. Seminal root number (SRN) varies among species. However, the mechanisms through which SRN is controlled and in turn contribute to environmental adaptation are poorly understood. Here, we show that SRN increased upon wheat domestication from 3 to 5 due to the activation of 2 root primordia that are suppressed in wild wheat, a trait controlled by loci expressed in the germinating embryo. Suppression of root primordia did not limit water uptake, indicating that 3 seminal roots is adequate to maintain growth during seedling development. The persistence of roots at their primordial state promoted seedling recovery from water stress through reactivation of suppressed primordia upon rehydration. Our findings suggest that under well‐watered conditions, SRN is not a limiting factor, and excessive number of roots may be costly and maladaptive. Following water stress, lack of substantial root system suppresses growth and rapid recovery of the root system is essential for seedling recovery. This study underscores SRN as key adaptive trait that was reshaped upon domestication. The maintenance of roots at their primordial state during seedling development may be regarded as seedling protective mechanism against water stress.

Ambient CO2 concentration is currently 400 μmol mol−1, and projections forecast an increase up to 970 μmol mol−1 by century’s end. Elevated CO2 can stimulate C3 plant growth, whereas nitrogen is the main nutrient plants acquire from soils and often limits growth. Plants primarily obtain two nitrogen sources from the soil, ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−). At elevated CO2 levels, plant growth and nitrogen metabolism is affected by the nitrogen source. Most research has focused on shoot traits, while neglecting the plants’ hidden half, the root.
We studied the effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen source on hydroponically grown tomato plants, a C3 model and crop plant. Our main objective was to determine how the nitrogen source and elevated CO2 affect root development. Our results indicate they affect development in terms of the size and anatomy of different root orders. Specifically, root xylem development was found sensitive to the nitrogen source, whereas NO3−-supplied plants displayed greater xylem development compared to their NH4+ counterparts, and also to a lesser extent, to elevated CO2, which we found inhibits this development. Additionally, elevated CO2 decreased root respiration in different root orders exclusively in plants supplied with NH4+as the sole nitrogen source.

Photoselective netting is well-known for filtering the intercepted solar radiation, therefore affecting light quality. While its effects on above-ground of plants have been well investigated, the root system was neglected. Here, we evaluated the effects of photoselective netting on root growth and plant development. Minirhizotron and ingrowth cores were applied in a field experiment, performed in a 4-year-old orange orchard grown under three different photoselective net treatments (red, pearl, yellow) and an unnetted control treatment. Our observations confirmed the significant positive effect of photoselective nets on tree physiological performance, by increases of photosynthesis rate and vegetative growth. Trees grown in the pearl plot developed evenly distributed root system along the observation tubes while trees in control, red and yellow plots had a major part of roots concentrated at different depth ranges of 60–80, 100–120, and 120–140 cm, respectively. Photoselective nets showed a strong impact on shoot-root interaction and proved equally successful in promoting rapid establishment of young citrus trees. However, at long-term effect, yellow net might outperform because it could enable plants to develop deeper root systems, which will uptake water and nutrients more efficiently in semi-arid areas with sandy soil.

Plants are autotrophic organisms in which there are linear relationships between the rate at which organicbiomass is accumulated and many ambient parameters such as water, nutrients, CO2 and solar radiation. Theselinear relationships are the result of good feedback regulation between a plants sensing of the environment andthe optimization of its performance response. In this review, we suggest that continuous monitoring of the plantphysiological profile in response to changing ambient conditions could be a useful new phenotyping tool, allowingthe characterization and comparison of different levels of functional phenotypes and productivity. Thisfunctional physiological phenotyping (FPP) approach can be integrated into breeding programs, which are facingdifficulties in selecting plants that perform well under abiotic stress. Moreover, high-throughput FPP willincrease the efficiency of the selection of traits that are closely related to environmental interactions (such asplant water status, water-use efficiency, stomatal conductance, etc.) thanks to its high resolution and dynamicmeasurements. One of the important advantages of FPP is, its simplicity and effectiveness and compatibility withexperimental methods that use load-cell lysimeters and ambient sensors. In the future, this platform could helpwith phenotyping of complex physiological traits, beneficial for yield gain to enhance functional breeding approachesand guide in crop modeling.

Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana) is a root holoparasitic plant causing major damage to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Parasite infection initiates source-sink relations between the parasite (sink) and the host (source), allocating carbohydrates, water and nutrients to the parasite. The primary aim of the current study was to explore responses of sunflower to broomrape parasitism, specifically to examine alternations in leaf area, leaf mass per area (LMA), mesophyll structure and root hydraulic conductivity. Leaf changes revealed modifications similar to described previously in shade adapted plants, causing larger and thinner leaves. These traits were accompanied with significantly higher root hydraulics. These changes were caused by carbohydrate depletion due to source-sink relationships between the host and parasite. An Imazapic herbicide (ALS inhibitor) was used for controlling broomrape attachments and by to investigate the plasticity of the traits found. Broomrape infected plants which were treated with Imazapic had leaves similar to non-infected plants, including mesophyll structure and carbon assimilation rates. These results demonstrated source-sink effects of broomrape which cause a low-light-like acclimation behavior which is reversible.

Meaningful climate predictions must be accompanied by their corresponding range of uncertainty. Quantifying the uncertainties is nontrivial, and different methods have been suggested and used in the past. Here we propose a method that does not rely on any assumptions regarding the distribution of the ensemble member predictions. The method is tested using the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 1981–2010 decadal predictions and is shown to perform better than two other methods considered here. The improved estimate of the uncertainties is of great importance both for practical use and for better assessing the significance of the effects seen in theoretical studies.

Controlled experiments and modeling are crucial components in the evaluation of the fate of water and solutes in environmental and agricultural research. Lysimeters are commonly used to determine water and solute balances and assist in making sustainable decisions with respect to soil reclamation, fertilization, or irrigation with low-quality water. While models are cost-effective tools for estimating and preventing environmental damage by agricultural activities, their value is highly dependent on the accuracy of their parameterization, often determined by calibration. The main objective of this study was to use measured major ion concentrations collected from drip-irrigated lysimeters to calibrate the variably saturated water flow model HYDRUS (2D/3D) coupled with the reactive transport model UNSATCHEM. Irrigation alternated between desalinated and brackish waters. Lysimeter drainage and soil solution samples were collected for chemical analysis and used to calibrate the model. A second objective was to demonstrate the potential use of the calibrated model to evaluate lower boundary design options of lysimeters with respect to leaching fractions determined using drainage water fluxes, chloride concentrations, and overall salinity of drainage water, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) in the profile. The model showed that, in the long term, leaching fractions calculated with electrical conductivity values would be affected by the lower boundary condition pressure head, while those calculated with chloride concentrations and water fluxes would not be affected. In addition, clear dissimilarities in ESP profiles were found between lysimeters with different lower boundary conditions, suggesting a potential influence on hydraulic conductivities and flow patterns.

Two bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivars, differing in their responseto chilling, were exposed to three levels of root-zone temperatures. Gasexchange, shoot and root phenology, and the pattern of change of the centralmetabolites and secondary metabolites caffeate and benzoate in the leavesand roots were profiled. Low root-zone temperature significantly inhibitedgaseous exchange, with a greater effect on the sensitive commercial pepperhybrid (Canon) than on the new hybrid bred to enhance abiotic stress tolerance(S103). The latter was less affected by the treatment with respect to plantheight, shoot dry mass, root maximum length, root projected area, numberof root tips and root dry mass. More carbon was allocated to the leavesof S103 than nitrogen at 17∘C, while in the roots at 17∘C, more nitrogenwas allocated and the ratio between C/N decreased. Metabolite profilingshowed greater increase in the root than in the leaves. Leaf response betweenthe two cultivars differed significantly. The roots accumulated stress-relatedmetabolites including -aminobutyric acid (GABA), proline, galactinol andraffinose and at chilling (7∘C) resulted in an increase of sugars in both cultivars.Our results suggest that the enhanced tolerance of S103 to root cold stress,reflected in the relative maintenance of shoot and root growth, is likely linkedto a more effective regulation of photosynthesis facilitated by the induction ofstress-related metabolism.

Fluctuations of winter and summer and day and night temperatures stronglyinfluence shoot and root growth, as well as the whole plant tolerance toextreme soil temperatures. We compared the response of a commercialpepper (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrid (Romance, Rijk Zwaan) to a range ofsoil temperatures when grafted to a new rootstock hybrid (S101, Syngenta),self-grafted, or ungrafted. The new rootstock hybrid was bred for enhancingabiotic stress tolerance. Plants were grown during winter and summer seasonsin a plastic greenhouse with natural ventilation. Minirhizotron cameras andin-growth cores were used to investigate grafted bell pepper root dynamicsand root and shoot interactions in response to extreme (low and high airand soil) temperatures. Soil and air temperatures were measured throughoutthe experiment. The variations of the grafted peppers and the ungraftedaboveground biomass exposed to low and high temperatures during winterand summer were higher in the Romance grafted on the S101 rootstock thanin the self-grafted and ungrafted Romance. The plot of rootstock S101 accumulatedCl, and the rootstock efficiently allocated C into the leaves, stems,and roots and N into the leaves, stems, and fruits. These traits of rootstock S101can be used to improve the tolerance of other pepper cultivars to low andhigh soil temperatures, which could lengthen the pepper growin.

A root growth module was adapted and implemented into the HYDRUSsoftware packages to model root growth as a function of different environmentalstresses. The model assumes that various environmental factors,as well as soil hydraulic properties, can influence root development undersuboptimal conditions. The implementation of growth and stress functions inthe HYDRUS software opens the opportunity to derive parameters of thesefunctions from laboratory or field experimental data using inverse modeling.One of the most important environmental factors influencing root growth issoil temperature. The effects of temperature in the root growth module wasthe first part of the newly developed HYDRUS add-on to be validated bycomparing modeling results with measured rooting depths in an aeroponicexperimental system with bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The experimentwas conducted at root zone temperatures of 7, 17, and 27°C. Inverseoptimization was used to estimate a single set of parameters that was foundto well reproduce measured time series of rooting depths for all temperaturetreatments. A sensitivity analysis showed that parameters such as the maximumrooting depth and cardinal temperatures had only a small impact onthe model output and can thus be specified using values from the literaturewithout significantly increasing prediction uncertainties. On the other hand,parameters that define the growth rate or the shape of the temperaturestress function had a high influence. The root growth module that considerstemperature stress only slightly increased the complexity of the standardHYDRUS models.

Growth rate is one of the indicators for a plant’s physiological condition. Date palms are characterized byhigh frond elongation rates, which are mainly subjected to drought and salinity stresses. Thus, continuousmeasurement of these rates can provide real-time growth information, for assessing water statuswithin the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum of cultivated date palms. This study introduces a noveldevice, the Palmeter, which continuously measures real-time date palm frond elongation. ThePalmeter was calibrated in the laboratory and tested in a date palm orchard with a measurement resolutionof 0.52 mm. A field test indicated that the Palmeter could wirelessly transmit acquired data to asignal receiver over a distance of 100 m with a success rate of more than 98%, facilitating the establishmentof wireless sensor networks in date palm orchards. Neither temperature nor wind affected thePalmeter measurement within the orchard. The temporal patterns of the frond elongation measuredby the Palmeter were found to be sensitive to various cultivation treatments, such as fruit load regimes,applied within a field study. Additionally, a six-volt power supply is recommended in order to reduce thePalmeter’s power consumption. The feasibility and robustness of the Palmeter system guaranteed theaccurate measurement of the frond elongation under harsh field conditions. Therefore, the Palmetercan be potentially applied to measure the frond elongation of date palms and perhaps other palms, suchas oil palms and coconut palms, for irrigation scheduling and cultivation management in large orchards.

Water and solute fluxes measured from lysimeters located in the field can be used to estimate evapotranspiration, for irrigation scheduling and in solute leaching management. System-imposed heterogeneities are expected to affect the variability of the measured fluxes, and therefore the uncertainty of data obtained using lysimeters. In this study, local heterogeneities in soil hydraulic conductivity and dripper discharge rate were studied and their effect on drainage amount and concentration assessed. Three-dimensional simulations were performed with HYDRUS (2D/3D) with 100 simulations per treatment. The effect of three levels of soil and irrigation heterogeneities was studied for lysimeters of two different sizes (1 m² and 0.5 m²). Additionally, three leaching fraction levels and water uptake reduction due to solute stress were evaluated. Coefficient of variations of the drainage amount and solute concentrations were evaluated for the different scenarios. Irrigation heterogeneity caused higher variability in drainage amount while soil heterogeneity caused higher variability in drainage concentration. The larger the lysimeter, or the higher the leaching fraction, the lower the variability for both drainage concentration and amount. Combined soil and irrigation heterogeneities produced no synergistic effect, suggesting that the variability measured in lysimeters was governed by the factor that caused the highest variability. When water uptake reduction due to salinity was considered, the same trends were observed. The results from this study can help to decide if to use either drainage concentration or amount values, for saline water irrigation management using lysimeters, according to the soil or irrigation heterogeneity levels.