Effects of drought stress induced by D-Mannitol on the germination and early seedling growth traits, physiological parameters and phytochemicals content of Tunisian squash (Cucurbita maximaDuch.) landraces

Frontiers in Plant Science

Plant Science

Hanen Falleh¹  Riadh Ksouri¹  Ourania Pavli²  Spyridon A. Petropoulos³  Wassim Saadaoui⁴  Insaf Msetra⁴  Neji Tarchoun⁴  Chadha Ayed⁴  Roua Amami⁴ 

[1] Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plant, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, Tunis, Tunisia;Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece;Laboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece;Research Laboratory LR21AGR05, High Agronomic Institute of ChottMariem, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia;

关键词: water stress;    Cucurbita maxima;    seed germination;    seedling vigor;    total phenols content;    chlorophyll fluorescence;    carotenoids;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2023.1215394

 received in 2023-05-01, accepted in 2023-07-07,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionDrought stress is one of the most devastating environmental stressors, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Considering the major constraints that drought stress poses to crop production and the consequent yield losses in food crops, breeding for climate-resilient crops is an efficient means to mitigate stress conditions. Materials and methodsThis study aimed at evaluating the response of four squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) landraces to drought stress at germination and at plant stage. Drought stress was induced by different concentrations of D-mannitol (-0.24, -0.47 and -0.73 MPa). The tested parameters at germination stage included germination percentage, seedling vigor index, seed water absorbance and seedling growth potential. At the plant stage, leaf chlorophyll and carotenoids content, chlorophyll fluorescence, evapotranspiration, photosynthesis activity and several biomarkers, namely malondialdehyde, proline, total phenols content, total flavonoids content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were evaluated in both roots and leaves.Results and discussionOur results indicate a magnitude of drought stress effects reflected via repression of germination and seedling growth as well as adjustments in physiological functions at later growth stages, in a genotype depended manner. Among landraces, "751" and "746" showed better performance, as evidenced by higher seed germination and seedling growth potential even at high stress levels (-0.47 and - 0.73 MPa), whereas "747" was the most sensitive landrace to drought stress at both tested stages. In conclusion, our findings highlight the importance of squash landraces selection for the identification of elite genotypes with increased tolerance to drought stress.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Saadaoui, Tarchoun, Msetra, Pavli, Falleh, Ayed, Amami, Ksouri and Petropoulos