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Seasonal Changes in the Photosynthetic Rate in Apple Trees ¹

A Comparison between Fruiting and Nonfruiting Trees

Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6414

Seasonal changes in photosynthesis of apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) were monitored to examine the effect of source-sink interactions on photosynthesis and photorespiration. Elevated photosynthetic rates were observed during two periods of the growing season and correlated with the fruiting process. The first period of increased photosynthetic rates was during the bloom period, when spur leaves on flowering shoots exhibited up to 25% higher photosynthetic rates than vegetative spur leaves on a leaf area basis. CO₂ assimilation rates were also higher in fruiting trees than nonfruiting trees during the period of rapid fruit growth from July to September. Photorespiration, dark respiration, leaf resistance, and transpiration exhibited no seasonal changes which correlated to the presence or absence of fruit. These data represent the first comprehensive examination of the effects of flowering/fruit formation on photosynthesis and photorespiration in perennial plants.

³ Present address: Department of Horticulture, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 4321.

¹ Supported by Columbia River Orchard Foundation and National Science Foundation Grant PCM-83-04978. Scientific Paper No. 7059, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164.

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