Abstract
Effects of atmospheric relative humidity during deficit soil water treatment on water stress of the trees and the number of first-flush flowers were investigated in order to establish the production system using first flush flowers in Meiwa kumquat (Fortunella crassifolia Swingle). Ten- and 20-day treatments of water stress about 30 % of soil water content increased first-flush flowers compared with that in non-treated control. However, there was no difference in the number of first-flush flowers between treatment of low atmospheric relative humidity solely and control, while it was increased significantly in combined treatment of water stress and low atmospheric relative humidity. The total number of first- and second-flush flowers in treatment of low atmospheric relative humidity solely was 113.3, which was tended to increase in comparison with that in control. These results suggested that combined treatment of deficit soil water and low atmospheric relative humidity is amplified the effect of water stress in increasing the number of first-flush flowers.
