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Drought stress influences leaf water content, photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis at three potassium concentrations

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The influence of drought stress (DS) upon whole-plant water content, water relations, photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cv. Leprechaun (Hibiscus) plants at three levels of potassium (K) nutritional status were determined after a 21-d gradually imposed DS treatment. Compared to K-deficient plants, adequate K supply improved the leaf water content (LWC) and leaf water relations of Hibiscus by decreasing the Ψ π, and generally sustained rates of net photosynthesis (P N) and transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (g s), both in DS and non-DS plants. In K-deficient Hibiscus, LWC, turgor potential (Ψ P), and P N, E, and g s as well as instantaneous water-use efficiency, WUE (P N/E) were consistently lower, compared to K-sufficient plants. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) was lower (i.e. longterm WUE was greatest) in DS than non-DS plants, but K had no effect on Δ during the 21-d drought treatment period under glasshouse conditions. However, the trend in the Δ value of DS plants suggests that Δ could be a useful index of the response of Hibiscus to DS under glasshouse growing conditions. Thus the incorporation of a properly controlled fertilization regime involving sufficient levels of K can improve the acclimation of P N to low Ψleaf, increase P N/E of Hibiscus, and may have potential benefit for other woody plants species.

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Abbreviations

DM:

dry mass

DS:

drought stressed

non-DS:

non-drought stressed

E :

transpiration rate

g s :

stomatal conductance

K0 :

0 mM K

K2.5 :

2.5 mM K

K10 :

10 mM K

LWC:

leaf water content

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

WUE:

water use efficiency

Δ:

stable carbon isotope discrimination

Ψl :

leaf water potential

ΨP :

leaf turgor potential

Ψπ :

leaf osmotic potential

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooperative Research Program, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO, 65102, USA

    J. N. Egilla

  2. Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA

    F. T. Davies Jr.

  3. Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA

    T. W. Boutton

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  1. J. N. Egilla
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  2. F. T. Davies Jr.
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  3. T. W. Boutton
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Correspondence to J. N. Egilla.

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Egilla, J.N., Davies, F.T. & Boutton, T.W. Drought stress influences leaf water content, photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis at three potassium concentrations. Photosynthetica 43, 135–140 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-5140-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-5140-2

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