Digital Commons Network^™

Fruit Tree Responses To Water Stress: Automated Physiological Measurements And Rootstock Responses, William D. Wheeler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

New orchard plantings utilize trees grafted to dwarfing rootstocks planted close together to facilitate larger harvests. These dwarfing rootstocks have not been comprehensively studied for their ability to withstand drought. This is of special importance in the Intermountain West which has limited rainfall. Additionally, orchard growers face competition for water from a growing population and increased uncertainty in rainfall from climate change. My research examined the use of dendrometers, which measure changes in trunk diameter, and sap flow sensors, which measure how quickly sap moves, as methods to inform growers about tree water status. I also used a weighing lysimeter …

Validation Of Tissue Nutrient Status For Tart Cherry (Prunus Cerasus) And Peach (Prunus Persica) In Utah, Emily Tsai

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fruit tree nutrition requirements change during the growing season as buds form, shoots grow, fruit sets, and internal reserves are filled. Nutrient concentrations in plant tissues are directly correlated with the nutritional status and productivity of fruit trees. Plant tissue testing is used to effectively and accurately determine the nutritional status of perennial plants. Tissue test analyses were performed on tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) and peach (Prunus persica) leaves to validate tissue sufficiency levels used in Utah and to determine optimal timing of tissue sampling for prediction of harvest nutrient status, focusing on phosphorus (P), potassium …

Effect Of Gibberellic Acid And Chilling On Nucleic Acids During Germination Of Dormant Peach Seed, Yuh-Nan Lin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A study of nucleic acid changes influenced by gibberellic acid and chilling treatments in peach seed was performed in an attempt to reach a better understanding of the mechanism involved in breaking seed dormancy.

Gibberellic acid and the chilling treatment increased the RNA content. These two treatments which break dormancy also increased RNA, suggesting a similar mechanism involving RNA. Chilled seeds contained more RNA than did the gibberellic acid treated seeds.

DNA content remained unchanged regardless of treatment.

Dry seed had a greater ribonuclease activity than with soaked seeds. Enzyme changes did not correlate well with the RNA content in …

The Effect Of Changing Temperatures On Hardiness, Respiration, And Intensity Of Rest Of Dormant Peach And Apricot Buds, Anthony H. Hatch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

studies were conducted to better understand the influence of temperature on the rest period of dormant peach and apricot buds. Gleason Elberta peach and Chinese apricot trees in the field at Howell Experiment Station in Ogden were used to evaluate rest intensity, respiration, and cold hardiness in relation to temperature.

A rest intensity curve was obtained for both species using various concentrations of gibberellic acid. It was found that temperature had no direct effect on the depth of rest and that the depth of rest had no measurable influence on respiration and cold hardiness.

Respiration of flower and leaf buds …

A Study Of Amino Acid, Protein, Organic Acid And Carbohydrate Changes Occurring During Germination Of Peach Seeds, Lee Chao

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Conditions required for seed germination are different among species. Some seed of tropical and subtropical plants may germinate before the maturation of their fleshy fruit, e.g. papaya species, while seed from most deciduous trees have a period of after-ripening before germination. The after-ripening period, also referred to as rest or dormancy has also been observed in some vegetable crops and ornamental flowers.

Physio-Chemical Changes In Relation To The Rest Period Of Peach And Apricot Trees, Hussein Ibrahim El-Mansy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many plants require exposure to low temperature for a certain period during each year. This was determined more than a century ago. Understanding this phenomenon, known as the rest period, is part of a larger problem of understanding the factors which determine the ability of an organism to grow. The property of rest is ultimately a property of the actively growing cells, rather than that of the cells involved with protection and support.