Daily and seasonal variation of water relationship in sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) under different irrigation regimes at semi-arid Brazil

In the northeast of Brazil the drought period determines the yield period of the sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.). As a result, the use of irrigation is essential to stagger production over the course of the year. The results shown here represent an analysis of water status levels in sugar apples in daylight and seasonal periods in semi-arid regions. Two plant groups were studied: one without irrigation and the other with irrigation during drought months. This study showed that younger leaves displayed greater stomatal conductance and transpiration. In drought months, even in irrigated plants, the high air moisture deficit had a strong influence on the stomatal closure, which did not translate into a reduction in transpiration. Over the same period, the leaf water potential was −1.8 and −2.9 MPa at mid-day in irrigated and non-irrigated plants, respectively, and only the irrigated plants could recover their leaf hydration level at night. With a water deficit, plants showed greater control of transpiration through stomatal closure, with a linear relationship between stomatal conductance and transpiration.