Vol. 35 No. 3 (2021): Advances in Horticultural Science
Articles

Effect of growth temperature levels on photosynthetic ability and fruit quality of ‘KU-PP2’, a new low-chill peach cultivar

P. Sikhandakasmita
Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan
I. Kataoka
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan
T. Ogata
Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, 200 Otsu Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan
R. Mochioka
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan
K. Beppu
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan

Published 2021-06-10

Keywords

  • forcing culture,
  • high temperature,
  • protected culture,
  • Prunus persica,
  • stress response

How to Cite

Sikhandakasmita, P., Kataoka, I., Ogata, T., Mochioka, R., & Beppu, K. (2021). Effect of growth temperature levels on photosynthetic ability and fruit quality of ‘KU-PP2’, a new low-chill peach cultivar. Advances in Horticultural Science, 35(3), 233–241. https://doi.org/10.36253/ahsc-9923

Abstract

Temperature is a crucial factor in growing plants in a forcing system. Our goal was to introduce low-chill peach cultivars into a forcing culture for early-season peach production with high fruit quality. However, the effects of growth temperature on plant growth and fruit quality during fruit development of the ‘KU-PP2’ peach cultivar have not yet been evaluated. ‘KU-PP2’ trees were grown in containers and transferred to phytotrons after fruit set in April 2019. The air temperature was set at 20, 25, and 30°C until harvest. Photosynthetic ability, leaf characteristics, and fruit quality under each treatment were determined. Long exposure to lower growth temperatures did not cause a change in leaf characteristics or a reduction in photosynthetic ability and fruit quality in the ‘KU-PP2’ peach cultivar. In contrast, the 30°C was found to be associated with a decrease in leaf size and thickness, stomatal density, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and fruit size. Conversely, the high-temperature condition enhanced coloration of the fruit peel and hastened the harvesting period, compared with the lower-temperature treatments. These results indicated that long-term exposure to the moderately high temperature of 30°C negatively affected plant growth and fruit productivity through changed leaf characteristics and a disrupted photosynthesis.