PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION ON VEGETATIVE GROWTHS IN TWO CULTIVARS OF PLUM FROM THE ASSORTMENT GROWN IN THE ROMANIAN PLAIN

Prunus domestica L. represents an important fruit crop in Romania, appreciated for its tasty and versatile fruits. To determine the effects of localized irrigation on vegetative growth in two plum cultivars, ‘Anna Späth’ and ‘Stanley', a bifactorial experiment was conducted using the split-plot method. Data collection took place over a two-year period (2022-2023) at the Moara Domnească Experimental Base, part of the Research and Development Station for Fruit Growing Băneasa in Ilfov County. The measurements aimed to analyze vegetative growth (increase in trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), total shoot length, average shoot length, and number of shoots). Comparative studies on ‘Stanley’ and ‘Anna Späth’ cultivars revealed significant differences in shoot growth and TCSA under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. In 2023, the irrigated ‘Anna Späth’ cultivar recorded a significant increase in TCSA of 2.09 cm². Irrigation significantly increased the number of average shoots by 1.94 shoots/tree in 2022 and by 4.37 in 2023, with an average of 3.16 shoots over the two years. The total average shoot length increased by 208.21 cm in 2022 and by 450.77 cm in 2023. Additionally, the average shoot length increased significantly by 22.18 cm in 2022 and by 17.43 cm on average over the two years, particularly in the ‘Stanley’ cultivar. Moreover, the results indicate a variable response between the two cultivars to the irrigation regime, with ‘Anna Späth’ showing greater sensitivity to water deficit compared to ‘Stanley’. These findings underscore the positive influence of irrigation on the vegetative development of plum trees.