2026-04-17T18:52:29Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:20.500.12327/47842025-10-22T11:25:53Zcom_2072_4428com_2072_4427col_2072_487898

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Blanco, Victor author Willsea, Noah author Campbell, Thiago author Howe, Orlando author Kalcsits, Lee author 2025-08-16 Excessive tree vigor is a common problem in North American pear orchards. Strategies like regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) can help manage vegetative growth, improve fruit quality, reduce physiological disorders, and enhance water use efficiency. A two-year study on ‘d’Anjou’ and ‘Bartlett’ pears evaluated their response to three irrigation strategies: (i) full irrigation at 100 % crop evapotranspiration (ETc) throughout the season (CTL), (ii) RDI with 100 % ETc from April–June and 50 % ETc from June–October, and (iii) plant-based irrigation (PBI) similar to RDI but triggered by a stem water potential threshold of −1.25 MPa. Deficit irrigation reduced soil water content, gas exchange, and midday stem water potential. ‘d’Anjou’ pear trees were more vulnerable to water restrictions than ‘Bartlett’. Both RDI and PBI treatments effectively reduced tree vigor and pear psylla damage without compromising yield. In the second year, the number of fruits per tree increased, and water productivity improved by 53 % (RDI) and 40 % (PBI), while water use dropped by 37 % and 28 %, respectively, compared to CTL. Fruits from deficit-irrigated trees were consistently smaller. In a low-crop year, they were sweeter and less firm, suggesting accelerated ripening. RDI reduced fruit size more than PBI, but both treatments improved vigor control and reduced pear psylla damage. In semi-arid regions, plant-based irrigation offers an effective method for managing pear tree vigor, enhancing sustainability, and maintaining desirable fruit quality. Víctor Blanco, Noah Willsea, Thiago CAmpbell, Orlando Howe, Lee Kalcsits. 2025. "Deficit irrigation affects fruit quality, production and resource allocation of ‘d’Anjou’ and ‘Bartlett’ pear trees". Agricultural Water Management: 318,109728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109728. 0378-3774 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/4784 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109728 Deficit irrigation affects fruit quality, production and resource allocation of ‘d’Anjou’ and ‘Bartlett’ pear trees