project - Research and innovation
APMed - Managing Water Scarcity in Apple and Peach Orchards in a Mediterranean environment for Profitable Fruit Production and Exploring its Interest
APMed - Managing Water Scarcity in Apple and Peach Orchards in a Mediterranean environment for Profitable Fruit Production and Exploring its Interest
Objectives
NA
Objectives
The main issue afforded is how water restriction can be managed in Apple and Peach orchards. Research has been carried out i) to deepen our knowledge of the genetic ability of apple and peach to survive in water stressed environment and ii) to to better define irrigation thresholds to reduce water use while maintaining high fruit quality
Activities
Studies have been carried out on a large range of genotypes, especially on progenies so to get a broad view of the genetic variability of morphological and ecophysiological (at leaf and xylem hydraulics levels) traits. This aspect, developed in the Apple only, has provided a contribution to marker assisted selection on these traits. - Research on the right irrigation thresholds to apply in the two species has been done using appropriate plant water stress indicators and taking into account crop load and the phenological cycle.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other EU research and development funds
- Agricultural sectors
- Fruits
EUR 1 million
Total budget
Total contributions including EU funding.
1 Practice Abstracts
Results showed how in peach and apple water and N supply can be significantly reduced without afftecting yield and quality compared to the actual amounts of water and N commonly used by growers. Reduction in water and N management reduces some post-harvest diseases. Studies on the relationships between crop load and crop water needs were carried out. Results provided improved thresholds to adjust crop load depending on the water available. Also, results demonstrated how 50% shading significantly reduced water use in apple orchards without decreasing yields
Contacts
Brunella Morandi
brunella.morandi@unibo.it
Project coordinator
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INRA (France)
Project coordinator
Project partners
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IRTA (Spain)
Project partner
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UNIBO (Italy)
Project partner
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Golan research centre (Israel)
Project partner
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INRA Kenitra, Morocco
Project partner
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ENA Meknes, Morocco
Project partner