The Influence of Cutting Roots on the Growth and Fruiting of ‘Top Group’ Plum Cultivars

The influence of cutting roots on the growth and fruiting of ‘top group’ plum cultivars (‘Topfirst’, ‘Topfive’, ‘Toptaste’, ‘Tophit’ and ‘Topend Plus’), under the pedoclimatic conditions of Sînmihaiu Almasului, in the centre of Transylvania, Romania, in 2017-2018, was studied. The trees were grafted on Saint Julien rootstock, trained as Zahn Spindel and the orchard had a density of 1000 trees/ha. Roots were cut twice, at 40 cm distance from the trunk, in an angle of 45° and 30 cm depth, as followed: first time in the autumn during the fall of leaves, on one side of the row and the second time in spring, at blooming time, on the other side of the row. The measurements were done each year after the leaves have been fallen. There were made observations on some growth parameters (length of shoots, height of trees, trunk sectional area, the fruits and vegetative branches ratio) and fructification (average yield for 2017-2018 period, and was determined the productivity index). The treatments influenced the shoot growth, height of the trees, cumulative yield, trunk cross sectional area, the ratio of the yield to a trunk sectional area, with differences statistically assured. Root pruning reduced the average length of shoots. The longest shoots, in mean values, gave the unpruned root variant (131.0 cm). Root pruning decreased the average length of annual growth (51.1 cm). The biggest average trunk cross sectional area with the unpruned root system was obtained (58.7 cm2). Also root pruning influenced the height of the trees. The best cumulative yield was obtained in the variant of root pruning system (28.75 t/ha) followed by the unpruned root system (25.87 t/ha). Finally, root pruning increased productivity. The biggest value was registered in ‘Tophit’ in the root pruned variant (0.73 kg/cm2). The lowest value of productivity index was obtained in the unpruned system

INFLUENCE FERTILIZATION SYSTEM UPON YIELD AND THE FRUIT QUALITY IN STRAWBERRY

In recent years concern for organic food and combat drought in crops received increasingly higher attention. Under assessment was the productive value of 6 foreign strawberry cultivars : ‘Alba’, ‘Aprica’, ‘Clery’, ‘Joly’, ‘Fortuna’ and ‘Malling. The cultivars were evaluated in terms of productive value in organic and chemical fertilization. It was noted that organic fertilization has a high influence

Influence of Mahaleb and Gisela 5 Rootstocks on the Growth of „Bigarreau Burlat†Sweet Cherry Cultivar

Abstract. The influence of Prunus Mahaleb L. and ‘Gisela 5’ rootstocks on the growth of ‘Biggareau Burlat’ sweet cherry cultivar was evaluate on the environmental conditions of Cluj-Napoca city, in 2015, in a high-density plot (trees are planted at the distance of 4 x 1.5 m) with 1666 trees/ha, trained as spindle busch, with trellis system and drip fert-irigation provided. The measurements were done in April, on 10 trees of the cultivar grafted on different rootstock, in the 4th year after planting. The trunck diameter growth was measured 5 cm above the graft, and it was also recorded the number and length of annual increases (long, medium and spur fruiting branches) and calculated the tree height. After first four years from planting, ‘Biggareau Burlat’ grafted on ‘Gisela 5’ rootstock proved to be more vigorously than grafted on Prunus Mahaleb L., considering the total numbers of the medium and long branches per tree. ‘Biggareau Burlat’/Gisela 5, compared to ‘Biggareau Burlat’/P. Mahaleb significantly exceeded in the number of medium branches (4.7 comparatively to 3), number of long branches on the tree (17.2 comparatively to 7.9), number of inflorescences buds (74.7 comparatively to 41.3)  and the total length of annual tree branches

Mulch Effects on Three Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Grown in Container

Weed problems were reported in almost all production areas, and management of competing unwanted vegetation has long been an issue for commercial growers all around the world. A field trial was set up in 2016 in Bologa, Cluj county, Romania, in order to examine the influence that different mulches have on weed control, crop growth, yield and soil properties. Weed management is critical for successful production of blueberries. The use of herbicides is becoming increasingly limited, the cost and availability of manual labor are prohibitive factors. There was little research comparing different production strategies in container grown blueberries. The main objective was finding a cost effective weed suppression method that increases yield, promotes vegetative growth and fruit quality. Organic matter (OM) was 6% higher in pine bark treatment compared with weed mat, the pH was not influenced in a significant way by any of the treatments. The number of shoots was higher in pine bark treatment, 1.67 on average, compared to weed mat treatment where the number of shoots was 1.45 this might lead to an increase of production in the following years for pine bark

Investigation of salinity tolerance to different cultivars of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) grown in vitro

Salinity is one of the most critical abiotic stresses affecting various physiological, biochemical, and molecular functions of plants. This study aimed to assess the effects of different salt concentrations on in vitro blueberry shoots (‘Bluecrop’, ‘Blueray’, ‘Brigitta Blue’, ‘Duke’, ‘Goldtraube’, ‘Hortblue Petite’, and ‘Patriot’ cultivars) and to understand the mechanisms employed by this species under saline conditions. The Woody Plant Medium (WPM) proliferation medium was supplemented with 10, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl to induce salt stress. After ten weeks of in vitro culture under salinity stress, various parameters were evaluated, including the number of shoots obtained/explant, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight, water content, stress tolerance index (STI), and McKinney index (MKI). Additionally, the behaviour of blueberry cultivars under salt stress was analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Compared to the control (culture medium without NaCl), all treatments with NaCl reduced shoot length and the number of shoots obtained/explant in all studied blueberry cultivars. ‘Brigitta Blue’ reported the shortest shoots (0.04 ± 0.02 cm) at a concentration of 150 mM NaCl, followed by ‘Blueray’ with 0.05 ± 0.03 cm. Also, the lowest number of shoots/explant was recorded for both cultivars under 150 mM NaCl, namely 0.12 ± 0.07 shoots/explant (‘Brigitta Blue’) and 0.11 ± 0.04 shoots/explant (‘Blueray’). Salt tolerance, as expressed by ITS and MKI, confirmed that ‘Goldtraube’ exhibited higher salt tolerance, with the highest ITS values and the lowest MKI values. Further validation presented ‘Goldtraube’ as the most unresolved spectra of the Mn (II) hyperfine structure under all salt concentrations, therefore ‘Goldtraube’ was the most tolerant to saline stress

Copeptin is associated with mortality and outcome in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for a high mortality and morbidity. Early prediction of outcome is crucial for optimized care and treatment decision. Copeptin, the C-terminal part of provasopressin, has emerged as a new prognostic marker in a variety of diseases, but its prognostic value in ICH is unknown

Response of the Five Highbush Blueberry Cultivars to In Vitro Induced Drought Stress by Polyethylene Glycol

Stress caused by drought is an important factor that affects the growth and development of highbush blueberry plants. In vitro screening for drought stress tolerance is of major importance in identifying cultivars that have optimal stress tolerance and productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of five in vitro-grown highbush blueberry cultivars (Bluecrop, Brigitta Blue, Duke, Goldtraube and Hortblue Petite) under drought stress. Five concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), 0 g/L, 10 g/L, 20 g/L, 30 g/L, 40 g/L, 50 g/L, were applied to induce drought stress in the culture media. Significant differences were found in shoot length and number, proliferation rate, fresh weight, dry weight, water content, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. Drought stress had a negative impact on shoots length, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content for all highbush blueberry varieties. The conclusion of the study highlights that Goldtraube had the highest drought tolerance efficiency, followed by Bluecrop, Hortblue Petite, Duke, and Brigitta Blue

Response of the Five Highbush Blueberry Cultivars to In Vitro Induced Drought Stress by Polyethylene Glycol

Stress caused by drought is an important factor that affects the growth and development of highbush blueberry plants. In vitro screening for drought stress tolerance is of major importance in identifying cultivars that have optimal stress tolerance and productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of five in vitro-grown highbush blueberry cultivars (Bluecrop, Brigitta Blue, Duke, Goldtraube and Hortblue Petite) under drought stress. Five concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), 0 g/L, 10 g/L, 20 g/L, 30 g/L, 40 g/L, 50 g/L, were applied to induce drought stress in the culture media. Significant differences were found in shoot length and number, proliferation rate, fresh weight, dry weight, water content, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. Drought stress had a negative impact on shoots length, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content for all highbush blueberry varieties. The conclusion of the study highlights that Goldtraube had the highest drought tolerance efficiency, followed by Bluecrop, Hortblue Petite, Duke, and Brigitta Blue