Articles
Brief UV-C irradiation treatments improve Pelargonium × hortorum drought resistance by alleviating oxidative stress
Article number
1417_7
Pages
55 – 62
Language
English
Abstract
Pelargonium × hortorum (L.H. Bailey) is a South African native ornamental plant with worldwide commercial recognition in gardens and terraces.
In the present study, we evaluated the effects of low doses of UV-C irradiation on the induction of drought tolerance of P. × hortorum. We tested the plants under 3 rates of water drought (e.g., normal watering (NW), moderate drought (MD), and severe drought (SD)), after applying weekly treatments of UV-C irradiation.
The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment chamber for 7 weeks.
The results showed that UV-C did not affect the height of the plants, but as drought levels increased, significant reductions in height were recorded.
The SD plants had a mean of 8.4 cm in height and the NW plants 9.5 cm.
Drought treatments significantly reduced the number of leaves, but it was not affected by UV-C irradiation.
The flowering was positively affected by drought and UV-C irradiation, but not at a significant level (P>0.05). Net CO2 assimilation (As), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration (E) were not affected by UV-C treatment.
However, gs and E were significantly reduced in the SD-treated plants at the end of the experiment (e.g., on the 7th week). Slight leaf color changes were detected during the 7 weeks.
Also, leaf lightness (L) increased from 22.4 to 27.5 at the end of the evaluation period.
Relative water content (RWC) of the MD- and SD-treated plants was maintained significantly (P<0.05) higher in UV-C-treated plants, while electrolyte leakage (EL) from cells was maintained significantly lower.
This indicates that UV-C stimulated a protective response to water loss and oxidative damage of the membranes.
Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the process of drought resistance in ornamental plants induced by UV-C irradiation.
In the present study, we evaluated the effects of low doses of UV-C irradiation on the induction of drought tolerance of P. × hortorum. We tested the plants under 3 rates of water drought (e.g., normal watering (NW), moderate drought (MD), and severe drought (SD)), after applying weekly treatments of UV-C irradiation.
The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment chamber for 7 weeks.
The results showed that UV-C did not affect the height of the plants, but as drought levels increased, significant reductions in height were recorded.
The SD plants had a mean of 8.4 cm in height and the NW plants 9.5 cm.
Drought treatments significantly reduced the number of leaves, but it was not affected by UV-C irradiation.
The flowering was positively affected by drought and UV-C irradiation, but not at a significant level (P>0.05). Net CO2 assimilation (As), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration (E) were not affected by UV-C treatment.
However, gs and E were significantly reduced in the SD-treated plants at the end of the experiment (e.g., on the 7th week). Slight leaf color changes were detected during the 7 weeks.
Also, leaf lightness (L) increased from 22.4 to 27.5 at the end of the evaluation period.
Relative water content (RWC) of the MD- and SD-treated plants was maintained significantly (P<0.05) higher in UV-C-treated plants, while electrolyte leakage (EL) from cells was maintained significantly lower.
This indicates that UV-C stimulated a protective response to water loss and oxidative damage of the membranes.
Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the process of drought resistance in ornamental plants induced by UV-C irradiation.
Authors
A. Darras, A. Kostriva, K. Dimiza, M. Apostolou, I. Malamas, E. Kartsonas
Keywords
floriculture, physiological response, photosynthesis, water drought
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
Online Articles (35)