Ecotypic Morphological and Physio-Biochemical Responses of Two Differentially Adapted Forage Grasses, Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Cyperus arenarius Retz. to Drought Stress

Crop performance and yield are the results of genotypic expression as modulated by continuous interaction with the environment. Among the environmental aspects, drought and salinity are the most important factors, which limit the forages, including grasses, on a global basis. Grass species have the ability to grow under low water conditions and can produce high dry yield, proteins, and energy in areas exposed to drought stress. For this purpose, we conducted the present study to understand the response of forage grasses under drought stress from two different regions (Salt Range and Faisalabad) of Punjab, Pakistan. Two ecotypes of each grass species (Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Cyperus arenarius Retz.) were grown in pots at the botanical research area, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan. A group of plants were subjected to drought stress (60% field capacity) and controlled (100% field capacity) after three weeks of seed germination. The results from the present study depicted that the fresh and dry weights of root and shoot were decreased significantly under drought conditions. Moreover, C. ciliaris of the Salt Range area showed more resistance and higher growth production under drought stress. The chlorophyll (a and b) contents were also decreased significantly, while MDA, total soluble sugars, and proline levels were increased significantly under water-limited environments in the C. arenarius of Salt Range area. Enzymatic antioxidants (superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD)) and leaf Na+ were significantly raised in C. arenarius under drought stress collected from the Faisalabad region. Cenchrus ciliaris showed higher level of H2O2, total soluble proteins, glycinebetaine, catalase (CAT) and POD compared to C. arenarius. It also retained more leaf and root Ca2+, and root K+ under drought stress. It was concluded from the study that C. ciliaris is more resistant to drought in biomass production collected from the Salt Range area. The results suggested that C. ciliaris can be more widely used as a forage grass under water-scarce conditions as compared to C. arenarius.

Download Full-text

The impact of drought stress on the yields and food value of selected forage grasses

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.1663 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mariola Staniak

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Stress ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritional Value ◽

Lolium Multiflorum ◽

Grass Species ◽

Forage Grasses ◽

The Impact

The aim of the study was to compare yields and nutritional value of selected species and cultivars of forage grasses under the optimal moisture conditions and long-term drought stress. The regenerative capacity of plants after dehydration was also assessed. The pot experiment was conducted in years 2009–2010 in IUNG-PIB’s greenhouse in Puławy, Poland. Nine cultivars of four species: Dactylis glomerata (‘Amera’, ‘Minora’), Festuca pratensis (‘Skra’, ‘Fantazja’), Festulolium braunii (‘Felopa’, ‘Agula’, ‘Sulino’), and Lolium multiflorum (‘Gisel’, ‘Lotos’) were investigated in well-watered conditions (70% field water capacity – FWC) and under a long-term drought stress (40% FWC).The study showed that stress caused by soil moisture deficiency significantly reduced yields of D. glomerata, F. pratensis, F. braunii, and L. multiflorum. The total yield of dry matter under stress conditions was about 31% lower, compared to the performance achieved on the optimally moisturized treatment. The smallest reduction in dry matter yield under the conditions of water deficit was recorded for D. glomerata, which makes it the most resistant to stress, followed by F. pratensis. The resistance of F. braunii and L. multiflorum to stress was similar and significantly lower. There was a various response of different grasses to the water stress. On the basis of the value of the DSI (drought susceptibility index), the tested cultivars were ranked depending on the sensitivity to drought, starting with the most resistant cultivar: ‘Minora’, ‘Skra’, ‘Fantazja’, ‘Amera’, ‘Sulino’, ‘Agula’, ‘Gisel’, ‘Lotos’, and ‘Felopa’. The digestibility of dry matter and nutrient value of the grasses depended on both the level of soil moisture and grass species. Under the water stress, the digestibility and protein value increased compared to the control objects. Lolium multiflorum and F. braunii had the best nutritional value, while D. glomerata – the weakest.

Download Full-text

The role of calcium in drought stress response induced through antioxidant activity in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings

E-Journal Menara Perkebunan ◽

10.22302/iribb.jur.mp.v89i1.425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 89 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Endah NURWAHYUNI ◽

Eka Tarwaca Susila PUTRA

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Elaeis Guineensis ◽

Essential Element ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Severe Drought ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidants ◽

Drought Treatment ◽

Sod Activity ◽

Effects Of Drought

Oil palm productivity in Indonesia faces challenges related to drought that occur during the dry season. Calcium is an element that plays a role in determining the response of plant resistance to drought through biochemical activity. This study aims to determine the contribution of calcium in biochemical mechanisms involving various antioxidants. The treatment was arranged in factorial of 3 x 4 in a split-plot design. The first factor was calcium dosage, which consisted of 0 g (control/without calcium), 0.04 g, 0.08 g, and 0.12 g of calcium per plant. The second factor was the intensity of drought stress, referred as the Fraction of Transpirable Soil Water (FTSW) at 1 (control/field capacity), 0.35 (moderate drought), and 0.15 (severe drought) with a week duration of intensity. Calcium was applied in a ring placement on four-month-old seedlings planted in 40 x 40 cm polybags with alfisol soil planting medium and given drought treatment two months later for three weeks. The results showed that calcium could induce plant response to drought through the increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the decrease in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, and the decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The study concluded that calcium is an essential element used to reduce the effects of drought on oil palm seedlings through the change of biochemical activities regulated by enzymatic antioxidants.

Download Full-text

Exogenous Gibberellic Acid or Dilute Bee Honey Boosts Drought Stress Tolerance in Vicia faba by Rebalancing Osmoprotectants, Antioxidants, Nutrients, and Phytohormones

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10040748 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 748

Author(s):

Mostafa M. Rady ◽

Sara H. K. Boriek ◽

Taia A. Abd El-Mageed ◽

Mohamed A. Seif El-Yazal ◽

Esmat F. Ali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Gibberellic Acid ◽

Vicia Faba ◽

Growth Regulators ◽

Faba Bean ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Plant Performance ◽

Ion Leakage ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidants

The use of growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3) and biostimulants, including diluted bee honey (Db-H) can improve drought tolerance in many crops, including the faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Db-H contains high values of osmoprotectants, mineral nutrients, vitamins, and many antioxidants making it an effective growth regulator against environmental stress effects. Therefore, the present study was planned to investigate the potential improvement in the faba bean plant performance (growth and productivity) under full watering (100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)) and drought stress (60% of ETc) by foliar application of GA3 (20 mg L−1) or Db-H (20 g L−1). The ameliorative impacts of these growth regulators on growth, productivity, physio-biochemical attributes, nutrient status, antioxidant defense system, and phytohormones were evaluated. GA3 or Db-H attenuated the negative influences of drought stress on cell membrane stability, ion leakage, relative water content, nutrient status, leaf pigments related to photosynthesis (chlorophylls and carotenoids), and efficiency of the photosystem II (PSII in terms of Fv/Fm and performance index), thus improving faba bean growth, green pod yield, and water use efficiency. Drought stress caused an abnormal state of nutrients and photosynthetic machinery due to increased indicators of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2•−)), associated with increased osmoprotectants (proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugars, and soluble protein), non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, glutathione, and α-tocopherol), and enzymatic antioxidant activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase). However, foliar-applied GA3 or Db-H mediated further increases in osmoprotectants, antioxidant capacity, GA3, indole-3-acetic acid, and cytokinins, along with decreased levels of MDA and abscisic acid. These results suggest the use of GA3 or Db-H at the tested concentrations to mitigate drought-induced damage in bean plants to obtain satisfactory growth and productivity under a water deficit of up to 40%.

Download Full-text

Silicon Priming Regulates Morpho-Physiological Growth and Oxidative Metabolism in Maize under Drought Stress

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8100431 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 431 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Abida Parveen ◽

Wei Liu ◽

Saddam Hussain ◽

Jaleel Asghar ◽

Shagufta Perveen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Seed Priming ◽

Plant Tolerance ◽

Easy Method ◽

Chlorophyll Contents ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Effects Of Drought

Seed priming with silicon (Si) is an efficient and easy method to regulate plant tolerance against different abiotic stresses. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the Si-mediated changes in oxidative defense and some vital physio-biochemical parameters of maize under a limited water supply. For this purpose, two maize varieties (Pearl and Malka) with different Si priming treatments (0, 4 mM, 6 mM) were grown under a control and 60% field capacity for three weeks. At 60% field capacity, significant reductions in plant growth attributes and chlorophyll contents were recorded compared with the control. The negative effects of drought stress were more severe for Malka compared with Pearl. Drought stress increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, altered the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)), and triggered the accumulation of soluble sugars, glycine betaine, proline, and phenolics contents. Nevertheless, seed priming with silicon at 4 or 6 mM was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects of drought stress in both cultivars. Si priming particularly at 6 mM significantly enhanced the shoot and root lengths as well as their biomass and improved the levels of photosynthetic pigments. Moreover, Si treatments enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) while it reduced the MDA and H2O2 contents in both cultivars under stress conditions. In crux, the present investigation suggests that Si priming mitigates the harmful effects of drought stress and contributes to the recovery of maize growth.

Download Full-text

Morphological, physiochemical and antioxidant responses of Maclura pomifera to drought stress

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-55889-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alireza Khaleghi ◽

Rohangiz Naderi ◽

Cecilia Brunetti ◽

Bianca Elena Maserti ◽

Seyed Alireza Salami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Complete Recovery ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Drought Period ◽

Maclura Pomifera

AbstractDrought is one of the most important environmental factor limiting the growth of woody and non woody plants. In the present paper, we aimed to explore the performance of Maclura pomifera under a prolonged drought period followed by re-watering. M. pomifera plants were exposed to four different watering regimes (100%, 75%, 50% and 30% of the field capacity (FC)) for three weeks and then rewatered. The exposure to drought affected physiological, morphological and biochemical traits of M. pomifera. Leaf area, relative water content and water potential of leaf decreased in parallel with increased water deficit. Malondialdehyde content increased along with the drought stress experiment. Soluble carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose and fructose) accumulated during drought stress, but decreased after 22 days of water deficit in severe stressed plants (30% FC). Proline and mannitol, two compatible osmolytes, were higher in drought stresses plants than in control plants. Additionally the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX, DHAR and GR) resulted affected by drought stress. In the recovery period, the physiological parameters as well as the proline content recovered at control levels, whereas soluble sugars, mannitol and total activity of antioxidant enzymes remained slight higher than in control plants, presumably to allow plants a complete recovery after stress. Our results suggest that M. pomifera has a good adaptive response to drought stress, probably corresponded to decreasing oxidative injury by induction of the antioxidant system and accumulation of stable and protective osmolytes such as proline and mannitol at higher rates.

Download Full-text

Low dose of gamma irradiation enhanced drought tolerance in soybean

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.59.2011.1.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

H. Moussa

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Gamma Irradiation ◽

Gamma Rays ◽

Low Dose ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Chloroplast Ultrastructure ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Drought Treatment

Drought stress is the main limiting factor in soybean production. However, no work has been done on how the application of a low dose of gamma rays could help to overcome water deficits during critical stages of soybean development. Gamma rays at a dose of 20 Gray (Gy) were applied to dry seeds of soybean before planting. Two levels of soil moisture (80% field capacity for well-watered control and 35% for drought-stressed treatment) were applied at pod initiation. Gamma irradiation increased biomass accumulation and seed yield in both treatments. It also increased the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activity (14CO2 fixation) and leaf water potential and enhanced the enzyme activities of RuBPCase and PEPCase of control plants compared with drought-stressed plants. Gamma irradiation (20 Gy) increased the soluble sugars, protein and proline content and the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in drought-stressed soybean leaves. It also increased the chloroplast size, which was reduced by drought treatment, and rebuilt, to some extent, the chloroplast ultrastructure. However, it decreased the malondialdehyde concentration and the electrical conductivity of the leaves under drought stress. Overall, the results indicated that pre-treatment with gamma rays (20 Gy) to dry seeds of soybean before planting could be used to enhance drought tolerance and minimize the yield loss caused by water deficit.

Download Full-text

Differential regulatory pathways associated with drought-inhibition and post-drought recuperation of rhizome development in perennial grass

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcaa099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 126 (3) ◽

pp. 481-497

Author(s):

Xiqing Ma ◽

Jingjin Yu ◽

Lili Zhuang ◽

Yi Shi ◽

William Meyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Energy Metabolism ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Grass Species ◽

Metabolic Processes ◽

Regulatory Pathways ◽

Drought Recovery ◽

Rhizome Development

Abstract Background and Aims Rhizomes are key organs for the establishment of perennial grass stands and adaptation to environmental stress. However, mechanisms regulating rhizome initiation and elongation under drought stress and during post-drought recovery remain unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate molecular factors and metabolic processes involved in drought effects and post-drought recovery in rhizome growth in perennial grass species by comparative transcriptomic and proteomic profiling. Methods Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) (B-type rhizome genotype, ‘BR’) plants were exposed to drought stress and re-watering in growth chambers. The number and length of rhizomes were measured following drought stress and re-watering. Hormone and sugar contents were analysed, and transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed to identify metabolic factors, genes and proteins associated with rhizome development. Key Results Rhizome initiation and elongation were inhibited by drought stress, and were associated with increases in the contents of abscisic acid (ABA) and soluble sugars, but declines in the contents of indoleacetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR) and gibberellin (GA4). Genes involved in multiple metabolic processes and stress defence systems related to rhizome initiation exhibited different responses to drought stress, including ABA signalling, energy metabolism and stress protection. Drought-inhibition of rhizome elongation could be mainly associated with the alteration of GA4 and antioxidants contents, energy metabolism and stress response proteins. Upon re-watering, new rhizomes were regenerated from rhizome nodes previously exposed to drought stress, which was accompanied by the decline in ABA content and increases in IAA, ZR and GA4, as well as genes and proteins for auxin, lipids, lignin and nitrogen metabolism. Conclusions Drought-inhibition of rhizome initiation and elongation in tall fescue was mainly associated with adjustments in hormone metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and stress-defence systems. Rhizome regeneration in response to re-watering involved reactivation of hormone and lipid metabolism, secondary cell-wall development, and nitrogen remobilization and cycling.

Download Full-text

γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Priming Improves Seed Germination and Seedling Stress Tolerance Associated With Enhanced Antioxidant Metabolism, DREB Expression, and Dehydrin Accumulation in White Clover Under Water Stress

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.776939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Min Zhou ◽

Muhammad Jawad Hassan ◽

Yan Peng ◽

Lin Liu ◽

Wei Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Drought Stress ◽

White Clover ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Aminobutyric Acid ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidants ◽

Antioxidant Metabolism ◽

Limited Condition ◽

The Impact ◽

Seeds Germination

As an important plant growth regulator, the role of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in regulating seeds germination was less well elucidated under water stress. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of GABA pretreatment on seeds germination of white clover (Trifolium repens) under water deficient condition. Results demonstrated that seeds pretreated with 2μmol/l GABA significantly alleviated decreases in endogenous GABA content, germination percentage, germination potential, germination index, root length, and fresh weight along with marked reduction in mean germination time after 7days of germination under drought stress. In addition, seeds priming with GABA significantly increased the accumulation of soluble sugars, non-enzymatic antioxidants [reduced ascorbate, dehydroascorbic acid, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH)], and enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathioe reductase, and monodehydroasorbate reductase (MDHR)] activities involved in antioxidant metabolism, which could be associated with significant reduction in osmotic potential and the accumulation of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, electrical leakage, and malondialdehyde in seeds under drought stress. The GABA-pretreated seeds exhibited significantly higher abundance of dehydrin (DHN, 56 KDa) and expression levels of DHNs encoding genes (SK2, Y2K, Y2SK, and Dehydrin b) and transcription factors (DREB2, DREB3, DREB4, and DREB5) than the untreated seeds during germination under water-limited condition. These results indicated that the GABA regulated improvement in seeds germination associated with enhancement in osmotic adjustment, antioxidant metabolism, and DREB-related DHNs expression. Current study will provide a better insight about the GABA-regulated defense mechanism during seeds germination under water-limited condition.

Download Full-text

Growth Characteristics, Physiological and Metabolic Responses of Teak (Tectona Grandis Linn. f.) Clones Differing in Rejuvenation Capacity Subjected to Drought Stress

Silvae Genetica ◽

10.1515/sg-2010-0015 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 59 (1-6) ◽

pp. 124-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Azamal Husen

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Electrolyte Leakage ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Photosynthetic Apparatus ◽

Tectona Grandis ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Cellular Damage ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Significant Recovery ◽

Mda Content

Summary Four-year old clones (FG1 and FG11) of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.), differing in rejuvenation capacity were grown in glazed earthenware pots. Drought treatments were imposed by withholding water for 20 days and rewatered to the field capacity daily for 5 days and the possible role of biochemical alteration and antioxidant metabolism in conferring photosynthetic capacity was determine by measuring photosynthetic traits, cellular damage and assaying activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (PER) enzymes. Growth, relative water content (RWC), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and soluble protein content decreased significantly with increasing drought treatments from 5 to 20 days. Droughtinduced stress significantly increased the carotenoids content, relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and, at the same time, accumulated free proline, free amino acid and soluble sugars in both clones. After re-watered to the field capacity daily for 5 days, both clones were shown significant recovery in the studied parameters. As compared with the FG11, the FG1 clone was more tolerant to drought as indicated by higher level of antioxidant enzyme activities as well as lower MDA content and electrolyte leakage. Similarly, drought stress caused less pronounced inhibition of Pn in FG1 than in FG11 clone. After re-hydration, the recovery was relatively quicker in FG1 than in FG11 clone. FG1 clone showed significant recovery in maximum quantum yield or photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) after 5 days of re-watering. The FG11 compared to the FG1, the former clone was less tolerant to drought than the latter. These results demonstrated that the different physiological strategies including antioxidative enzymes employed by the FG1 and FG11 clones of T. grandis to protect photosynthetic apparatus and alleviate drought stress. Furthermore, this study also provides ideas for teak improvement programmes and may be useful in breeding or genetic engineering for their tolerance to drought stress.

Download Full-text

Morphological, Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Poplar Plants to Drought Stress

Journal of AgriSearch ◽

10.21921/jas.5.3.7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (03) ◽

Author(s):

ARADHNA KUMARI ◽

IM KHAN ◽

ANIL KUMAR SINGH ◽

SANTOSH KUMAR SINGH

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Drought Event ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Biochemical Responses ◽

Physiological And Biochemical

Poplar clone Kranti was selected to assess the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses under drought at different levels of water stress, as it is a common clone used to be grown in Uttarakhand for making paper and plywood. The cuttings of Populus deltoides L. (clone Kranti) were exposed to four different watering regimes (100, 75, 50 and 25% of the field capacity) and changes in physiological and biochemical parameters related with drought tolerance were recorded. Alterations in physiological (i.e. decrease in relative water content) and biochemical parameters (i.e. increase in proline and soluble sugar content and build-up of malondialdehyde by-products) occurred in all the three levels of water stress, although drought represented the major determinant. Drought treatments (75%, 50% and 25% FC) decreased plant height, radial stem diameter, harvest index, total biomass content and RWC in all the three watering regimes compared to control (100% FC). Biochemical parameters like proline, soluble sugar and MDA content increased with severity and duration of stress, which helped plants to survive under severe stress. It was analyzed that for better wood yield poplar seedlings should avail either optimum amount of water (amount nearly equal to field capacity of soil) or maximum withdrawal up to 75% of field capacity up to seedling establishment period (60 days). Furthermore, this study manifested that acclimation to drought stress is related with the rapidity, severity, and duration of the drought event of the poplar species.

Download Full-text