Sunscreen Based on Dicarboxylic Acid Salts Applications to Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Plants: Effects on Water Stress Tolerance and Productivity

Abstract

Background: Recently, antitranspirant or radiation-reflective products have been studied in several crops to mitigate the negative effects of global warming in Mediterranean climates. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, there is a scarce availability of information studying their effects on blueberries and much less from applications of sunscreens elaborated based on a mixture of dicarboxylic acids. Methods: Controls and three treatments were performed in ‘Duke’ and ‘Star’ blueberries as follows: (i) control without water stress (T1 = 100% ETc); (ii) foliar application of sunscreen in plants without water stress (T2 = 100% ETc + sunscreen); (iii) water stress in plants without foliar application of sunscreen (T3 = 50% ETc); (iv) foliar application of the sunscreen in plants with water stress (T4 = 50% ETc + sunscreen). Stem water potential (Ψs), stomatal conductance (gs), yield, berry weight and berry total soluble solids were determined. (3) Results: As expected, the decrease in irrigation frequency in water stress treatments (T3 and T4) allowed for a decrease in the water applied at 25% compared to non-stressed plants (T1 and T2). This resulted in an increase in the Ψs on the days closest to harvest in both varieties, decreasing gs in blueberries plants subjected to water stress conditions. Sunscreen applications to Duke plants subjected to water stress (T4) induced higher total berry soluble solids than the treatments performed in non-stressed plants (T1 and T2). Sunscreen applications to Star plants subjected to water stress (T4) promoted similar gs levels and did not affect total soluble solids concerning irrigated plants (T1 and T2). (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that the response to water stress to sunscreen application based on dicarboxylic acid salts depended on the cultivar. Therefore, despite the novelty of this research, it is necessary to perform long-term studies to establish accurate conclusions.

Climate change impacts on temperate fruit and nut production: a systematic review

“…While a number of adaptation and mitigation strategies to cope with the effects of climate change on agriculture are being explored by scientists in warm temperate regions, many of these strategies may take as long as 10 to 20 years to be implemented ( Bruinsma, 2003 ). Promising strategies may include shifts to more suitable cultivation areas ( Drogoudi et al., 2020 ; Fernandez et al., 2020a ; del Barrio et al., 2021 ; Rojas et al., 2021 ; Noorazar et al., 2022 ; Meza et al., 2023 ), crop replacement and diversification ( Valverde et al., 2015 ; Almagro et al., 2023 ; Rezgui et al., 2024 ), the introduction of new cultivars ( Funes et al., 2016 ; Ruiz et al., 2019 ; Arenas-Castro et al., 2020 ; Cantin et al., 2020 ; Drogoudi et al., 2020 ), water management strategies ( Fraga et al., 2020 ; Aguirre-Garcia et al., 2021 ; Gutierrez-Gamboa et al., 2022 ; Lulane et al., 2022 ; Espinoza-Meza et al., 2023 ; Rojano-Cruz et al., 2023 ), and technological adaptation ( Luzio et al., 2021 ; Mazis et al., 2021 ; Rojas et al., 2021 ; Teker, 2023 ). However, as the impacts of climate change become increasingly severe, the adaptation and adoption of such strategies will require local and regional research, as well as effective governmental policies focused on the implementation of sustainable management practices and the adoption of new technologies.…”