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Influence of germination date on Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) seedling tolerance to water stress

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Abstract

Dioon edule seedling mortality is mostly attributed to dehydration by prolonged drought, even when they present xeromorphic characteristics like the adult plants. The effect of germination date (GD) and soil water deficit on seedling tolerance to water stress was assessed. The seedlings germinated and grown from mature seeds every month from December to April GD were selected to evaluate the leaf area, photosynthetic pigment content, crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) activity, stomatal conductance (gs) and leaflet anatomy at soil water potential (Ψs) of 0.0 MPa (day 1), −0.1 MPa (day 40), −1.0 MPa (day 90), −1.5 MPa (day 130), and a control (0.0 MPa at day 130) to recognize differences due to leaf development. The seedlings shifted from C3 to CAM cycling when exposed to water stress at Ψs of −1.0 MPa, like adult plants. The March–April GD seedlings with undeveloped sclerified hypodermis and stomata, presented reduced leaf area, lower Chlorophyll a/b ratio, higher CAM activity and midday partial stomatal closure when reached Ψs of −1.0 MPa. These have higher probability of dehydration during severe drought (February–April) than those of the December–February GD with similar Ψs. Plants used for restoration purposes must have full leaf development to increase the survival.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The Cycad Society, Inc. and PROMEP—SEP [UASLP-PTC-179]. Mexican government authorized cone collection [SGPADGVS/00507/08]. We thank NTBG College Biology Professors’ Fellowship for the basic knowledge in cycads; Pablo Delgado provided assistance with SEM; Isaac Jacob Chávez Acuña provided environmental data; Raymundo Mora and Efraín Hernández provided assistance in the field and laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Altair 200, Col. del Llano, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P, 78377, Mexico

    Laura Yáñez-Espinosa

  2. División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, A.C. Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Col. Lomas 4a Sección, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P, 78216, Mexico

    Joel Flores

  3. Programas Multidisciplinarios de Posgrado en Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 8, Zona Universitaria Poniente, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P, 78290, Mexico

    Laura Yáñez-Espinosa, Paulina S. Rodríguez Millán & Gabriel Rubio Méndez

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  1. Laura Yáñez-Espinosa
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  2. Joel Flores
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  3. Paulina S. Rodríguez Millán
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  4. Gabriel Rubio Méndez
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Correspondence to Laura Yáñez-Espinosa.

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Yáñez-Espinosa, L., Flores, J., Rodríguez Millán, P.S. et al. Influence of germination date on Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) seedling tolerance to water stress. J Plant Res 127, 413–422 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-014-0624-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-014-0624-4

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