Physiological acclimation of a grass species occurs during sustained but not repeated drought events

Abstract

Climate change is predicted to result in more variable and extreme precipitation regimes, with potentially longer periods between precipitation events. However, the effects of multiple, sequential drought events on ecosystems and potential acclimation, particularly in grasslands, is poorly understood. In this study, we tested if two simulated drought regimes, (i) sustained drought (soil moisture content reduced from 75 to 25 % field capacity over 14 days and maintained for 29 days) and (ii) repeated drought (two cycles of a reduction to 25 % field capacity, reached after 22 days and 15 days, separated by a rewatering event to 75 % field capacity for 5 days), differentially influence fourteen key physiological responses in the model grass species (Brachypodium distachyon). In addition, we aimed to determine whether plants may acclimate differently to sustained and/or repeated drought events. B. distachyon exhibited plasticity in response to drought, exhibiting two distinct drought resistance responses to the two watering regimes. Plants exposed to sustained drought exhibited early reductions in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and water potential (43 %, 42 % and 37 %, respectively). However, plants showed physiological acclimation and recovery in these parameters after an additional 3–21 days, but had a ∼50 % lower shoot biomass than well-watered plants. These data demonstrate a conservative, albeit plastic, response to soil water deficit. In contrast, plants exposed to repeated drought responded opportunistically whereby greater fluctuations in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and water potential (reductions of up to 62 %, 71 % and 90 %, respectively) were closely related to drought and rewatering events. Since plants exposed to repeated drought had a greater reduction in water potential and faster reductions in relative photosynthesis in the second drought event compared to the initial drought event, this may indicate a lack of acclimation under this drought regime. Our results provide evidence for differential responses of B. distachyon to drought and rewatering events, which are dependent on the drought regime (sustained or repeated) and must be carefully considered when interpreting experimental data.