Phosphorus fertilization induces nectar secretion for honeybee visitation and cross-pollination of almond trees.
J Exp Bot
; 72(8): 3307-3319, 2021 04 02.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33571995
ABSTRACT
Precise phosphorus (P) application requires a mechanistic understanding of mineral effects on crop biology and physiology. Photosynthate assimilation, metabolism, and transport require phosphorylation, and we postulated that P is critical for the bloom and fruit-set of almond trees that rely on stored carbohydrate reserves. Hence, we studied the growth, physiology and carbohydrate dynamics in 2-year-old almond trees irrigated with P concentrations between 1 mg l-1 and 20 mg l-1. Almond trees attained maximal photosynthesis, transpiration, and growth by 6 mg P l-1 irrigation. Nevertheless, almond trees continued to extract P in 10 mg P l-1 and 15 mg P l-1 irrigations, which corresponded to larger yields. We attributed the augmented productivity to increased fruit-set (59% between 6 mg P l-1 and 15 mg P l-1), caused by more frequent (29%) honeybee visits. High P improved pollinator visitation by enabling almond trees to utilize more of their starch reserves for nectar secretion (which increased by ~140% between 6 mg P l-1 and 15 mg P l-1). This work elucidates the benefits of P fertilization to plant-pollinator mutualism, critical to almond productivity, and reveals novel indices for optimal P application in almond orchards.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Polinización
/
Prunus dulcis
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Exp Bot
Asunto de la revista:
BOTANICA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Israel