Effects of Light Intensity and Water Stress on Growth, Photosynthetic Characteristics and Plant Survival of Cistus heterophyllus Desf. Subsp. carthaginensis (Pau) M. B. Crespo & Mateo

The objective of this study was to identify the physiological mechanisms used by Cistus heterophyllus Desf. Subsp. carthaginensis (Pau) M. B. Crespo & Mateo, a species in critical danger of extinction, to cope with two typical abiotic conditions. During the summer of 2021, plants were cultivated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Horticulturae 2023-08, Vol.9 (8), p.878
Main Authors: Gómez-Bellot, María José, Sánchez-Blanco, María Jesús, Lorente, Beatriz, Vicente-Colomer, María José, Ortuño, María Fernanda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biomass
Chlorophyll
Cistus heterophyllus
Climate change
Endangered & extinct species
Flowers & plants
Gas exchange
Irrigation
Irrigation water
leaf mineral content
Leaves
Light intensity
Luminous intensity
Mediterranean shrub
osmotic adjustment
Shade
shading
Solar radiation
Species extinction
Stomata
Stomatal conductance
Survival
Water deficit
Water potential
Water stress
Water use
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:The objective of this study was to identify the physiological mechanisms used by Cistus heterophyllus Desf. Subsp. carthaginensis (Pau) M. B. Crespo & Mateo, a species in critical danger of extinction, to cope with two typical abiotic conditions. During the summer of 2021, plants were cultivated under a shade mesh that intercepted 50% of the incident solar radiation (SHADE) and in natural conditions (SUN). Three irrigation treatments were also applied: control, T1, moderate water deficit; T2, 60% of the control, severe deficit; and T3, 30% of the control. Therefore, there were six treatments (SUN-T1, SUN-T2, SUN-T3, SHADE-T1, SHADE-T2, SHADE-T3). Plants were more affected by solar radiation than by deficit irrigation. Although leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and root biomass decreased by up to 45%, 63% and 65%, respectively, as deficit irrigation increased, plants were able to develop a leaf osmotic adjustment and an improved intrinsic water-use efficiency to maintain their growth and survival rate. Shade conditions improved gas exchange, reduced leaf temperature and induced the synthesis of chlorophylls, regardless of the irrigation level imposed. This indicated that radiation was the most limiting factor in our experiment. Applying 50% of the radiation and a moderate water deficit would help to obtain a good plant development and high survival rate in future recovery and conservation programs for the species.
ISSN:2311-7524
2311-7524
DOI:10.3390/horticulturae9080878