Work

Photosynthetic responses and acclimation of two castor bean cultivars to repeated drying–wetting cycles

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: To investigate the responses of castor bean to repeated drying–wetting cycles (RDWC), morpho-physiological parameters of two cultivars (Jiaxiang 2 and Hangbi 8) were determined by a pot experiment under well-watered control and RDWC. RDWC inhibited plant growth and leaf development, decreased water loss rate (WLR), and enhanced leaf mass per area (LMA) and chlorophyll content as indicated by spectral reflectance indices for both cultivars. Photosynthesis was inhibited by progressive drought stress but quickly recovered after rewatering for each cycle. Both cultivars exhibit a similar pattern of acclimation to RDWC: (1) higher LMA and lower WLR, (2) increased photosynthetic capacity under drought stress with increasing cycle numbers, (3) quick recovery and over-compensation for photosynthesis after rewatering, and (4) increased chlorophyll content. Jiaxiang 2 shows a high capacity for water preservation under drought stress and an over-compensation for photosynthesis after rewatering compared with Hangbi 8.

Source: Journal of Plant Interactions

DOI: 10.1080/17429145.2014.945975

Authors: Gangrong Shi, Fei Zhu-Ge, Zhiwei Liu, Lila Le

Institutions: Huaibei Normal University, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University

Language: English

Topic: Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,306