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Differences in physiological adaptation of Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. leaves and roots during dehydration–rehydration cycle

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Abstract

The ecophysiological responses of the homoiochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant (HDT) plant Haberlea rhodopensis showed that this plant could tolerate water deficit and both leaves and roots had high ability to survive severe desiccation. The changes and correlation between CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, contents of photosynthetic pigments, root respiration and specific leaf area during dehydration–rehydration cycle were investigated. The physiological activity of leaves and roots were examined in fully hydrated (control) plants and during 72 h of dehydration, as well as following 96 h of rehydration every 6 and 24 h. After 6 h of dehydration, the stomatal conductance declined and the intercellular CO2 concentration increased. The reduction in CO2 assimilation rate was observed after 54 h of dehydration. There was a good correlation between the root respiration and water content. Our results showed that the plasticity of adaptation in leaves and roots were different during extreme water conditions. Roots were more sensitive and reacted faster to water stress than leaves, but their activity rapidly recovered due to immediate and efficient utilization of periodic water supply.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

Chlorophyll

P N :

CO2 assimilation rate (μmol CO2 m−2 s−1)

GS:

Stomatal conductance (mmol H2O m−2 s−1)

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density (μmol m−2 s−1)

WC:

Water content (%)

SLA:

Specific leaf area (cm2 g−1 dw)

DT:

Desiccation tolerant

HDT:

Homoiochlorophyllous desiccation tolerant

PDT:

Poikilochlorophyllous desiccation tolerant

ppm:

part per million

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Hungarian–Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Research Project and the TAMOP 4.2.2/B-10, the Hungarian National Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Plant Ecology” Research Group of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany and Ecophysiology, Szent István University, Páter K. 1, Gödöllő, 2103, Hungary

    Evelin R. Péli & Zoltán Tuba

  2. Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str. Bl. 21, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria

    Gergana Mihailova, Snejanka Petkova & Katya Georgieva

Authors
  1. Evelin R. Péli
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  2. Gergana Mihailova
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  3. Snejanka Petkova
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  4. Zoltán Tuba
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  5. Katya Georgieva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evelin R. Péli.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Renault.

The research project was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Zoltán Tuba who unfortunately passed away on July 4th, 2009.

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Péli, E.R., Mihailova, G., Petkova, S. et al. Differences in physiological adaptation of Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. leaves and roots during dehydration–rehydration cycle. Acta Physiol Plant 34, 947–955 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-011-0891-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-011-0891-9

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