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Analysis of institutional authors

Girona, JoanCorresponding AuthorMata, MercèAuthorDel Campo, JesusAuthorBlanco, VictorAuthor

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May 14, 2025
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Apple trees' behavior to a single-season megadrought stress

Publicated to: Irrigation Science. 43 (4): 871-886 - 2025-07-01 43(4), DOI: 10.1007/s00271-025-01017-w

Authors:

Girona, Joan; Mata, Merce; del Campo, Jesus; Biru, Aurica; Paris, Carles; Blanco, Victor
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Affiliations

Inst AgriFood Res & Technol IRTA, Efficient Use Water Agr Program, Parc Agrobiotech Fruitctr, Lleida 25003, Spain - Author

Abstract

Extreme weather events such as megadroughts (long duration and intense droughts) are becoming common in regions with Mediterranean climates and threaten the continuity of fruit production. In this context, this study assesses the effects of a single-season megadrought on the physiological response and mortality of mature apple trees in a high-density orchard. Two treatments were imposed in two weighing lysimeters with four trees in each one, (i) Control: fully irrigated according to the crop evapotranspiration; and (ii) Drought: rainfed from 7 May 2023, until the end of the season. Trees' evapotranspiration and trunk water potential were continuously monitored during the experiment in combination with periodic measurements of the soil water content, stomatal conductance, midday stem water potential, and apple size. The trunk water potential of apple trees in the drought lysimeter during the 2023 season fell below - 4.5 MPa, with stomatal conductance decreasing from 0.4 mmol m- 2 s- 1 before withholding irrigation to 0 mmol m- 2 s- 1 60 days later. In the following spring 2024, the four apple trees subjected to the megadrought were agronomically dead (did not sprout). Our results showed that, for apple trees, a threshold value of water potential of -3.5 MPa must not be surpassed to ensure the tree survival, while values below - 4.0 MPa for 27 days cause the death of the trees.
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Keywords

Deficit irrigationDroughtEmbolismFruit sizeGrowtHydraulic failureQualityResponsesWater statusYield

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Irrigation Science due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 20/129, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Agronomy.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-07:

  • WoS: 4
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-07:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 11 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/3816
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (GIRONA GOMIS, JOAN) and Last Author (BLANCO MONTOYA, VICTOR).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been GIRONA GOMIS, JOAN.

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Awards linked to the item

This research was supported by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda (DACC) of the Government of Catalonia, under the framework of the severe drought experienced in 2023.
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