Root to Shoot Relations in an Annual Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Production System

Abstract

Low yields have been observed in annual production systems in raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) compared with annual yields in perennial systems. This yield reduction could be related to a depletion of root carbohydrates and its consequent detrimental effect on fruit number or size. Additionally, primocanes could play an important role in the carbohydrate dynamics in an annual system and may also affect yield. Two experiments were carried out in 2003 and 2004 to determine the importance of root carbohydrates and primocanes in fruiting and yield components of ‘Tulameen’ red raspberry in an annual production system. In the 2003 experiment, girdled floricanes were compared with nongirdled controls. Girdling before bloom decreased fruits per cane and consequently yield per cane compared with controls, whereas girdling at the end of bloom had no effect. Root dry weight accumulation at the end of the fruiting season was significantly less in both early and late girdled compared with nongirdled plants. In 2004, floricanes were completely girdled or nongirdled at midflowering. Additionally, three primocanes were permitted to grow in one-half of the nongirdled and girdled plants, whereas primocanes were completely removed from the other half. Girdling and removal of all primocanes resulted in 100% plant mortality. In the presence of primocanes, floricane girdling had no effect on yield compared with the nongirdled treatments. There was a reduction in root dry weight in the nongirdled + primocane removal treatment compared with the treatments in which three primocanes were present. In the presence of primocanes, however, root dry weights were similar in both girdled and nongirdled plants. These results suggest that root carbohydrates are important in determining fruit number and yield in the annual system, and reductions in root carbohydrate during early flowering results in decreased yield. However, roots appear to quickly convert from source to sink status, and as the season progresses, both floricanes and primocanes act as sources to replenish root carbohydrate reserves. Carbohydrate dynamics appear to be similar between the annual production system and the traditional perennial system; however, because the annual system begins with limited carbohydrate reserves resulting from root pruning that occurs during removal from the nursery, yields are lower than those seen in perennial systems.