Acta Physiologiae Plantarum最新文献

{"title":"Biological control mitigates oxidative stress induced by Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) in cucumber plants","authors":"Gizele Martins Pinheiro,&nbsp;Naiara Antonia Nunes Vinhas,&nbsp;Wesley Borges Wurlitzer,&nbsp;Ana Caroline Zanella,&nbsp;Lucélia Hoehne,&nbsp;Maria Goreti De Almeida Oliveira,&nbsp;Julia Renata Schneider,&nbsp;Noeli Juarez Ferla","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03964-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03964-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Intensive cucumber cultivation favors the occurrence of pests, particularly <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), which causes damage to leaf tissues, impairing photosynthesis and cellular integrity. Management of this pest is commonly based on chemical control; however, this strategy may intensify oxidative stress in plants. In this context, biological control emerges as a sustainable alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chemical and biological control on oxidative stress in cucumber plants infested by <i>T. urticae</i>, assessing the action of the pesticide abamectin (Vertimec^®) and the predator <i>Neoseiulus californicus</i> (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on the modulation of oxidative responses and the maintenance of redox homeostasis. The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions with five experimental groups: untreated control plants, plants infested with <i>T. urticae</i>, infested plants subjected to biological control with <i>N. californicus</i>, infested plants treated with abamectin, and non-infested plants treated with abamectin. Photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress indicators, and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Biological control effectively suppressed mite populations while mitigating oxidative damage, whereas chemical control intensified oxidative response, with higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species and increased antioxidant enzyme activity, evidencing an additional metabolic cost to the plants. In contrast, biological control mitigated oxidative damage, maintaining lipid peroxidation levels and enzymatic activity similar to those observed in the control treatment. The use of <i>N. californicus</i> proved to be an efficient and environmentally sustainable strategy for managing <i>T. urticae</i> in cucumber cultivation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11738-026-03964-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148926338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of seed priming through different plant extracts on seed germination of Naga-King Chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)","authors":"Kime Tare,&nbsp;Rajesh Kumar,&nbsp;Amrit Lamichaney,&nbsp;Tshering Lhamu Sherpa,&nbsp;Koushik Baruah,&nbsp;Lomash Sharma,&nbsp;Sandhya Lamichaney","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03961-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03961-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Naga-King chilli suffers from poor and erratic seed germination, which affects its production and productivity as seedling germination and growth is a crucial and sensitive stage affecting overall crop yield. Considering the cultivation niches of Naga-King chili i.e. the Northeastern parts of India, which is characterized by eco-friendly and sustainable farming, there is a need to evaluate the natural plant extracts as a priming medium. It is aimed to improve seed germination and seedling growth using naturally occurring plant material without using any synthetic chemical. Considering this, the extracts from six locally available plants in Sikkim were used to prime the Naga-King chilli seeds and the performance was compared with check (GA₃). The results showed that <i>Alnus nepalensis</i> at 5% concentration gave superior results over all other treatments in the case of germination (2.44 days for first seed germination and 3.33 days for last seed germination; 98.00% mean germination percentage), seedling growth (3.77 and 5.47 number of leaves at 2 and 3 weeks after germination, respectively; 1.93 and 6.00 number of roots at 2 and 3 weeks after germination, respectively; 5.03, 6.83 and 8.27 cm shoot length at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after germination, respectively; 5.70, 7.66 and 8.50 cm root length after 1, 2 and 3 weeks after germination, respectively). The hydrolytic enzyme such as α-amylase and free radicals scavenging enzymes, such as peroxidase and catalase were also found superior in the same treatment, which are known to be involved in the inhibition of abscisic acid (ABA), which is responsible for seed dormancy and delay in seed germination. Therefore, ethanolic plant extracts at ≦ 5% concentration can be utilized for seed treatment of Naga-King Chilli to enhance seed germination, seedling growth and enzymatic activities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148838301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phosphorus efficiency in soybean genotypes: investigating morphological and physiological plant traits","authors":"Raissa Schwalbert,&nbsp;Lincon Stefanello,&nbsp;Gillian Fernandes,&nbsp;Rai Schwalbert,&nbsp;Matheus Kullmann,&nbsp;Alvaro Berghetti,&nbsp;Gerson Drescher,&nbsp;Anderson Marques,&nbsp;Gustavo Brunetto,&nbsp;Ignacio Ciampitti,&nbsp;Fernando Nicoloso","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03953-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03953-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to (i) classify soybean genotypes related to P uptake and utilization efficiencies and responsiveness to P supply; (ii) investigate plant morphological and physiological characteristics related to P efficiencies; and (iii) identify plant traits for selecting P–efficient genotypes. Sixteen soybean genotypes grew under deficient and sufficient P supply (10 and 100 µmol P L^− 1). Phosphorus absorption kinetic parameters, root morphology, growth, photosynthetic, and nutritional parameters were determined to investigate the P acquisition efficiency (PAE) and P utilization efficiency (PUE). Soybean genotypes with high PAE exhibited a twofold greater P influx, and approximately 25% lower values of both the Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) and the minimum solution concentration at which influx ceases (C_min) compared to low–PAE genotypes. Specifically, K_m values decreased from 0.66 to 0.68 in low-PAE genotypes to 0.52–0.59 in high–PAE genotypes, while C_min values decreased from 0.80 to 0.86 to 0.65–0.78, respectively. Genotypes with high PUE showed higher rates of net photosynthesis and electron transport, and leaf area, associated with lower light stress than low PUE genotypes. Only one soybean genotype (BMX 50i52 IPRO) was efficient in both acquisition and utilization of P, as well as responsive to P application. Leaf area may represent a promising trait for the initial screening of P-efficient soybean genotypes, although validation under soil and field conditions is still required. Our findings provide foundational knowledge for bioengineering soybean P–efficient genotypes, possibly assisting in reducing the overall reliance on P fertilization even more relevant under P impoverished environments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11738-026-03953-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148838200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enzymatic antioxidant properties and metabolite profiling of oil palm seedlings amended with combined bio-chemical fertilizer under infertile soil","authors":"Aaronn Avit Ajeng,&nbsp;Jie Xen Quek,&nbsp;Rosazlin Abdullah,&nbsp;Jamilah Syafawati Yaacob,&nbsp;Tau Chuan Ling,&nbsp;Zheng Yang Ng,&nbsp;Kuan Shiong Khoo","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03944-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03944-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Alleviating soil infertility and stress conditions faced by cash crops such as <i>E. guineensis</i> is not only important for enhancing plant survival but also provides insights into how sustainable nutrient management may help usher this industry into becoming greener in the face of changing climate. A previous 7-months greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various bio-chemical fertilization rates on oil palm seedlings. Leaves and roots samples were subjected to enzymatic antioxidant and untargeted metabolomics analyses via UPLC-TOF/MS. Notably, H₂O₂ levels in the roots of <i>E. guineensis</i> were discovered as an early defensive mechanism against nutrient shortage, playing a critical role in the plant’s overall survival. Higher scavenging activities were observed in seedlings amended with 30% IBG biofertilizer and 70% chemical fertilizer (CF70 + IBG30). Metabolite profiling using tandem mass spectrometry (MS²) through in-silico fragmentation in computer-assisted identification revealed potential compounds containing amino-, carboxyl-, and alcohol groups increased in intensity after the application of biofertilizer, which indicates the critical role of bioformulation in enhancing primary and secondary metabolism of the seedlings grown on infertile soil. These findings deepen our understanding of the physiological adaptations of <i>E. guineensis</i> under nutritional stress and also underscore the potential of IBG Biofertilizer in enhancing the metabolic profile and stress resilience of this economically significant plant species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterization of apple genotypes using iPBS markers: application in a limited geographical area","authors":"Begüm Terzi Aksoy,&nbsp;Fatma Özarslan,&nbsp;Özlem Ateş Sönmezoğlu","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03950-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03950-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Turkey hosts numerous local apple (<i>Malus × domestica</i> Borkh.) genotypes, many of which remain insufficiently characterized at the molecular level. In this study, the genetic diversity among 16 selected apple genotypes (including three commercial cultivars) collected from Karaman was evaluated using retrotransposon-based inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers. Among 17 tested primers, 13 were selected for their high polymorphism and reproducibility. PCR analyses yielded a total of 243 bands ranging from 170 to 4000 bp, of which 207 (85.1%) were found to be polymorphic. Genetic diversity indices, including Shannon’s information index (I = 0.50), Nei’s genetic diversity (h = 0.34), and the effective number of alleles (ne = 1.59), indicated a substantial level of variation. The relationships among genotypes were broadly consistent across UPGMA dendrogram, STRUCTURE analysis, and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), suggesting the presence of three main subpopulations. AMOVA results suggested that most of the genetic variation (86%) occurred within populations. The findings suggest that iPBS markers have potential for assessing genetic variation among local apple genotypes, and highlight the distinctiveness of certain local varieties, such as ‘Kokulu Misket’.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological, biochemical, and antioxidative responses of chickpea under drought stress: implications for growth recovery and stress tolerance mechanisms","authors":"Nazanin Miri,&nbsp;Mehdi Parsa,&nbsp;Saeedreza Vessal,&nbsp;Mohammad Khajeh-Hosseini","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03952-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03952-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Chickpea is sensitive to soil moisture during germination and seedling establishment; therefore, it is crucial to determine the drought tolerance threshold at each developmental stage to assess the duration required for plant recovery once drought stress is alleviated. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine moisture thresholds and evaluate the morphological and biochemical responses of a Kabuli chickpea genotype (MCC552) and cultivar (cv. JAM) to drought stress at different field capacities (FC), ranging from 5% to 40% FC in the laboratory and from 7.5% to 15% FC in the greenhouse. Sampling was conducted at multiple time points, including different days in the laboratory experiments (2, 4, 6, and 8 days in Phase I; 2, 4, and 6 days in Phase II), as well as during the pre- and post-recovery phases in the greenhouse. The MCC552 showed the highest root dry weight (RDW), root length (RL), and biomass allocation at 12.5% FC on day 6, whereas cv. JAM showed the highest shoot dry weight (SDW) under these conditions. Under drought stress, MCC552 also showed greater root dry matter allocation and stronger post-recovery growth than cv. JAM. In the post-recovery phase, root area (RA) in MCC552 increased 8.83-fold at 10% FC relative to the pre-recovery stage. Under 10% and 12.5% FC, MCC552 showed higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and proline levels, but lower electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA), than cv. JAM. Principal component analysis (PCA) biplot indicated that biochemical traits were more responsive than morphological traits in MCC552 during the pre-recovery phase. Overall, MCC552 showed better drought tolerance than cv. JAM and may be a useful genetic resource for chickpea breeding under drought conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pulvinus-based diaheliotropism in cotton: movement–performance relationships under shaded conditions","authors":"Uğur Çakaloğullari","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03962-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03962-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Diaheliotropic leaf movement in upland cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i>) enhances photosynthetic efficiency under favorable conditions by orienting leaves toward sunlight, yet its potential disadvantages under low PPFD remain unclear. This study tested whether the growth- and efficiency-related returns of diaheliotropic movement decline when photosynthetic carbon gain is limited under low PPFD. An early-maturing genotype was grown for eight days under two PPFD levels (50 and 150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Leaf movement was restricted (P−) by applying water-based acrylic paint to the pulvinus, while unrestricted plants (P+) served as controls. Morphological traits (leaf area, SLA, stomatal features) and physiological parameters (transpiration, water use efficiency, net assimilation rate, relative growth rate) were assessed. Leaf movement was quantified using a non-invasive photographic pixel-counting method. Under moderately shaded PPFD, unrestricted plants showed numerically higher growth-related values and positive correlations between total leaf movement and growth parameters, suggesting a favorable movement–performance relationship. In contrast, under deeply shaded PPFD, restricted plants showed non-significant numerical increases in several growth-related traits, while SLA was the only trait that differed significantly, indicating that the evidence for a movement-related cost under L50 should be interpreted cautiously. Furthermore, the restriction method did not produce detectable stress responses in the measured harvest-time indicators, and the area-based approach provided practical estimates of whole-plant leaf movement. These results suggest a context-dependent shift in the movement–performance relationship in the tested genotype, but the short treatment duration and non-significant growth responses indicate that longer-term, replicated, multi-genotype studies are needed before agronomic implications can be drawn for shaded cropping systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biochemical and structural aspects of storage of recalcitrant seeds of Eugenia uniflora","authors":"Deise Munaro,&nbsp;Emanuela W. A. Weidlich,&nbsp;Fernanda Ramlov,&nbsp;Débora T. Pereira,&nbsp;Marília Shibata,&nbsp;Aurea Maria Randi","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03954-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03954-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Germination is characterized by intense metabolic activity and reserve mobilization. Unlike orthodox seeds, which tolerate desiccation, recalcitrant seeds are dispersed with high moisture content and are sensitive to drying, making their storage and conservation challenging. The mechanisms controlling their viability during storage remain poorly understood and may involve active metabolism, seed aging, or both, while information on the physiological behavior of non-desiccated recalcitrant seeds is still limited. This study evaluated the effects of storage at 6 °C ± 2 °C for 190 days on Eugenia uniflora L. seeds, focusing on viability, biochemical and ultrastructural traits, tetrazolium test responses, and starch, carbohydrate, phenolic, and flavonoid contents. Seed moisture content remained stable throughout storage; however, germination and germination rate declined significantly over time (P &lt; 0.005). Germination decreased from 94% to 58% and 41% after 135 and 190 days, respectively, indicating progressive loss of viability, confirmed by the tetrazolium test. Reductions in starch, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids were also observed after prolonged storage. Ultrastructural analyses revealed high metabolic activity during early storage, followed by cellular deterioration at later stages. Overall, the findings suggest that viability loss in non-desiccated E. uniflora seeds arises from the interplay between sustained metabolic activity and aging during storage, with prolonged stable moisture conditions driving metabolic shifts that ultimately reduce viability, likely due to carbon reserve depletion.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11738-026-03954-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reference gene stability and stress marker expression during drought and senescence in forage and malting barley","authors":"Myriam Guadalupe Rodríguez-Gandarilla,&nbsp;Julio Armando Massange-Sánchez","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03958-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03958-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Reference genes are essential for accurate normalisation in qPCR-based gene expression studies, yet their stability can vary widely across tissues, developmental stages, genetic backgrounds and stress conditions. Fourteen candidate reference genes previously reported as stable in barley were evaluated in forage and malting varieties across senescence, grain development, and drought stress. Seven genes satisfied specificity and amplification-efficiency criteria and were subsequently assessed for expression stability using the ΔCt, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and geNorm algorithms integrated through a comprehensive stability index. Across all tissues, <i>EF1α</i> consistently emerged as the most stable reference gene, whereas <i>MALD</i>, <i>UPL</i>, and <i>HSP70</i> provided reliable alternatives depending on the tissue type, variety, or stress condition. In contrast, widely used housekeeping genes such as <i>TUBα</i> showed high variability and were unsuitable as internal controls. To validate the selected reference genes, eight drought- and senescence-responsive marker genes were analysed. Expression profiling normalised with <i>EF1α</i> and <i>MALD</i> revealed both conserved and variety-specific patterns: <i>HSP17</i> and <i>GPR</i> were strongly induced under drought, whereas <i>WRKY1</i> showed mild repression. During senescence, <i>GS2</i> and <i>RBCS</i> were sharply downregulated, while <i>AGTX</i> and <i>SAG12</i> displayed contrasting induction between varieties. These findings identify a robust set of reference genes for barley and reveal distinct stress-response strategies between forage and malting backgrounds, providing a validated framework for qPCR normalisation and stress-adaptation studies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rationalizing bud load for grapevine cv sugraone for balanced yield and superior fruit quality in a warm semi-arid region","authors":"Muhammad Hashir Khan,&nbsp;Irfan Ali,&nbsp;Muhammad Tahir Akram,&nbsp; Mahmood-ul-Hassan,&nbsp;Adeel Anwar,&nbsp;Rizwan Rafique","doi":"10.1007/s11738-026-03948-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11738-026-03948-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pruning intensity is a key vineyard management practice that strongly influences vine growth, yield, and fruit quality. The present study aimed to determine the optimum pruning intensity for improving vine performance and fruit quality of the table grapes cv. Sugraone under semi-arid climatic conditions in the Pothwar region of northern Punjab, Pakistan. A field experiment was conducted during the 2024–2025 growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Vines were subjected to different pruning intensities in a vertical positioning training system (I trellis system), with particular emphasis on varying bud loads per cane that included five treatments, i.e., 5 buds/cane, 6 buds/cane, 8 buds/cane, 10 buds/cane, and 12 buds/cane. Data were recorded for yield attributes and fruit quality parameters, including bunch length, weight, fruit yield, 10 berry weight, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), pH, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, reducing and total sugars. The results indicated that pruning intensity significantly influenced vine performance and fruit quality. Among the treatments, the vines pruned to 6 buds per cane (medium pruning) exhibited optimal vegetative growth, higher cluster weight, improved sugar accumulation (17.97 °Brix), and better overall fruit quality compared with lighter or more severe pruning levels. However, vines pruned with higher bud numbers, e.g., 12 buds/cane (light pruning), showed no good results in terms of taste, acidity, etc., as compared to vines pruned to 6 buds/cane. Overall, moderate pruning at 6 buds per cane proved to be the most effective strategy for achieving a balanced vine growth, improved fruit quality, and sustainable productivity of Sugraone grapes under semi-arid conditions in the Pothwar region. This study provides the first report on optimizing vine load through winter pruning in Pothwar climatic conditions, thus highly valuable for the viticulture industry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6973,"journal":{"name":"Acta Physiologiae Plantarum","volume":"48 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}