Physiological responses of three field-grown species (Ceratonia siliqua, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Moringa oleifera) to water deficits in a Mediterranean semi-arid climate

Autor: Hasna Ezzine, Mohamed Louay Metougui, Hassan Boukcim, Younes Abbas
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2045-2322
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31664-y
Popis: Abstract Reforestation of degraded drylands calls for the selection of species with the capacity to withstand water scarcity. In this current study we have assessed, the physiological responses of three field-grown species (Ceratonia siliqua, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Moringa oleifera) to water deficits in semi-arid regions in order to suggest a potential species for rehabilitation programs. The physiological behavior of the given species was studied in three irrigation schemes: subsurface drip irrigation (applied weekly), tank irrigation (applied monthly), and unirrigated plants. In a stressed state, an assessment of relative water content (RWC), water potential (pre-dawn water potential PWP and midday water potential MWP) and stomatal conductance revealed three contrasting physiological responses. First, C. siliqua stomata remained open with a high RWC at low water potentials. Consequently, this species tolerated water deficits by decreasing its leaf water potential, primarily associated with osmotic adjustment. On the other hand, E. camaldulensis was found to be a drought-avoider species, mutated to a water-saving strategy by complete stomatal closure. Finally, for the extreme case, M. oleifera showed leaf shedding under water deficit conditions. These different physiological responses allowed these species to survive water deficits, and consequently, could be considered suitable candidates for rehabilitating degraded semi-arid areas.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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