Rooting of fruit plants: discover the new sap for stressed roots
The rooting of fruit plants: innovative techniques and sustainable strategies for the root development of fruit plants
Deep roots to meet future challenges
Agronomic science teaches that crop quality and abundance depend on healthy roots and soil. Deep, well-developed roots enable fruit trees to better cope with the climate changes and nutritional challenges of the future.
In this article, we discuss fruit tree roots and innovative strategies and sustainable techniques to stimulate root growth. Because knowledge of root growth dynamics in fruit trees is the basis of modern fruit growing and regenerative agriculture.
The role of rootstocks in the rooting of fruit plants
When it comes to rooting, it is impossible to ignore the importance of rootstocks, which are fundamental elements in modern fruit growing. Rootstocks influence not only root development, but also the vigour, productivity and resilience of plants. The root system of rootstocks varies greatly depending on the species and genetic selection. Depending on the crop, in fact, some rootstocks are known to develop deep and strong roots, while others focus on producing more superficial roots. The choice of the right rootstock is, therefore, crucial to ensure optimal rooting and balanced plant growth.
The root system: the ‘hidden half’ of the plant
The root system has always aroused considerable interest among growers, fruit growers and researchers. It is only in recent years that understanding of the growth dynamics of the root system of fruit trees - the ‘hidden half’ of the plant - has improved.
Permanent roots and ephemeral roots
First of all, it is good to distinguish the roots of tree plants into permanent roots and ephemeral roots. The former, also known as structural roots, have a larger diameter already at birth, a more developed root apex and are able to extend rapidly in an indeterminate manner. In contrast, the second ones, also known as absorptive roots, show determined growth, have no secondary growth and are the first to be colonised by mycorrhizae (David. M. Eissenstat, 2007).
The functions of roots in tree crops
The roots of tree crops perform multiple functions:
- anchoring. Roots anchor the plant to the soil, providing stability even in adverse conditions such as strong winds or poor soils;
- absorption and conduction. Roots intercept water and nutrients from the soil, which are needed to support plant development and vital activities;
- reserve. Roots act as a storage site for nutrients, such as carbohydrates and sugars, that are not immediately utilised during the growing cycle;
- hormones. Roots are the site of production of hormones and root exudates;
- ecological. Important interactions take place in the rhizosphere between soil, roots and beneficial microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria, which improves nutrient availability.
As a last (but not least) function, roots are the seat of multiple adaptive responses to stresses that enable crop resilience.
What influences root growth
Root development can be very variable, with high annual fluctuations. In addition, root growth can be highly dependent on external anthropic and environmental stimuli such as canopy pruning (period and extent), soil moisture and structure, availability and demand for energy compounds (carbohydrates), growth of competitive organs (shoots and fruits). What is important to emphasise is that, in order to sustain high production loads, it is necessary for the root growth to be sufficient to meet the needs of the plant.
Common challenges in the rooting of tree crop
Within the soil, tree crop roots face three main challenges:
- poor or compacted soils that limit root growth;
- abiotic stresses, such as drought or extreme temperatures, which reduce root efficiency;
- soil diseases that compromise rooting and plant health.
These obstacles very often originate from human activities, poor agronomic crop management and climate change, with deleterious effects on soil health. A complex of symptoms that are encapsulated in the term ‘soil fatigue’ and that derive, in fact, from: excessive use of mineral fertilisers, deep soil working, irrational irrigation, replanting, monoculture, biological impoverishment, selection of telluric pathogens, etc.
Ultimately, a healthy root system is essential for balanced plant growth and orchard productivity.
Strategies and techniques to foster root development
Promoting root development and overcoming these obstacles requires the application of targeted strategies and techniques that stimulate crop resilience and promote crop productivity and environmental sustainability.
Since tree crops persist on the soil over a medium to long period of time, it is crucial to properly prepare the soil at the time of planting and to adopt integrated approaches for the proper maintenance of soil health. In addition to proper soil preparation, one must:
- monitor soil fertility;
- check for the presence of diseases;
- manage irrigation and technical means rationally.
Finally, integrated approaches with new-generation products that help plants overcome stresses and difficulties (e.g. the early stages of planting for new plants) with the aim of obtaining healthy and resistant roots, even under difficult conditions, come to the rescue.
Help from rare medicinal essences and plant and algae extracts
Agriges, from its foundation until today and for the future, has made numerous efforts and investments to research and offer innovative and sustainable solutions with proven agronomic efficacy on the market. There are numerous projects in which Agriges takes part and has taken part, many of which are advanced research projects of European relevance such as BIOFECTOR (a project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme in which Agriges was actively involved as Partner 21, the only Italian company). Projects of this calibre aim to identify new ‘bioeffectors’, that is, extracts, active substances and microorganisms that can be used as alternative and/or complementary strategies to traditional fertilisation and defence strategies, in order to reduce the use of mineral products and pesticides.
Thanks to these projects, Agriges has developed the Nema 300 WW and Nema 300 Plus products, formulations of 100 % natural origin, whose applications stimulate the crop at root and production level and have a positive impact on the soil, without any negative impact on the environment or the operator.
New sap for stressed roots: Nema 300 WW and Nema 300 Plus
Nema 300 WW
Nema 300 WW is a historical Agriges formulation consisting of appropriately selected and treated edible vegetable oils and rare medicinal essences whose synergy creates a formulation with an intense reactivating power especially suited for the root systems of stressed plants.
Nema 300 WW:
- induces the development of new root hairs (auxin-like action)
- stimulates the plant to fortify root cortical tissues
- increases the plant's endogenous resistance to adversity.
The formulation particularly rich in fatty acids, alkaloids, glucosinated diterpenes, phenols, sesquiterpenes, tannins enables Nema 300 WW to promote new root emission and to strengthen the root cortical tissue in order to make it less susceptible to further stress. This enables the crop to recover quickly from the stress suffered and reactivate metabolic processes that have been interrupted or slowed down due to stress. In addition, the product is able to exert an effective and prolonged action on the plant's physiology by alerting the plant's self-defence system (SAR, SIR) against the most common environmental, root and non-root damaging agents.
Click here and download the Nema 300 WW brochure
Nema 300 Plus
Nema 300 Plus, allowed in organic farming, represents the evolution of the Nema Line as it is characterised by the presence of the exclusive RyZea production technology. Alongside the already rich composition in bioactive molecules such as fatty acids, alkaloids, glucosinated diterpenes, phenols, sesquiterpenes, tannins, there are also biostimulant compounds extracted from the brown algae of the Atlantic Ocean Ascophillum nodosum, Fucus spp. and Laminaria spp., suitably treated to be rich in:
- natural chelating agents
- plant phytohormones
- eliciting compounds
- energy factors
Nema 300 Plus:
- reactivates root growth interrupted by stress factors (auxin-like action)
- promotes water and nutrient uptake
- provides organic matter that improves intrinsic soil fertility
Click here and download the Nema 300 Plus brochure
Conclusion: innovating to grow
The rooting of tree crops is a crucial aspect of orchard success. Adopting advanced strategies and techniques, together with innovative solutions such as Nema 300 WW and Nema 300 Plus, is the key to maximising productivity and sustainability in orchards.
Agriges, with its commitment to research and development, continues to offer state-of-the-art products that combine effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Focusing on these tools means not only addressing today's agricultural challenges but building a more sustainable future for agriculture.
Read more about the results of the application of Nema 300 WW on the grapevine, click here
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