Physiological mechanisms of resistance to cold stress associated with 10 elite apple rootstocks

A study was conducted in attempting to identify the cold-resistant apple rootstocks and to establish a comprehensive evaluation system. In this study, 10 elite apple dwarfing rootstocks(GM256, JM7, M26, M7, SC1, SH1, SH38, SH6, M9, and T337) were employed for the experiment and the following parameters were investigated under different low temperature stress conditions(0, –15, –20, –25, –30, and –35°C): the changes of the relative electrical conductivity(REC), anthocyanin content, protein content, soluble sugar content, soluble starch content, proline content, malondialdehyde(MDA) content, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, and peroxidase(POD) activity of the dormant branches. The inflection temperature that could represent the plant tissue semi-lethal temperature(LT) was obtained by the measurements of REC. The LTwas used to evaluate eight other indices. The results showed that there was no significant correlation between LTand POD activity as well as between the soluble sugar, protein and proline contents at 0 and –15°C. Soluble starch content at 0 and –15°C and anthocyanin content at –15–(–30)°C were significantly but negatively correlated to the LT50 and the MDA content at 0–(–20)°C was significantly positively correlated to the LT. Statistical analysis based on principal component analysis and LT50 showed that cold resistant apple rootstocks in the decreasing order from high to low as GM256, SH6, SH38, SH1, SC1, M26, M7, JM7, T337, and M9.

Comprehensive evaluation of tolerance to alkali stress by 17 genotypes of apple rootstocks

Alkaline soils have a great inlfuence on apple production in Northern China. Therefore, comprehensive evaluations of toler-ance to such stress are important when selecting the most suitable apple rootstocks. We used hydroponics culturing to test 17 genotypes of apple rootstocks after treatment with 1：1Na2CO3and NaHCO3. When compared with the normaly grown controls, stressed plants produced fewer new leaves, and had shorter roots and shoots and lower fresh and dry weights after 15 d of exposure to alkaline conditions. Their root/shoot ratios were also reduced, indicating that the roots had been severely damaged. For al stressed rootstocks, electrolyte leakage （EL） and the concentration of malondialdehyde （MDA） increased while levels of chlorophyl decreased. Changes in root activity （up or down）, as wel as the activities of peroxidase （POD）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, and catalase （CAT） were rootstock-dependent, possibly relfecting their differences in alkali tolerance. Using alkali injury index （AI）, adversity resistance coefifcients （ARC）,cluster analysis, and evaluation of their physiological responses, we classiifed these 17 genotypes into three groups： （1） high tolerance： Hubeihaitang, Wushanbianyehaitang, Laoshanhaitang Ls2, Xiaojinbianyehaitang, and Fupingqiuzi; （2） moderate tolerance： Pingyitiancha, Laoshanhaitang Ls3, Hubeihaitang A1, Deqinhaitang, Balenghaitang, Maoshandingzi, Shandingzi, and Xinjiangyepingguo; or （3） low tolerance： Pingdinghaitang, Hongsanyehaitang, Xiaojinhaitang, and Sanyehaitang. These results wil signiifcantly contribute to the selection of the most suitable materials for rootstocks with desired levels of tolerance to alkali stress.

Potassium alleviated high nitrogen-induced apple growth inhibition by regulating photosynthetic nitrogen allocation and enhancing nitrogen utilization capacity

There is a close relationship between potassium(K)and nitrogen(N).However,the roles of K under high N conditions remain unclear.Using a hydroponics approach,we monitored the morphological,physiological,and molecular changes in M9T337 apple(Malus domestica)rootstocks under different nitrate(10 and 30 mmol·L^(-1)NO_(3)^(-))and K supply(0.5,6,10,and 20 mmol·L_(-1)K^(+))conditions.Results revealed that high nitrate inhibited the root growth of M9T337 rootstocks,downregulated the expressions of K transporter genes(MdPT5,MdHKT1,and MdATK1),and reduced the net NO3-and K+influx at the surface of roots,thereby resulting in an N/K imbalance in rootstocks.Further investigation showed that 10 mmol·L^(-1)K increased the activity of N metabolic enzymes(NR,GS,NiR,and GOGAT),upregulated the expressions of genes related to nitrate uptake and transport(MdNRT1.1,MdNRT1.2,MdNRT1.5,and MdNRT2.4),promoted15N transport from the roots to the shoots,optimized leaf N distribution,and improved photosynthetic N utilization efficiency under high nitrate conditions.These results suggest that the negative effects of high nitrate may be related to the N/K imbalance and that reducing N/K in plants by increasing K supply level can effectively alleviate the inhibition of N assimilation by high nitrate stress.

Identification of the HAK gene family reveals their critical response to potassium regulation during adventitious root formation in apple rootstock

Adventitious root formation is a bottleneck during vegetative proliferation.Potassium(K^(+))is an essential macronutrient for plants.K^(+)accumulation from the soil and its distribution to the different plant organs is mediated by K^(+)transporters named K^(+)transporter(KT),K^(+)uptake(KUP),or high-affinity K^(+)(HAK).This study aimed to identify members of the HAK gene family in apples and to characterize the effects of K^(+)supply on adventitious root formation and on the expression of HAK genes and the genes that putatively control auxin transport,signaling,and cell fate during adventitious root formation.In this study,34 HAK genes(MdHAKs)were identified in the apple(Malus×domestica‘Golden Delicious’)genome.A phylogenetic analysis divided MdHAKs into four clusters(Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,andⅣ),comprising 16,1,4,and 13 genes,respectively.The syntenic relationships revealed that 62.5%of the total MdHAK genes arise from genomic duplication events.Chromosome location,domain structure,motif analysis,and physico-chemical characteristics were subsequently investigated.Furthermore,the application of K^(+)indicated the emergence of adventitious roots at 8 d and produced more adventitious roots at 16 d than the K^(+)-free control(CK)treatment.In addition,various MdHAKs showed root-specific expression in B9 apple rootstock stem cuttings and enhanced expression during the initiation and emergence stages of adventitious root formation in response to K^(+)treatment.Additionally,K^(+)treatment enhanced the expression levels of MdPIN1,MdPIN2,and MdAUX1.Further data indicated that a higher expression of MdWOX11,MdLBD16,and MdLBD29 and of cell cycle-related genes contributed to the auxin-stimulated adventitious root formation in response to K^(+).

Evaluation of Productivity and Light Quality in Two High Density Dwarf Rootstock Apple Orchards in Central China

[Ohjective] The aim of the study is to investigate the productivity and light quality in two high density M26 dwarf rootstock apple orchards in central China so as to provide some management guidance for close planting of dwarf rootstock apples.[Method] The technical parameters of individual trees and group parameters as shoot number and composition and canopy coverage were determined, and the light quality in the canopy, fruit production and quality were investigated. [Result] Slender spindle （SS） orchard has 54 thousands shoots per 667 m^2. Coverage rate is 76%. Leaf area index is 1.9. The ratio of long, medium and spur shoots is 1：1：8. Fruit yield is 3 263 kg/667 m^2 with 85% first grade fruit. Light interception in the canopy is 58% while the ratio of canopy with good light is 65%. Modified slender spindle （MSS） orchard has 93 thousands shoots per 667 m^2 and the coverage is 77%. Leaf area index is 3.3. The ratio cf long, medium and spur shoots is 1：2：7. Fruit yield is 3 931 kg/667 m^2 with 85% first grade fruit. The light interception in the canopy is 73% while the ratio of canopy with good light is 35%. [Conclusion] Apple orchard with M26 dwarf rootstock trained as SS and MSS tree form in medium planting density may be useful to the management of the similar orchards in Central China.

Differences in the Efficiency of Potassium(K) Uptake and Use in Five Apple Rootstock Genotypes

Plants that grow well while accumulating and transporting less potassium（K） perform better than more-sensitive plants when under deficiency conditions, which makes low-K-input and environmentally friendly agriculture possible. We conducted hydroponics and sand culture experiments to evaluate the efficiency of various apple（Malus domestica Borkh） rootstocks in their K uptake and utilization. Five genotypes were selected which are widely used in China- M. hupehensis Rehd, M. prunifolia Borkh, M. robusta Rehd, M. sieversii Roem, and M. rockii Rehd. Plant heights, root and shoot dry weights, and K concentrations were recorded. These genotypes differed markedly in dry weights, absolute and relative K concentrations, absolute and relative K accumulations, and their K efficiency ratio under deficient K conditions. The last parameter, expressed as relative shoot dry weight, was strongly and positively correlated with the other four parameters in each genotype. Therefore, we suggest that this parameter could serve as an index when selecting K-efficient genotypes. In this study, we have determined that M. sieversiiand M. rockii are K-inefficient genotypes; M. prunifolia is K-efficient genotype; M. hupehensis and M. robusta have moderate levels of potassium efficiency.

Dwarfi ng apple rootstock responses to elevated temperatures: A study on plant physiological features and transcription level of related genes

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of heat stress on physiological features, together with endogenous hormones and the transcription level of related genes, to estimate the heat resistance ability and stress injury mechanism of different dwarfing apple rootstocks. Among the six rootstocks, the rootstocks of native Shao series（SH series） showed better heat stress resistance than those of Budagovski 9（B9）, Cornell-Geneva 24（CG24）, and Malling 26（M26） from abroad. Among SH series rootstocks, SH1 and SH6 showed higher heat stress resistance than SH40. M26 demonstrated the lowest adaption ability to heat stress, showing higher leaf conductivity and lower liquid water content（LWC） with the increase in temperature. Heat stress also resulted in the suppression of photosynthesis, which showed no significant restoration after 7-day recovery. It should be noted that although a higher temperature led to a lower LWC and photosynthetic efficiency（P_n） of CG24, there was no significant increase in leaf conductivity, and 7 days after the treatment, the P_n of CG24 recovered. The extremely high temperature tolerance of SH series rootstocks could be related to the greater osmotic adjustment（OA）, which was reflected by smaller reductions in leaf relative water content（RWC） and higher turgor potentials and leaf gas exchange compared with the other rootstocks. Determination of hormones indicated multivariate regulation, and it is presumed that a relatively stable expression levels of functional genes under high-temperature stress is necessary for heat stress resistance of rootstocks.

Tolerance to Iron-Deficiency Stress of Three Apple Rootstock Species in Hydroponic System

[Objective] Iron deficiency is one of the most important crop element deficiencies in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China. The selection for crop cultivars that are tolerant to low iron levels could be one of the approaches to solving the problem and improving crop production. [Method] Three major apple root stock species （Malus prunifolia, Malus sieversii and Malus baccata） were selected to evaluate their tolerance to iron defciency in hydroponic system. A 3×2 factorial pot experiment was conducted with three replicates in a greenhouse at Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China. [Result] The SOD, POD and CAT activities in roots and stems of the 3 root stock species in Fe-defcient Hoagland solution decreased, however Malus sieversii got the less reduction and had better root architecture and growth than the other species. The aboveground biomass, plant height, chlorophyll content, total root length and lateral root number were correlated positively with iron-defciency stress tolerance. The species’ tolerance to iron-defciency from high to low was M. sieversii’s〉M. baccata’s〉M. prunifolia’s. Moreover, the improvement of some morphological features such as root length, above-ground biomass, plant height and lateral root number in apple could be conducive to breeding cultivars with tolerance to iron-defciency stress. [Conclusion] Malus sieversii had better tolerance to iron-defciency stress than the others in this study.