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Grundlagen der Reaktion von Apfelbäumen auf Wurzelschnitt – eine Übersicht

Elements of the responses of apple trees to root pruning – a review

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Zusammenfassung

Wurzelschnitt (WS) zur Verminderung des Triebwachstums führt zu widerspruchsvollen Ergebnissen und hat unvermeidliche Nebenwirkungen. Für zuverlässige Vorhersagen über die Reaktion von Apfelbäumen auf WS fehlen noch weitgehend die theoretischen Grundlagen. Hier wird die Auffassung vertreten, dass der WS primär einen Eingriff in pflanzliche Regelungsvorgänge darstellt: Verminderte Zufuhr von Cytokininen (Ck) aus den Wurzeln → verminderte Gibberellinaktivität in den Trieben → eingeschränktes Wachstum und verminderte Auxinbildung der Triebe → geringere Hemmung des Wurzelwachstums und eingeschränkte Nährstoffkonkurrenz der Triebe → erneuter Anstieg von Wurzelwachstum, Ck-Zufuhr aus den Wurzeln und Gibberellinaktivität der Triebe → u. U. erneutes Triebwachstum. Entscheidend für die Verminderung des Triebwachstums und die verschiedenen Nebenwirkungen des WS ist offenbar die anfängliche Senkung der Gibberellinaktivität. Deren Umfang hängt neben dem Maß und Zeitpunkt des WS von inneren und äußeren Wachstumsbedingungen ab. Sind diese optimal, wirkt der WS nur sehr beschränkt, weil erneute Wurzelbildung und starkes Wurzelwachstum die Verringerung der Gibberellinaktivität nachfolgend rasch wieder aufheben. Für eine generelle Empfehlung des WS als Bestandteil einer Strategie der Wachstumsberuhigung fehlen die Voraussetzungen.

Abstract

Root pruning in order to reduce shoot growth is characterized by inconsistent results and has unavoidable side effects. The theoretical basis for reliable predictions of apple tree's responses to root pruning is still largely missing. Here it is proposed that root pruning primarily interferes with the plant's mechanism of growth control: Reduced provision of cytokinins by the roots → reduced activity of shoot gibberellins → limited shoot growth and reduced auxin formation by the shoots → less inhibition of root growth and less shoot competition for carbohydrates → renewed root formation, cytokinin supply by the roots and shoot gibberellin activity → probably renewed shoot growth. Obviously, the initially reduced activity of gibberellins is crucial for the reduction of shoot growth and the various side-effects of root pruning. It depends – next to the extent and timing of root pruning – on the endogenous and external growing conditions. If these are optimal, the effect of root pruning is very limited as renewed root formation and vigorous root growth subsequently soon abolish the reduction of gibberellin activity. For a general recommendation of root pruning as part of a strategy of growth control, the prerequisites are missing.

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    M. Saure

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Saure, M. Grundlagen der Reaktion von Apfelbäumen auf Wurzelschnitt – eine Übersicht. Erwerbs-Obstbau 49, 37–43 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-007-0033-0

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