Physiological and biochemical parameters of apricot cultivars under drought conditions on the Southern Coast of the Crimea

Abstract

In order to determine special features of the photosynthetic apparatus activity and the content of thread compounds in various apricot cultivars during the period of maximum drought probability on the Southern Coast of the Crimea, we studied the concentration of proline, phenolic compounds and chlorophylls, as well as the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (CFI) in some apricot cultivars ( Prunus armeniaca Lam.), characterized by various degree of drought tolerance (‘Alupkinsky’, ‘Krymskiy Amur’) are weakly resistant; Khurmai cultivar is characterized by labile resistance, and the cultivars Kazachok, Professor Smykov, Nagycorosi Orias are drought tolerant cultivars). It has been found out that drought-resistant cultivars are characterized by a relatively low content of proline in their leaves. It is supposed that this amino acid is involved in the protective reactions of apricot plants under water stress. The results of the photosynthetic apparatus studies in the presented cultivars demonstrated that in leaves, water loss less than 20% caused reversible changes in the parameters of CFI. An increase in the water deficit up to 25-30% caused the destruction of PS2 in weakly drought-resistant cultivars. The most stable photosynthetic apparatus activity was noticed in the cultivar Nagycorosi Orias. Deviations in photosynthesis processes were most pronounced during the period of water restoration in leaves.