Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (8): 1680-1693.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20241017

• Horticultural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of interstock on leaf photosynthetic characteristics, physicochemical properties and fruit quality of three mandarin hybrids

HE Shixiong1,2(), YANG Lei1, QI Anmin3, CHENG Ji4, WANG Min1, LI Yingkui1, HONG Lin1,*()   

  1. 1. Fruit Research Institute, Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing 401329, China
    2. Guang’an Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Guang’an 638000, Sichuan, Sichuan, China
    3. Yunyang County Development Center of Fruit Industry, Chongqing 404500, China
    4. Kaizhou District Agricultural Development Service Center, Chongqing 405400, China
  • Received:2024-11-25 Online:2025-08-25 Published:2025-09-03
  • Contact: HONG Lin

Abstract:

To evaluate the effects of interstock on the photosynthesis, physiological and biochemical properties, mineral elements, and fruit quality of three mandarin hybrids, using Licheng(single interstock) and Licheng/Ehime 28 (combined interstock) as interstocks for grafting the Tango, Harumi and Orah cultivars, we analyzed leaf photosynthetic pigments contents, soluble sugar content, starch content, diurnal photosynthetic variation, stress-related enzyme activity, mineral element content, as well as fruit quality indicators such as soluble solids, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content. Principal component analysis(PCA) was used to evaluate the overall performance of each scion-rootstock combination. The results showed that photosynthetic efficiency varied significantly among the different varieties, while the diurnal curves of net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) showed no significant differences among varieties with different interstocks, but the combined interstock significantly increased the Pn of Orah and Harumi in the morning, with peak values being 13.40% and 10.85% higher, respectively. The interstock type influenced the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content in the leaves of the hybrid citrus varieties. The soluble sugar and starch contents in the leaves of all three varieties were higher on the combined interstock than those on the single interstock. The combined interstock increased the accumulation of total phenols and soluble proteins in the leaves while reducing phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity. Compared with activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), the activities of catalase (CAT), β-1,3-glucanase (β-1,3-GA), exochitinase and endochitinase were more significantly affected by the interstock treatment. Compared with the single interstock, the combined interstock increased the content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) in the leaves of Orah and Harumi while decreased the content of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The variation in the micronutrient iron(Fe) content was the most pronounced between the two interstocks, followed by Zn and B. Additionally, the soluble solids contents in the fruits of Tango and Harumi were higher on the single interstock, whereas the combined interstock resulted in lower titratable acidity and vitamin C content but a higher solid-acid ratio in all three varieties. The different interstocks had varying effects on the photosynthesis, physiological biochemistry, stress resistance-related enzyme activity, mineral element accumulation, and fruit quality of the grafted varieties. The combined interstock enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugars, starch, and total phenols while reduced PAL activity, which resulted in lower fruit acidity. Through comprehensive evaluation, it was found that Harumi and Orah grafted on the combined interstock performed better than those on the single interstock, whereas Tango showed the opposite trend.

Key words: interstock, mandarin hybrid, physicochemical property, photosynthetic characteristic, mineral element, fruit quality

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