Good Fruit Grower

April 1

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A s growers make decisions about the care and maintenance of fruit trees, they often consider canopies, blossoms, buds, leaves and, of course, fruit. But what about the care and maintenance of roots? After all, they fulfill some very important functions, says Emily Lavely, a Ph.D candidate in horticulture at Penn State University. "They are necessary for both establishing and anchoring plants and for water and nutrient uptake." Lavely works with David Eissenstat, a Penn State professor of woody plant physiology, conducting plant root-microbe studies. The two made presentations on their research into the roots of fruit trees at February's Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Kinds of roots There are three kinds of tree roots, said Lavely: absorp- tive, transport and pioneer roots. Absorptive roots take up water and nutrients. They are not woody and have a relatively short lifespan, typically from 30 to 60 days. "They are white or lighter in color and the target of microbes and herbivores," she said. These lower order roots are the most active absorp- tive roots because they are where the fastest metabolism occurs. Owing to their finer structures, they have the greatest amount of soil contact. Meanwhile, transport roots act like plumbing systems for trees. They move the water and nutrients collected by the absorptive roots. These roots are woody and live for more than one year. Root cARe Nutrient Management Remember to consider what lies beneath when maintaining a healthy orchard. by Dave Weinstock 16 APRIL 1, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com iStock image Absorptive roots are responsible for water and nutrient uptake from the soil. Transport roots act like plumbing systems and connect the absorptive roots to the main pioneer roots of the tree.

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