Effect of drought stress and subsequent re-watering on the physiology and nutrition of Pistacia vera and Pistacia atlantica.

Samouna Ben Hamed, Elkadri Lefi, Mohamed Chaieb

Functional plant biology : FPB 2024 Jan

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Arid and semi-arid regions are characterised by extreme conditions including drought stress and salinity. These factors profoundly affect the agricultural sector. The objective of this work is to study the effect of drought and re-watering on leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and mineral nutrition in Pistacia vera and Pistacia atlantica . Water stress was applied to individuals of P. vera and P. atlantica for 23days, followed by rehydration for 7days. The results showed a clear reduction in water relations, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll content in P. vera . Compared to P. vera , P. atlantica maintained less affected water status, total chlorophyll content, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, stable Zn and Fe proportion, and even elevated K and Cu. The changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter were manifested particularly at the maximal fluorescence (Fm). In contrast, no change was recorded at the minimal fluorescence (F0). After re-hydration, although water status was fully recovered in both species, stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis (A ) and transpiration rate (E ) remain with lower values than the well-watered seedlings. P. atlantica was better adapted to drought stress than P. vera .

Citation

Samouna Ben Hamed, Elkadri Lefi, Mohamed Chaieb. Effect of drought stress and subsequent re-watering on the physiology and nutrition of Pistacia vera and Pistacia atlantica. Functional plant biology : FPB. 2024 Jan;51(1):NULL