The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York
Rapid apple decline is a phenomenon characterized by a weakening of young apple trees in high density orchards, often followed by their quick collapse. The nature of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this work, we investigated the root system architecture (RSA) of declining and non-declining apple...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/14/2644 |
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| author | Alicia Serrano Anna Wunsch Jean Sabety Janet van Zoeren Michael Basedow Mario Miranda Sazo Marc Fuchs Awais Khan |
| author_facet | Alicia Serrano Anna Wunsch Jean Sabety Janet van Zoeren Michael Basedow Mario Miranda Sazo Marc Fuchs Awais Khan |
| author_sort | Alicia Serrano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rapid apple decline is a phenomenon characterized by a weakening of young apple trees in high density orchards, often followed by their quick collapse. The nature of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this work, we investigated the root system architecture (RSA) of declining and non-declining apple trees in two orchards in New York State. High-density orchard A consisted of 4-year-old ‘Honeycrisp’ on ‘Malling 9 Nic29’, and conventional orchard B consisted of 8-year-old ‘Fuji’ on ‘Budagovsky 9’. In both orchards, a negative correlation (−0.4–−0.6) was observed between RSA traits and decline symptoms, suggesting that declining trees have weaker root systems. Scion trunk diameter at the graft union, total root length, and the length of fine and coarse roots were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) reduced in declining trees in both orchards. Additionally, internal trunk necrosis at, above, and below the graft union was observed in declining trees in orchard A but not in orchard B. Finally, latent viruses were not associated with decline, as their occurrence was documented in declining and non-declining trees in orchard A, but not in orchard B. Together, these results showed weakened root systems of declining trees, suggesting that these trees may experience deficiencies in water and nutrient uptake, although distinct RSA and trunk health traits between the two orchards were noticeable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:42:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1267a633be5640dd9b4764c911440851 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:42:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-1267a633be5640dd9b4764c9114408512023-11-18T21:00:00ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-07-011214264410.3390/plants12142644The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New YorkAlicia Serrano0Anna Wunsch1Jean Sabety2Janet van Zoeren3Michael Basedow4Mario Miranda Sazo5Marc Fuchs6Awais Khan7Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USAPlant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USAPlant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USACornell Cooperative Extension, Lake Ontario Fruit Program, Albion, NY 14411, USACornell Cooperative Extension, Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USACornell Cooperative Extension, Lake Ontario Fruit Program, Albion, NY 14411, USAPlant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USAPlant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USARapid apple decline is a phenomenon characterized by a weakening of young apple trees in high density orchards, often followed by their quick collapse. The nature of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this work, we investigated the root system architecture (RSA) of declining and non-declining apple trees in two orchards in New York State. High-density orchard A consisted of 4-year-old ‘Honeycrisp’ on ‘Malling 9 Nic29’, and conventional orchard B consisted of 8-year-old ‘Fuji’ on ‘Budagovsky 9’. In both orchards, a negative correlation (−0.4–−0.6) was observed between RSA traits and decline symptoms, suggesting that declining trees have weaker root systems. Scion trunk diameter at the graft union, total root length, and the length of fine and coarse roots were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) reduced in declining trees in both orchards. Additionally, internal trunk necrosis at, above, and below the graft union was observed in declining trees in orchard A but not in orchard B. Finally, latent viruses were not associated with decline, as their occurrence was documented in declining and non-declining trees in orchard A, but not in orchard B. Together, these results showed weakened root systems of declining trees, suggesting that these trees may experience deficiencies in water and nutrient uptake, although distinct RSA and trunk health traits between the two orchards were noticeable.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/14/2644<i>Malus domestica</i>rapid apple declinerootstockroot traitslatent viruses |
| spellingShingle | Alicia Serrano Anna Wunsch Jean Sabety Janet van Zoeren Michael Basedow Mario Miranda Sazo Marc Fuchs Awais Khan The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York Plants <i>Malus domestica</i> rapid apple decline rootstock root traits latent viruses |
| title | The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York |
| title_full | The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York |
| title_fullStr | The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York |
| title_short | The Comparative Root System Architecture of Declining and Non-Declining Trees in Two Apple Orchards in New York |
| title_sort | comparative root system architecture of declining and non declining trees in two apple orchards in new york |
| topic | <i>Malus domestica</i> rapid apple decline rootstock root traits latent viruses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/14/2644 |
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