The Relationship Among Root Growth, Shoot Growth, and Fruit Growth of Peach

Abstract

The number, length, and elongation rate of white roots were related to vegetative and reproductive growth of young own-rooted ‘Redhaven’ peach trees from June 1985 until Oct. 1986. Root growth of fruiting and nonfruiting trees were similar, except for a period of 3 to 4 weeks each year either during the final stage of fruit growth or immediately after harvest. During these periods, cropping reduced white root length per tree in both years, and total root growth per tree and number of growing root tips in 1986. Number of elongating root tips was correlated with total root elongation and was a better indicator of total root elongation than was mean root elongation rate of individual root tips.

Multiple risk factors in root survivorship: a 4‐year study in Concord grape

“…through canopy pruning, herbivory, or heavy fruit set), plants may respond by changing root lifespan, root production, or both (Atkinson, 1980; Eissenstat & Yanai, 1997). This factor is particularly relevant for crops, and some studies have examined the responses of root production to changes in shoot C status, such as defoliation in grape (reviewed in Richards, 1983), or yield variations in apple (Head, 1969; Heim et al ., 1979), peach (Williamson & Coston, 1989), citrus (Eissenstat & Duncan, 1992) and pistachio (Rosecrance et al ., 1996). However, relatively little is known about the interactions between shoot C sinks and root lifespan, particularly for woody plants in the field.…”