DROUGHT TOLERANCE OF Leucophyllum frutescens: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES REVEAL THE POTENTIAL XEROPHYTE

Adnan Younis



Atif Riaz

Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

Usman Tariq

College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bahadur Sub Campus, Layyah

Muhammad Nadeem

Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

Nasir Ahmad Khan

Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

Muhammad Ahsan

Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Waqas Adil

Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

M. Kaleem Naseem

Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of The Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore-54590, Pakistan



Abstract

Xeriscaping focus on the use of drought tolerant species of plants for environmental sustainability leading to the conservation of natural resources. We need to look for drought tolerant, water efficient plant species. Present research was aimed to assess the water use efficiency of Leucophyllum frutescens (silvery) for its
adaptability and potential as xerophyte. In this study, seven treatments were applied were 100% field capacity was considered as control while 85%, 70%, 55%, 40%, 25% and 5% field capacities were taken as different drought levels. Effect of drought commenced at 40% field capacity and lower drought treatments as
decrease in shoot and root fresh and dry weight, root length, leaf area and leaf area index and leaf firing percentage increased with severity of drought compared to 100% field capacity. Physiological parameters including water use efficiency (A/E), leaf water potential (yleaf), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis
rate, cell membrane stability and total chlorophyll contents proved that this plant species can tolerate severe drought conditions. Positive correlation was found among most of the attributes but leaf temperature was negatively correlated with leaf water potential, photosynthesis rate, cell membrane stability, and chlorophyll
contents. Moreover, regression analysis between various morphological and physiological attributes showed the predictive power of the model yielding significant results for leaf area and cell membrane stability (R2 = 0.74), root length and photosynthesis rate (R2 = 0.65), leaf temperature and chlorophyll contents
(R2 = 0.43) and leaf area and leaf water potential (yleaf) (R2 = 0.93).

Keywords:

cell membrane stability, field capacity, leaf area index, Leucophyllum frutescens, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, water potential

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Published
2017-12-31



Adnan Younis 
Atif Riaz 
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Usman Tariq 
College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bahadur Sub Campus, Layyah
Muhammad Nadeem 
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Nasir Ahmad Khan 
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Muhammad Ahsan 
Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Waqas Adil 
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
M. Kaleem Naseem 
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of The Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore-54590, Pakistan



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