Late Water Deficits Improve Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency, Fruit Maturity, and Acceptability in Yellow-Fleshed Kiwifruit cv. Soreli.

ABSTRACT: Water scarcity poses a significant threat to kiwifruit production, especially in Mediterranean climates. This study investigated the impact of late-season regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on water use efficiency and fruit quality of yellow-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis cv. Soreli) over two seasons in central Chile. Four irrigation treatments were applied during fruit ripening: full irrigation (Control), moderate deficits for three or five weeks (D50S and D50L), and complete irrigation suspension for three weeks (D100). While D100 had minimal impact on stomatal conductance, it significantly reduced stem and leaf water potentials, indicating severe water stress. D100 treatment also showed the highest intrinsic water use efficiency (via δ13C enrichment) and improved water pr

SUBMITTER: Calderon-Orellana A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12473459 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature