Influence of temperature and irradiation on starch concentration in Carya illinoinensis K. Koch varieties Wichita and Western

Introduction: The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis K. Koch) is a species native to northern Mexico and the Southeastern United States; the two countries dominate pecan production worldwide. Objective: To determine the influence of temperature and irradiation on the starch concentrations in the root and trunk of C. illinoinensis varieties Wichita and Western. Materials and methods: Starch was quantified monthly during the July 2016 - June 2017 production cycle. Average monthly temperature and irradiation data were obtained from the INIFAP weather station at the La Laguna Experimental Field. Regression analyses were done using SPSS 18.0. Results and discussion: The Wichita and Western varieties showed a significant relationship (P < 0.05) between root starch cincentrations and environmental factors; in the trunk, the relationship was not significant. In both varieties, the maximum starch concentrations in the root is recorded when the temperature ranges from 15 to 20 °C, and the irradiation rate ranges from 10 to 15 MJ·m-2. Conclusion: The Wichita variety is the best adapted to high temperatures and irradiation rates in the Comarca Lagunera region.