Affiliation:
1. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
2. Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible en el Oasis (IASO), Universidad Nacional de Chilecito (UNdeC), Chilecito 5360, Argentina
3. Instituto de Ambiente de Montaña y Regiones Áridas (IAMRA), Universidad Nacional de Chilecito (UNdeC), Chilecito 5360, Argentina
4. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta, Mendoza 5567, Argentina
Abstract
Walnut cultivation is expanding into regions where water availability for irrigation is lower than crop evapotranspiration. However, information regarding the responses and adaptations of walnut trees to water deficit remains scarce. In this study, we applied three irrigation levels, 100%, 75%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration (referred to as T100, T75, and T50, respectively), to Chandler walnut trees over two consecutive seasons. During the second season, we evaluated leaf water-deficit biomarkers, including proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, phenols, and flavonoids, using targeted spectrophotometry. Despite not finding significant differences in biomarker concentrations among the irrigation regimes, we observed variations between different collection times (sprouting, endocarp hardening, and maturity). Furthermore, we assessed the kernel metabolome using untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, profiling seventy-one metabolites across all samples. Notably, forty-one of these metabolites were identified as members of distinct groups, comprising carbohydrates (n = 11), fatty acids (n = 11), organic acids (n = 9), and amino acids (n = 5). Linear mixed models showed no significant differences between the irrigation regimes. However, in the T50 treatment, multivariate analysis (PCA) revealed a higher concentration of osmotic adjustment metabolites, which are potentially associated with protecting oil biosynthesis under high-temperature and water deficit conditions.
Funder
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Subject
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Geography, Planning and Development,Building and Construction
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