Physiological changes after exposure to and recovery from polyethylene glycol-induced water deficit in roots and leaves of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cultivars differing in drought resistance
M. Bajji et al., Physiological changes after exposure to and recovery from polyethylene glycol-induced water deficit in roots and leaves of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cultivars differing in drought resistance, J PLANT PHY, 157(1), 2000, pp. 100-108
The effects of water stress on the behaviour of hydroponically-grown seedli
ngs of 3 durum wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) cvs. differing in drought resi
stance (Kabir 1, drought sensitive; Omrabi 5 and Haurani, drought resistant
) were investigated under controlled environmental conditions. Fresh weight
(FW), water content (WC), osmotic potential (Psi(s)), organic and inorgani
c solute concentrations in roots and shoots were measured after 7 days of e
xposure to polyethylene glycol (PEG at 0, 10 or 20 %) and after 2 and 7 day
s of recovery following stress relief. Water stress decreased FW WC and Psi
s, and increased root to shoot ratio (R/S) and soluble sugar, proline and
other amino acid concentrations in both roots and leaves of all cvs. Water
stress effect on inorganic solutes was different depending on the ion natur
e and on the plant part. Most of the significant changes were recorded in r
esponse to 20 % PEG. Roots and shoots roughly reacted in the same way to wa
ter stress but differed in terms of the intensity and rapidity of the respo
nses. After stress relief, almost all parameters returned to control level;
however, for some of them, roots and shoots differed in the rapidity of th
eir recovery. Growth parameters as well as organic solute accumulation reve
aled differences in the behaviour of the 3 different cvs. when confronted t
o water stress. Our results demonstrated the high plasticity of durum wheat
at the vegetative stage and suggest that the maintenance of higher root gr
owth and osmotic adjustment in water stress conditions could confer an impr
oved resistance of this species to drought.