JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3): 147-156.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202107039

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Effects of soil water content on leaf physiology and fruit quality of blueberry

SONG Zejun(), LI Peipei, YUAN Lanfang, GUO Xiaolan, WANG Delu()   

  1. College of Forestry,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025, China
  • Received:2021-07-28 Revised:2021-11-08 Online:2023-05-30 Published:2023-05-25
  • Contact: WANG Delu E-mail:1049356837@qq.com;1539349567@qq.com

Abstract:

【Objective】 The effects of soil water content on the leaf physiology and fruit quality of blueberries were studied. 【Method】 In this study, a 5-year-old Vaccinium ashei plant was used to analyze the effects of different soil water content on the plant physiology and fruit quality of blueberries using a manual control test. 【Result】 The results showed that the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline and soluble sugar in blueberry leaves initially decreased and then increased with an increase in soil water content, while the activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed an “M”-type trend, and the chlorophyll content initially increased and then decreased. The single fruit weight of blueberry fruits showed an “S”-type change trend, the contents of anthocyanin and vitamin C (VC) in fruits increased initially and then decreased, and the content of soluble solids (SSC) decreased initially and then increased. The leaf physiology and fruit quality of blueberries were significantly affected when the soil relative water content was lower than 35%-40% or higher than 95%. The MDA, proline and soluble sugar contents in the leaves significantly increased; however, the chlorophyll and SOD contents decreased, and the chlorophyll content decreased significantly. The accumulation of anthocyanins and VC in fruits decreased significantly, whereas SSC increased. The weight of the blueberry fruits increased with soil water content. When the soil water content reached 65%-70%, the weight of the blueberry fruits did not increase significantly. Based on the membership function method, a soil moisture content of 65%-70% was considered suitable for the blueberry growth. Among the four blueberry varieties, the difference between the normal growth gradient of ‘Gardenblue’and ‘Baldwin’ in T3 treatment (65%-70%) and strong stress conditions of T1 (35%-40%) and T5 (95%-100%) was greater than that of ‘Brightwell’ and ‘S13’.‘Gardenblue’ and ‘Baldwin’ had slightly lower stress resistance to soil water, while ‘Brightwell’ and ‘S13’ had slightly better stress resistance. In the fruit growing stage, the increasing soil water content was beneficial to improve the quality of ‘Gardenblue’ and ‘Brightwell’ fruits. A comprehensive analysis showed that plants of all varieties were in the optimum water environment in T3 treatment. 【Conclusion】 Both too high and too low soil water content could affect the physiological and biochemical characteristics of blueberry leaves and fruit quality. Considering the requirements of the high yield and fruit quality, the optimal soil water content was 65%-70%.

Key words: blueberry, soil water content, physiological index, fruit quality, Guizhou

CLC Number: