Scientific conference: 1st International Symposium on Flowering, Fruit-set and Alternate Bearing, 18-23-Jun-2017; Palermo, Italy: Ecophysiology - the plant's adaptivity to changing environments

ABSTRACT
Temperate and (sub)tropical fruit trees are frequently exposed to changing environments, evoked by
climatic factors or crop management practices. Fruit crops possess tremendous phenotypic plasticity, allowing them to respond sensitively to a range of environmental conditions by their ability to change certain traits. Such acclimatization capacity is associated with specific physiological and biochemical mechanisms such as CO2 assimilation, mineral uptake, synthesis of hormones and proteins or expression of regulator genes. Endogenous plant factors ultimately affect various plant developmental processes.
However, our factual understanding of ecophysiological mechanisms is still limited: Which
environmental signals control specific plant processes, how are those signals perceived and
transduced to bring about the developmental changes associated with, for example, flowering, fruit
set and fruit abscission? Answers to these questions will provide the basis for the development of
effective and reliable practical tools for crop manipulation, ensuring that genetically intrinsic fruit
properties can be expressed at their full potential.
This review attempts to offer some explanation on how these developmental processes in apple and
mango are inhibited or promoted by signals formed within the tree in response to a complex
combination of plant status, abiotic factors and crop management practices. Ecophysiological plant
responses will be discussed particularly in relation to plant hormones, carbohydrates and related
gene activation.

Details

Activity type

Participation in scientific conference

Activity work package

Secure sustainable fruit production

Activity number

UHOH-WP1-A28

Activity contact

Prof. Dr. Jens Wünsche

Activity partner

Universität Hohenheim

Activity country

Germany

Last edit

02-11-2017