The effect of partial root drying on growth and ions content and distribution on tomato

Abstract

Partial root drying (PRD) is a new irrigation and growing plants technique which improves the water use efficiency without significant yield reduction. The aim of the presented paper was to investigate the effect of PRD on tomato plant growth, water-use efficiency (WUE) and ions content and distribution in tomato organs. Obtained results showed that as a consequence of PRD treatment the growth of the whole plants was reduced, but not fruit, although WUE was increased. Water potential values of PRD plants did not differ significantly from those of well-watered plants. These results support the hypothesis that a root-sourced signal and not a leaf-sourced signal may be responsible for triggering growth reduction in these PRD plants. Data for ions content (N, P, Ca, Mn, Zn and Cu) and their distribution between roots, shoots and fruits showed that PRD treatment only significantly changed N content in the shoots.