Biometric and Physiological Responses to Water Restriction in Moringa oleifera Seedlings

Michelle Conceição Vasconcelos,Joel Conceição Costa,Tássia Fernanda Santos Neri Soares,Luiz Fernando Ganassali De Oliveira Júnior,João Paulo Silva Sousa,Renata Silva-Mann,Fernanda Vieira Santana

doi:10.1590/2179-8087.016515

Abstract

ABSTRACT A water deficit in the soil can cause water stress in plants, triggering morphological and physiological changes. The aim of this work was evaluate the ecophysiological development of moringa seedlings under controlled water restriction. The experimental design was completely randomized at 40, 60, 80, and 100% of field capacity and six replicates. The photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration, vapor pressure deficit, internal carbon concentration, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll and stem diameter, height, and number of leaves were measured at 9 a.m. during 21 days of restriction. The treatments differed for photosynthetic parameters. Moringa seedlings reduce gas exchange to adapt to water restrictions until 40% of field capacity. The alterations promoted by water restriction did not negatively affected plant development.

Highlights

Under tropical conditions, agricultural yield can be negatively affected by a number of biotic and abiotic stresses that alter plant growth and development
The ecophysiological and biometric parameters of moringa were analyzed to evaluate the effects of the intensity of the stress caused by water deficit on the photosynthetic apparatus of moringa seedlings subjected to controlled water restriction
The water deficits did not cause severe damage to the moringa seedlings; there was no change in stomatal conductance compared to extreme levels of restriction, which constitutes one of the first strategies employed by plants to reduce transpiration and to maintain turgor pressure (Eckstein & Robinson, 1996)

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural yield can be negatively affected by a number of biotic and abiotic stresses that alter plant growth and development. In this context, nutrient deficiencies, such as nitrogen and phosphorus limitations, and stresses caused by low water availability and high temperatures have been frequently highlighted (Silva et al, 2012a). A water deficit is one of the most severe and common types of abiotic stress that affects crops grown in semiarid environments. The effect is evident at any plant growth stage and may vary according to the severity and duration of the stress (Farooq et al, 2009). A water deficit in the soil can cause water stress in plants, triggering morphological and physiological changes. When plants are exposed to a water deficit, they frequently exhibit physiological responses that indirectly result in water conservation in the soil, as if the plants were saving the water for a later time period (Souza & Lima, 2012)

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