Efficiency of Cell-to-Cell Water Pathway in Peach Rootstocks Characterized by Different Vigour

Four peach rootstocks (Ishtara, Garnem, GF 677, Adesoto), chosen to be characterized by different vigour, were analyzed, in order to evaluate the efficiency of the cell-to-cell water pathway in roots. Besides morphological and anatomical variability, the experimentation confirmed the control of the aquaporins on the hydraulic characteristics of similar size plants. Root hydraulic conductivity, in fact, was subjected to the aquaporin modulation, variable in amount for each rootstock. Acidic solutions (pH 5.5) were used to block the aquaporin activity and estimate the cell-to-cell water pathway. In GF 677 (known to be a vigorous peach rootstock), about the 60% of the water flowed through the cell-to-cell pathway, controlled by aquaporins, compared to the 40% for Garnem and Adesoto, at the same growth stage, six months after the first transplant in pot.