Articles
Physiological responses of four pomegranate cultivars (Punica granatum L.) under water stress
Article number
1464_9
Pages
59 – 68
Language
English
Abstract
The Mediterranean basin is one of the regions most affected by water scarcity.
Plants adapt to drought conditions through physiological, biochemical and morphological strategies.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is considered an alternative crop for farmers transitioning from traditional species due to its adaptability to a wide range of soil and climate conditions.
However, its tolerance to water stress is highly genotype-dependent.
For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the response of different pomegranate cultivars cultivated in pots subjected to 70 and 50% of field capacity (FC) for 50 days compared to the control.
The genotypes under study were: a Sicilian selection named ‘Etna’; ‘Acco’, originally from Israel, ‘Mollar de Elche’ and ‘Valenciana’, appreciated Spanish cultivars for their intense sweetness. ‘Etna’ and ‘Valenciana’ exhibited sensitivity to water stress as 30 and 29% of the plants, respectively, died at 50% FC; the latter showed the highest decrease of leaf water potential compared to the control. ‘Acco’ maintained plant water status and leaf gas exchanges values similar to the control.
Moreover, ‘Etna’ showed an increase in leaf transpiration rate (E) at T50, while ‘Mollar’ and ‘Valenciana’ reduced E values.
Plants adapt to drought conditions through physiological, biochemical and morphological strategies.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is considered an alternative crop for farmers transitioning from traditional species due to its adaptability to a wide range of soil and climate conditions.
However, its tolerance to water stress is highly genotype-dependent.
For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the response of different pomegranate cultivars cultivated in pots subjected to 70 and 50% of field capacity (FC) for 50 days compared to the control.
The genotypes under study were: a Sicilian selection named ‘Etna’; ‘Acco’, originally from Israel, ‘Mollar de Elche’ and ‘Valenciana’, appreciated Spanish cultivars for their intense sweetness. ‘Etna’ and ‘Valenciana’ exhibited sensitivity to water stress as 30 and 29% of the plants, respectively, died at 50% FC; the latter showed the highest decrease of leaf water potential compared to the control. ‘Acco’ maintained plant water status and leaf gas exchanges values similar to the control.
Moreover, ‘Etna’ showed an increase in leaf transpiration rate (E) at T50, while ‘Mollar’ and ‘Valenciana’ reduced E values.
Authors
G. Modica, F. Arcidiacono, D. Costantino, S. La Malfa, A. Gentile, M. Di Guardo, A. Continella
Keywords
drought stress, gas exchanges, leaf water potential
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