Articles
Irrigating with high boron concentration improved the physiological response of Carrizo citrange seedlings under drought stress and recovery conditions
Article number
1399_64
Pages
513 – 520
Language
English
Abstract
Boron (B) is an essential plant micronutrient.
Citrus are widely cultivated in semi-arid areas, where they are commonly exposed to temporary water scarcity and irrigated with non-conventional waters (such as reclaimed water and desalinated seawater) with high boron concentration.
Thus, this study aimed to determine the physiological alterations generated by applying a cycle of drought stress and recovery in Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. × Poncirus trifoliata L.) seedlings irrigated with different boron concentrations to evaluate their combined effects on leaf water relations and photosynthetic parameters.
Seedlings were grown in controlled conditions and were well-watered with low B (0.11 mg L‑1) and high B (5 mg L‑1) concentrations.
After 20 days, half of the plants were drought-stressed (DS) by withholding irrigation for 10 days, while the other half were maintained well-watered (WW) with low or high B. After the drought period, half of the plants were harvested, and the other half were re-irrigated with low B. The main results have shown that high B in WW plants enhanced the accumulation of B in leaves, and it affected the plant water status and decreased photosynthesis rate, mainly due to a partial stomatal closure.
Photosynthesis similarly decreased in low and high B DS plants.
Nevertheless, high B maintained better leaf water status in DS plants, which enhanced the complete and rapid recovery of the plant water status and gas exchange after re-irrigation.
In contrast, in low B and DS plants, the stress level reached was higher than in high B-DS plants.
This fact impeded the physiological recovery after the water restitution.
In conclusion, plants preconditioned by high B maintained a better plant water status under drought stress due to a partial stomatal closure, and it allowed the full recovery of plant water status after re-irrigation with low boron concentration.
Citrus are widely cultivated in semi-arid areas, where they are commonly exposed to temporary water scarcity and irrigated with non-conventional waters (such as reclaimed water and desalinated seawater) with high boron concentration.
Thus, this study aimed to determine the physiological alterations generated by applying a cycle of drought stress and recovery in Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. × Poncirus trifoliata L.) seedlings irrigated with different boron concentrations to evaluate their combined effects on leaf water relations and photosynthetic parameters.
Seedlings were grown in controlled conditions and were well-watered with low B (0.11 mg L‑1) and high B (5 mg L‑1) concentrations.
After 20 days, half of the plants were drought-stressed (DS) by withholding irrigation for 10 days, while the other half were maintained well-watered (WW) with low or high B. After the drought period, half of the plants were harvested, and the other half were re-irrigated with low B. The main results have shown that high B in WW plants enhanced the accumulation of B in leaves, and it affected the plant water status and decreased photosynthesis rate, mainly due to a partial stomatal closure.
Photosynthesis similarly decreased in low and high B DS plants.
Nevertheless, high B maintained better leaf water status in DS plants, which enhanced the complete and rapid recovery of the plant water status and gas exchange after re-irrigation.
In contrast, in low B and DS plants, the stress level reached was higher than in high B-DS plants.
This fact impeded the physiological recovery after the water restitution.
In conclusion, plants preconditioned by high B maintained a better plant water status under drought stress due to a partial stomatal closure, and it allowed the full recovery of plant water status after re-irrigation with low boron concentration.
Publication
Authors
M. Tasa, E. Badal, M.A. Martínez-Gimeno, E. Cámara, L. Bonet, J.G. Pérez-Pérez
Keywords
citrus, boron, drought stress, plant water status, gas exchange
Groups involved
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