ISHS Acta Horticulturae 449: II International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT CONDITION ON THE WATER RELATIONS OF ANNUAL AND PERENNIAL FORAGE SPECIES IN A LOW ELEVATION GRASSLAND |
| Authors: | M. Karatassiou, B. Noitsakis, Z. Koukoura |
| Keywords: | Water stress, water potential, stomatal conductance, grasses, legumes |
| Abstract:
The composition of vegetation plays an important role to the forage production of the low elevation grasslands. On the other hand the drought conditions, occurred very often in Mediterranean region, affect the composition of vegetation as well as the forage production itself. Thus, a study of drought resistance of annual and perennial legumes and grasses in such a region would be very interested. The stomatal conductance (gs), leaf water potential (  ), osmotic potential ( ) and turgor potential (p) as well as the water saturation deficit (W.S.D) were measured in annual (Avena fatua, Medicago minima) and perennial (Lotus aegaeus, Dactylis glomerata, Cynodon dactylon) forage species during the growth period in a low elevation grassland of North Greece.
The results indicated an obvious differentiation at the internal water status between the legumes and grasses. Medicago minima and Lotus aegaeus maintained higher values of and low W.S.D in comparison to grasses.
These latter, although presented differences in the changes of vs W.S.D, seem to have very low during the growing period.
The characteristic decrease of gs vs at the very high values of in the legumes could explain the low W.S.D in these species compared with W.S.D in the grasses.
Probably in this species the turgor potential was the most important mechanism to maintain a favourable internal water status.
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