Effect of Restricted Rooting on Greenhouse Cultivation of Nectarine

Effect of cultivation of nectarine with restricted rooting in greenhouse on the plant characteristics was studied. Three treatments on root growth, i.e., circular root-restriction (TA), bilateral root-restriction (TB), and container root-restriction (TC) along with a cultivation without restriction (CK), were imposed on the plants of two cultivars, Freestone Sweet and Zhongyou 13.The results showed that the restricted rooting treatments had a limiting effect on the plant height or crown width. However, they resulted in higher soluble solids and chlorophyll contents and a greater leaf stomatal conductance of the plants than those of CK. The number of new shoots, percent branch formation, and fruit setting rate of the treated plants were lower than those of CK. Compared with CK, TA and TB produced more flowers per branch, while TC significantly reduced the length, thickness and area of the leaves. In all, TB significantly restricted the extension on the plant height and crown width of the two cultivars but maintained similar measurements on the length, width, thickness and area of leaves to those of CK.It enhanced the flower bud differentiation, while exerted no significant effect on the fruit setting rate, yet increased the number of fruits as compared to CK.Thus, the bilateral root-restriction appeared to be an appropriate maneuver on rooting to improve nectarine plant growth in a greenhouse.