CEAF Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Fruticultura

This study investigates the transformative potential of an integrated biorefinery model designed to convert agricultural waste, specifically byproducts from red araçá pomace (Psidium cattleianum), into valuable resources. By employing solid–liquid extraction (SLE) and sequential anaerobic digestion (AD), this approach not only recovers natural antioxidants but also generates biogas and biofertilizers from residual biomass, exemplifying a circular economy in action. Optimized extraction conditions yielded remarkable results, with 3.70 mg cyd-3-glu/L of anthocyanins and 78.90 mg GAE/mL of phenolic compounds achieved under optimal parameters (temperature: 45 °C, time: 90 min, ethanol concentration: 75% v/v). The anaerobic digestion process produced biogas with a methane content of 61.12%, highlighting the efficiency of this method. Additionally, the nutrient-rich digestate exhibited total soluble solids of 14.4% w/v, leading to biomass production in plant models that was 4.61 and 1.35 times greater than those without phosphorus fertilization or residue application. These findings underscore the biorefinery approach as a powerful tool for enhancing resource recovery while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By demonstrating how agricultural residues can be transformed into marketable products, this research significantly contributes to the circular economy, supports local communities, and reduces reliance on synthetic inputs. Ultimately, it showcases a viable pathway for achieving sustainability and environmental stewardship through innovative waste valorization strategies.

Extreme maximum temperatures in summer present a significant risk to agroindustry as crops and their ecological interactions have critical thermal limits that can affect their performance and microorganisms-related. Gray mold disease caused by Botrytis cinerea is the most critical disease affecting crops worldwide. In this sense, the impact of temperature on agricultural productivity is well documented in the Northern Hemisphere; the risk of extreme temperatures on the infection rate of B. cinerea in Central Chile is limited. This study analyzes historical climate data from January and February between 1951 and 2023 for the cities of Santiago, Talca, Chillán, and Los Ángeles. The aim was to examine trends in extreme maximum temperatures (EMTs) and develop a simple model to estimate the infection rate of B. cinerea. Linear trend analyses were conducted, as was analysis of the probability of occurrence. Additionally, five-year averages were calculated, and a generic model was presented to assess the effects of warming on the infection rate. The analysis shows positive growth in extreme maximum temperatures in January and February, with projections for 2024, 2025, and 2026 at 70%, 80%, and 80%, respectively. February showed the most significant thermal increase among all stations, with Chillán and Los Ángeles recording higher increases than Santiago and Talca. Projections suggest temperatures near 40–41 °C. The five-year averages for Chillán and Los Ángeles exceeded 37 °C in the 2016–2020 period, the highest values during the analyzed time frame. Trends for 2021–2026 indicate upper limits above 38 °C. These trends, combined with dry summers, could increase the severity of infections and modify the optimal thermal conditions for the pathogen. The results suggest that thermal changes could reduce the infection risk by B. cinerea on fruit crops in Central Chile, and a theoretical approach is proposed to develop predictive tools to facilitate risk assessment in a warming environment.

Antarctic soil represents an important reservoir of filamentous fungi (FF) species with the ability to produce novel bioactive lipids. However, the lipid extraction method is still a bottleneck. The objective of the present work was to isolate and identify cultivable FF from Antarctic soils, to assess the most effective methods for fatty acid (FA) extraction, and to characterise the obtained lipids. A total of 18 fungal strains belonging to the Botrytis, Cladosporium, Cylindrobasidium, Mortierella, Penicillium, Pseudogymnoascus, and Talaromyces genera and the Melanommataceae family were isolated and identified. The Folch, Bligh and Dyer, and Lewis extraction methods were assessed, and methyl esters of FA (FAMEs) were obtained. The Lewis method was the best in recovering FAMEs from fungal biomass. A total of 17 FAs were identified, and their chemical compositions varied depending on fungal species and strain. Oleic, linoleic, stearic, and palmitic acids were predominant for all fungal strains in the three assessed methods. Among the analysed strains, Cylindrobasidium eucalypti, Penicillium miczynskii, P. virgatum, and Pseudogymnoascus pannorum produced high amounts of FA. This suggests that the soils of Antarctica Bay, as well as harbouring known oleaginous fungi, are also an important source of oleaginous filamentous fungi that remain poorly analysed.

Severe water stress can lead to hydraulic disfunction, reducing plant conductance or even causing death. Some plants exhibit hydraulic vulnerability segmentation between organs to reduce this risk. However, its role in influencing drought tolerance and resistance in grafted plants, such as grapevine, remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological responses, drought tolerance, hydraulic vulnerability segmentation and xylem anatomy of two-year-old Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo scion grafted onto two rootstocks: 110-Richter (110R) and Sélection Oppenheim 4 (SO4). After subjecting the plants to drought conditions until the onset of embolism in the leaf (P12), we analysed the physiological consequences during recovery. Grapevine exhibits hydraulic vulnerability segmentation not only within scion organs but also between the scion and rootstock. Although no differences in scion drought tolerance and embolism resistance were observed between combinations, Tempranillo-110R exhibited higher leaf minimum conductance, leaf P12 values and root biomass. In contrast, Tempranillo-SO4 displayed larger vessel diameter and higher hydraulic conductance. These differences may explain the slower recovery of Tempranillo-110R compared to Tempranillo-SO4, which showed higher stomatal and root-to-stem hydraulic conductance. These findings suggest that rootstock selection should consider drought resilience alongside vigour and productivity, especially given the increasing the concurrence of severe drought periods due to climate change.

Drought, pests, soil fertility depletion, environmental challenges, and the limited use of agricultural inputs continue to plague food production in many developing countries such as Mozambique. As a response to these production constraints, sustainable strategies must be defined to cope with these problems. One strategy, largely applied worldwide, is the combination of the usage of plant growth-promoting microorganisms, conservation tillage, intercropping, and crop residue management. The above can help smallholder farmers to become more resilient, sustainable, and productive, in a framework where the limitations imposed by global climate change are being exacerbated. The impacts of these strategies are less known and lack studies in Mozambique. Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the relevant scientific literature published in the last three decades which evaluated the effects of diverse sustainable alternatives for crop production, mainly oriented to enhance crop tolerance to drought. The use of these strategies and their promising potential to increase crop yields under drought conditions emerge as one of the most sustainable approaches, leading to both an increase in agricultural productivity and the amelioration of soil properties in Southern Mozambique. However, to achieve this goal, it is critical to perform studies that enable positive impacts and also take full account of the specific socio-economic and environmental contexts in which agricultural production is developed in the semi-arid areas of Southern Mozambique. Hence, future field studies assessing conservation agriculture practices effects on yield productivity and environment under drought conditions are suggested to address issues concerned to sustainable agricultural productions which allow us to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) and SDG 2.

Phosphorus (P) is a vital element for optimal crop growth and agricultural productivity. Struvite, a P precipitate obtained from wastewater, is recognized as a slow-release, low-solubility fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of inoculation with the yeast Naganishia albida on P bioavailability using struvite and triple superphosphate (TSP) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. Struvite fertilization improved N and P assimilation by 14–28% and 12–27%, respectively, compared to TSP and increased soil soluble P by 50% more than TSP and 186% more than the control. Inoculation reduced oxidative stress by 40–44%, improved plant growth by 28% with struvite and 7% with TSP, and increased acid phosphatase activity by 52.7% and 78.1%, respectively, improving nutrient bioavailability. Struvite showed high P solubility in the soil, with only a 3% difference between inoculated and non-inoculated treatments. In addition, the combination of fertilizer and yeast had a synergistic effect, increasing enzyme activity up to 1.8 times for struvite and 2.3 times for TSP. The results highlight the potential of struvite as a recycled fertilizer and the effectiveness of integrating fertilization with microorganisms to improve agricultural efficiency, reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable management in the framework of the circular economy.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae is the main causal agent of bacterial canker in sweet cherry in Chile, causing significant economic losses. Cultivars exhibit diverse susceptibility in the field and the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential responses remain unclear. RNA-seq analysis was performed to characterize the transcriptomic response in cultivars Santina and Bing (less and more susceptible to P. syringae pv. syringae, respectively) after 1 and 7 days post-inoculation (dpi) with the bacterium. Symptoms of bacterial canker became evident from the fifth day. At 1 dpi, cultivar Santina showed a faster response to infection and a larger number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than cultivar Bing. At 7 dpi, cultivar Bing almost doubled its DEGs, while cultivar Santina tended to the normal DEG levels. P. syringae pv. syringae infection downregulated the expressions of key genes of the photosynthesis process at 1 dpi in the less susceptible cultivar. The results suggest that the difference in susceptibility to P. syringae pv. syringae is linked to the timeliness of pathogen recognition, limiting the bacteria’s dispersion through modeling its cell wall, and regulation of genes encoding photosynthesis pathway. Through this study, it has been possible to progress the knowledge of relevant factors related to the susceptibility of the two studied cherry cultivars to P. syringae pv. syringae.

Araucaria araucana exhibits a high dependence on association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which have been scarcely studied within the natural distribution of this emblematic species. Understanding the diversity of AMF in ecosystems where A. araucana is present is fundamental for establishing reintroduction programs for this species in environments severely affected by environmental stresses such as recent forest fires. This study aimed to determine the diversity of AMF species in the rhizosphere of A. araucana in its natural distribution in the Andes and coastal mountains of southern Chile. The study encompassed four areas: (i) Coastal Mountain Range in Nahuelbuta National Park (NP), and (ii) the Andes Mountain Range in Conguillío National Park (CP), Tolhuaca National Park (TP), and China Muerta National Reserve (CMR), with conserved (c) and fire-affected (f) sites in the latter two areas. We identified 17 Glomeromycota species, 14 identified at the species level and three at the genus level. Fire-affected sites exhibited a different AMF composition compared to conserved sites. The highest abundances were represented by the genus Acaulospora, predominant in CP and CMR-f. Scutellospora showed higher abundance in CMR-c, Entrophospora in TP-f, Funneliformis in TP-c, Glomus in NP, CP, and CMR-f, and Septoglomus in CMR-f, with representation ranging from 15 to 24.9% of total spore populations. This study provides the first characterization of AMF across a wide geographic area directly from the rhizosphere of A. araucana forests, identifying species with potential to be used in inoculation programs to improve the reestablishment of A. araucana in anthropogenically affected sites, especially those impacted by fire events.

The water relation strategy is a key issue in climate change. Given the difficulty of determining water relations strategy, there is a need for simple traits with a solid theoretical basis to estimate it. Traits associated with resource allocation patterns along a ‘fast-slow’ plant economics spectrum are particularly compelling, reflecting trade-offs between growth rate and carbon allocation. Avocado (Persea americana), fig tree (Ficus carica), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), olive (Olea europaea), pomegranate (Punica granatum), and grapevine (Vitis vinifera) were characterised in terms of iso-anisohydric strategy through stomatal behaviour, water potential at the turgor loss point (TLP), and hydroscape area. Additionally, the association of these metrics with leaf mass per area (LMA) and wood density (WDen) was explored. We observed high coordination between LMA and WDen, and both traits were related to metrics of water relation strategy. More anisohydric species tended to invest more carbon per unit leaf area or unit stem volume, which has implications for hydraulic efficiency and water stress tolerance. WDen and TLP were the most powerful traits in estimating the water relation strategy for six fruit species. These traits are easy to measure, time-cost efficient, and appear central to coordinating multiple traits and behaviours along the water relations strategies.

Disease severity and drought due to climate change present significant challenges to orchard productivity. This study examines the effects of spring inoculation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss) on sweet cherry plants, cvs. Bing and Santina with varying defense responses, assessing plant growth, physiological variables (water potential, gas exchange, and plant hydraulic conductance), and the levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) under two summer irrigation levels. Pss inoculation elicited a more pronounced response in ‘Santina’ compared to ‘Bing’ at 14 days post-inoculation (dpi), and those plants inoculated with Pss exhibited a slower leaf growth and reduced transpiration compared to control plants during 60 dpi. During differential irrigations, leaf area was reduced 14% and 44% in Pss inoculated plants of ‘Bing’ and ‘Santina’ respectively, under well-watered (WW) conditions, without changes in plant water status or gas exchange. Conversely, water-deficit (WD) conditions led to gas exchange limitations and a 43% decrease in plant biomass compared to that under WW conditions, with no differences between inoculation treatments. ABA levels were lower under WW than under WD at 90 dpi, while SA levels were significantly higher in Pss-inoculated plants under WW conditions. These findings underscore the influence on plant growth during summer in sweet cherry cultivars that showed a differential response to Pss inoculations and how the relationship between ABA and SA changes in plant drought level responses.

Light plays a crucial role in several physiological processes in plants, ranging from photosynthesis to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids. The emergence of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) technology, has granted researchers unprecedented control over light quality and intensity, enabling detailed research into its effects on plant growth, development, flowering, and secondary metabolite accumulation, such as carotenoids. Carotenoids, vital pigments in plant physiology, serve for pollinator attraction, photoprotective molecules, and precursors for vitamin A biosynthesis. Carrots ( Daucus carota ) known for their high carotenoid levels provide an excellent model for studying the impact of light on carotenoid biosynthesis and taproot development. In a comprehensive study exploring the effects of different light conditions on carrot storage root development and carotenoid content, we employed three lighting regimes: fluorescent light (F) with a high green light content, LED light with a spectrum enriched in blue and red wavelengths (NS12), and LED light with a higher content in Red and Far-Red light and with the highest light intensity (AP67). Our findings revealed that NS12 and AP67 induce an early development of secondary root growth due to carrot storage roots exhibiting wider and heavier storage roots compared to those grown under F light. Together, these findings correlate with an enhancement in carbon fixation, as evidenced by the improved levels of sucrose and starch under LED lighting. Despite these differences, there were no observable variations in carotenoid content. However, there was an induction of DcPSY1 and DcPSY2 expression in 8 weeks old storage roots of plants grown under LED lights. Taken together, the quality and intensity of aboveground light in which the carrot is grown significantly affects the development of the storage root but not on carotenoid content. These findings underscore the profound influence of light quality on underground organs and highlight the potential of LED technology to optimize crop production by promoting favourable traits in storage organs.

Bacterial canker is an important disease of sweet cherry plants mainly caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss). Water deficit profoundly impairs the yield of this crop. Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that plays an important role in the plant defense mechanisms. To evaluate the protection exerted by NO against Pss infection under normal or water-restricted conditions, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, was applied to sweet cherry plants cv. Lapins, before they were exposed to Pss infection under normal or water-restricted conditions throughout two seasons. Well-watered plants treated with exogenous NO presented a lower susceptibility to Pss. A lower susceptibility to Pss was also induced in plants by water stress and this effect was increased when water stress was accompanied by exogenous NO. The lower susceptibility to Pss induced either by exogenous NO or water stress was accompanied by a decrease in the internal bacterial population. In well-watered plants, exogenous NO increased the stomatal conductance and the net CO2 assimilation. In water-stressed plants, NO induced an increase in the leaf membranes stability and proline content, but not an increase in the CO2 assimilation or the stomatal conductance.

To compare water stress tolerance traits between different fruit tree species under the same experimental conditions can provide valuable information for understanding the mechanisms underlying water stress tolerance in a broader sense. This work aimed to determine and compare the water stress tolerance of six fruit tree species typically cultivated in Mediterranean regions, i.e., pomegranate, fig, mandarin, avocado, and two Prunus species ('R40' and 'R20') and evaluate its association with water use and growth under water deficit. Iso-anisohydric behavior (low to high water stress tolerance) was assessed through a multi-trait approach and associated with growth and water use under well-watered and water deficit conditions. Avocado and mandarin were classified as species with stricter stomatal control over water potential, while pomegranate, fig, and Prunus spp. showed a lesser stomatal control. This classification was supported by the multi-traits analysis, which showed that avocado and mandarin, in contrast to the rest of the species, were characterized by more sensitive gas-exchange thresholds. A more isohydric behavior was associated with lower soil water use capacity, but higher root hydraulic conductivity, and a lower growth capacity. Some traits, such as the fraction of transpirable soil water thresholds, root hydraulic conductivity, and residual soil water content, provide valuable information to discriminate between species or genotypes that are better adapted to water deficit conditions. These traits explain the position of the species in the iso-anisohydric spectrum and allow us to understand and develop better strategies for water management in agricultural systems.

Phytoremediation, an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach for addressing Cu-contaminated environments, remains underutilized in mine tailings. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a vital role in reducing Cu levels in plants through various mechanisms, including glomalin stabilization, immobilization within fungal structures, and enhancing plant tolerance to oxidative stress. Yeasts also contribute to plant growth and metal tolerance by producing phytohormones, solubilizing phosphates, generating exopolysaccharides, and facilitating AMF colonization. This study aimed to assess the impact of AMF and yeast inoculation on the growth and antioxidant response of Oenothera picensis plants growing in Cu mine tailings amended with compost. Plants were either non-inoculated (NY) or inoculated with Meyerozyma guilliermondii (MG), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (RM), or a combination of both (MIX). Plants were also inoculated with Claroideoglomus claroideum (CC), while others remained non-AMF inoculated (NM). The results indicated significantly higher shoot biomass in the MG-NM treatment, showing a 3.4-fold increase compared to the NY-NM treatment. The MG-CC treatment exhibited the most substantial increase in root biomass, reaching 5-fold that in the NY-NM treatment. Co-inoculation of AMF and yeast influenced antioxidant activity, particularly catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. Furthermore, AMF and yeast inoculation individually led to a 2-fold decrease in total phenols in the roots. Yeast inoculation notably reduced non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in the ABTS and CUPRAC assays. Both AMF and yeast inoculation promoted the production of photosynthetic pigments, further emphasizing their importance in phytoremediation programs for mine tailings.

Bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss) is responsible for substantial loss to the production of sweet cherry in Chile. To date, the molecular mechanisms of the Pss–sweet cherry interaction and the disease-related genes in the plant are poorly understood. In order to gain insight into these aspects, a transcriptomic analysis of the sweet cherry cultivar ‘Lapins’ for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to Pss inoculation was conducted. Three Pss strains, A1M3, A1M197, and 11116_b1, were inoculated in young twigs, and RNA was extracted from tissue samples at the inoculation site and distal sections. RNA sequencing and transcriptomic expression analysis revealed that the three strains induced different patterns of responses in local and distal tissues. In the local tissues, A1M3 triggered a much more extensive response than the other two strains, enriching DEGs especially involved in photosynthesis. In the distal tissues, the three strains triggered a comparable extent of responses, among which 11116_b1 induced a group of DEGs involved in defense responses. Furthermore, tissues from various inoculations exhibited an enrichment of DEGs related to carbohydrate metabolism, terpene metabolism, and cell wall biogenesis. This study opened doors to future research on the Pss–sweet cherry interaction, immunity responses, and disease control.

The water relation strategy of a species (iso-anisohydric continuum as one of the most widely used definitions) is a key issue in the context of climate change. Given the difficulty of determining water relations strategy, there is a need for simple traits with a solid theoretical basis to estimate it. Among the many possibilities, traits associated with the "fast-slow" plant economics spectrum are particularly interesting. Avocado, Fig, Mandarin, Olive, Pomegranate, and Vine were characterized in terms of stomatal behavior, water potential at the turgor loss point (TLP), and Hydroscape Area, and the association of these metrics with leaf mass per area (LMA) and wood density (WDen) was explored. Our results showed high coordination between LMA and WDen across the six species, and both traits were related to metrics of water relation strategy. Species with less regulation of their water status tended to invest a greater amount of carbon per unit leaf area or unit stem volume with implications over hydraulic efficiency and water stress tolerance. WDen and TLP were the most powerful traits in estimating the water relation strategy for six fruit species. These traits are easy to measure, time-cost efficient, and appear central to coordinating multiple traits and behaviors along the water relations strategies. It is important to improve the understanding of these traits and their intraspecific variability to advance the understanding of how species and cultivars will respond to future scenarios and to design better selection, breeding, and agronomic strategies for climate change adapted agriculture.

Araucaria araucana forests in the Coastal Mountain range of Chile are highly endangered due to their population isolation, wildfires, and land-use change. Mycorrhizas constitute a potential restoration tool for this species. Firstly, in a greenhouse we tested A. araucana growth responses to single/mixed commercial and native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum. Secondly, in plantations under contrasting tree covers we compared the growth responses of greenhouse-grown A. araucana seedlings with and without native AMF inoculum. Four treatments were established under greenhouse conditions (25 A. araucana seedlings per treatment): T0, non-mycorrhizal control; T1, single AMF species commercial inoculum; T2, four AMF species commercial inoculum; and T3, 17 AMF species native inoculum. Seedlings were grown for 1.5 years, after which, seven growth traits and the Ritchie plant quality index were recorded. After this, in Nahuelbuta National Park (native inoculum and seeds' site), a total of 80 seedlings were sown for 13 months: 40 from T0 and 40 from T3, in two contrasting plots regarding their tree mycorrhizal dominance (ectomycorrhizal vs. arbuscular mycorrhizal). Under greenhouse conditions , native AMF inoculum, over one and four species' commercial inoculum, increased A. araucana seedlings' fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. In situ, the sympatric combination of native seedlings and AMF inoculum growing under original soil conditions, resulted in higher plant growth and quality. Functional complementarity among AMF species probably explains our greenhouse results, as inoculum complexity is a good predictor of plant performance. Local adaptation of AMF and seedlings to soil biotic/abiotic conditions might explain our plantation results.

Compare water stress tolerance traits between different fruit tree species under the same experimental conditions can provide valuable information for understanding the mechanisms underlying water stress tolerance. This work aimed to determine and compare the water stress tolerance of six fruit tree species typically cultivated in Mediterranean regions and evaluate its association with water use and growth under water deficit. Six fruit tree species were used in this study: pomegranate, fig, mandarin, avocado, and two Prunus species ('R40' and 'R20'). Iso-anisohydric behavior (low to high water stress tolerance) was assessed through a multi-trait approach and associated with growth and water use under well-watered and water deficit conditions. Avocado and mandarin were classified as species with more strict stomatal control over water potential, while pomegranate, fig, and Prunus spp. showed less stomatal control. This classification was supported by the multi-traits analysis, which showed that avocado and mandarin, in contrast to the rest of the species, were characterized by higher gas-exchange thresholds (more sensitive). A more isohydric behavior was associated with lower water, but higher root hydraulic conductivity, and a lower growth capacity. Some traits, such as the FTSW threshold to the drop of relative transpiration, root hydraulic conductivity, and residual soil water content, provide valuable information to discriminate between species or genotypes that are better adapted to water deficits. These traits explain the position of the species in the iso-anisohydric spectrum and allow us to understand and develop better strategies for water management in agricultural systems.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral transmembrane proteins well known as channels involved in the mobilization of water, small uncharged molecules and gases. In this work, the main objective was to carry out a comprehensive study of AQP encoding genes in Prunus avium (cv. Mazzard F12/1) on a genome-wide scale and describe their transcriptional behaviors in organs and in response to different abiotic stresses. A total of 28 non-redundant AQP genes were identified in Prunus spp. Genomes, which were phylogenetically grouped into five subfamilies (seven PIPs, eight NIPs, eight TIPs, three SIPs and two XIPs). Bioinformatic analyses revealed a high synteny and remarkable conservation of structural features among orthologs of different Prunus genomes. Several cis-acting regulatory elements (CREs) related to stress regulation were detected (ARE, WRE3, WUN, STRE, LTR, MBS, DRE, AT-rich and TC-rich). The above could be accounting for the expression variations associated with plant organs and, especially, each abiotic stress analyzed. Gene expressions of different PruavAQPs were shown to be preferentially associated with different stresses. PruavXIP2;1 and PruavXIP1;1 were up-regulated in roots at 6 h and 72 h of hypoxia, and in PruavXIP2;1 a slight induction of expression was also detected in leaves. Drought treatment strongly down-regulated PruavTIP4;1 but only in roots. Salt stress exhibited little or no variation in roots, except for PruavNIP4;1 and PruavNIP7;1, which showed remarkable gene repression and induction, respectively. Interestingly, PruavNIP4;1, the AQP most expressed in cherry roots subjected to cold temperatures, also showed this pattern in roots under high salinity. Similarly, PruavNIP4;2 consistently was up-regulated at 72 h of heat and drought treatments. From our evidence is possible to propose candidate genes for the development of molecular markers for selection processes in breeding programs for rootstocks and/or varieties of cherry.