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Delay of early fruitlet abscission by branch girdling in citrus coincides with previous increases in carbohydrate and gibberellin concentrations

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Abstract

Current evidence in citrus indicates that gibberellins (GAs) are main determinants of early fruit set while subsequent growth of developing fruits is mostly dependent upon carbohydrate availability. In this work, branch girdling performed at anthesis in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu (Mak.) Marc.) cv. Okitsu transitorily reduced early abscission rates (12–32 days after anthesis, DAA) delaying initially the process of natural fruitlet drop. The effects of girdling on growth, gibberellin (GA) and carbohydrate concentrations in developing ovaries and fruitlets were assessed during this initial growth stage (0–69 DAA). In girdled branches, abscission rate reduction was preceded by elevated concentrations of carbohydrate and GA in developing ovaries and fruitlets. Girdling at anthesis stimulated higher hexose (21 DAA) and starch (6–20 DAA) concentrations and also higher GA1 (6 DAA), GA19 (13–20 DAA) and GA20 (6–20 DAA). The results established a relationship between the reduction of early abscission rates and higher concentrations of carbohydrates and GAs induced by girdling in developing fruitlets. These findings revealed that girdling certainly increased GA concentration and strongly suggested that its effect on early fruitlet abscission delay is likely mediated by both GA and carbohydrates.

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Abbreviations

cv:

Cultivar

DAA:

Days after anthesis

DW:

Dry weight

GAs:

Gibberellins

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias through grants RTA04-013 and RTA05-247.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Suelosy Riegos, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Apdo. 60, E-38200, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    Jalel Mahouachi

  2. Centro de Genómica, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, E-46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain

    Domingo J. Iglesias & Manuel Talon

  3. Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, E-46022, Valencia, Spain

    Manuel Agustí

Authors
  1. Jalel Mahouachi
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  2. Domingo J. Iglesias
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  3. Manuel Agustí
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  4. Manuel Talon
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Correspondence to Jalel Mahouachi.

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Mahouachi, J., Iglesias, D.J., Agustí, M. et al. Delay of early fruitlet abscission by branch girdling in citrus coincides with previous increases in carbohydrate and gibberellin concentrations. Plant Growth Regul 58, 15–23 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-008-9348-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-008-9348-6

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