ISHS Acta Horticulturae 747: VIII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Advances in Soil and Soilless Cultivation under Protected Environment
EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID APPLICATIONS ON EGGPLANT RESPONSE TO SALINITY |
| Authors: | A. Maggio, G. Raimondi, A. Martino, S. De Pascale |
| Keywords: | ascorbate, leaf water potentials, stomatal conductance, plant water use |
| Abstract:
Plant preconditioning with mild concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) has been proved to be effective in protecting horticultural crops in hyperosmotic environment. The protective effect of AA seems to be associated to the control of stomatal aperture and, consequently, to a reduced water loss in response to hyperosmotic stress. Based on these findings we wanted to verify whether controlled AA treatments may be considered in horticulture production as a strategy to improve/optimize plant water use efficiency. For this purpose, a glasshouse experiment was carried out with eggplants (Solanum melongena L.). Two irrigation treatments were imposed: non-saline control (Hoagland nutrient solution, EC=2.4 dS m-1) and saline treatment (nutrient solution plus 17 mM NaCl, EC=4.9 dS m-1). Within each irrigation treatment, AA (10mM) was supplied with the irrigation water 6 times throughout the growth season to half of the plants. Stomatal conductance, plant water use and leaf area per plant were measured in coincidence of each AA treatment. Leaf water potentials, leaf relative water content were measured, also. In addition, plant growth, yield and ion contents of leaves, roots and fruits were assessed. Salinity decreased stomatal conductance, plant water use, leaf total and osmotic water potentials. Salt stress increased dry matter content in all plant organs (leaf, root and fruit) and reduced leaf area, plant dry mass yield, fruit yield and fruit size. AA treatments reduced stomatal conductance, but had a negative effect on plant growth and yield regardless the irrigation treatment. Consistent with other reports, AA reduced the stomatal conductance but did not seem to improve commercial yield and total dry matter in saline environment. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
