Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-21000-055-018-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: Aug 1, 2020
End Date: Oct 31, 2022
Objective:
Identify traits that predict a plants ability to tolerate water stress.
Approach:
For this project, the focus will be on five tree species commonly grown in Willamette Valley nurseries: Red Maple (Acer rubra ‘Sunset’), Red Oak (Quercus rubrum), Crabapple (Malus fusca ‘Prairifire’), Honey locust (Gleditsia ‘skyline’), and Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus). The trees will be planted in large containers and grown in a nursery setting so that the water availability can be closely controlled under deficit irrigations. The measurements under well-watered conditions will be taken after a period of establishment. The measurements under water-limited conditions will be taken after a 12-week drought. Survival rates and relative growth rates under drought will be evaluated.
