Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill
Global warming is not only affecting arid and semi-arid regions but also becoming a threat to agriculture in Central and Eastern European countries. The present study analyzes the responses to drought and salinity of two varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> cultivated in Romania. L...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/5/637 |
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| author | Zsolt Szekely-Varga Sara González-Orenga Maria Cantor Denisa Jucan Monica Boscaiu Oscar Vicente |
| author_facet | Zsolt Szekely-Varga Sara González-Orenga Maria Cantor Denisa Jucan Monica Boscaiu Oscar Vicente |
| author_sort | Zsolt Szekely-Varga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global warming is not only affecting arid and semi-arid regions but also becoming a threat to agriculture in Central and Eastern European countries. The present study analyzes the responses to drought and salinity of two varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> cultivated in Romania. Lavender seedlings were subjected to one month of salt stress (100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl) and water deficit (complete withholding of irrigation) treatments. To assess the effects of stress on the plants, several growth parameters and biochemical stress markers (photosynthetic pigments, mono and divalent ions, and different osmolytes) were determined in control and stressed plants after the treatments. Both stress conditions significantly inhibited the growth of the two varieties, but all plants survived the treatments, indicating a relative stress tolerance of the two varieties. The most relevant mechanisms of salt tolerance are based on the maintenance of foliar K<sup>+</sup> levels and the accumulation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> and proline as a functional osmolyte in parallel with increasing external salinities. Under water stress, significant increases of Na<sup>+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> concentrations were detected in roots, indicating a possible role of these cations in osmotic adjustment, limiting root dehydration. No significant differences were found when comparing the stress tolerance and stress responses of the two selected lavender varieties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:48:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d93a9bec3cda41c692adca9073a56106 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:48:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-d93a9bec3cda41c692adca9073a561062023-11-20T00:40:32ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-05-019563710.3390/plants9050637Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> MillZsolt Szekely-Varga0Sara González-Orenga1Maria Cantor2Denisa Jucan3Monica Boscaiu4Oscar Vicente5Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMediterranean Agroforestry Institute (IAM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainFaculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMediterranean Agroforestry Institute (IAM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainInstitute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainGlobal warming is not only affecting arid and semi-arid regions but also becoming a threat to agriculture in Central and Eastern European countries. The present study analyzes the responses to drought and salinity of two varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> cultivated in Romania. Lavender seedlings were subjected to one month of salt stress (100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl) and water deficit (complete withholding of irrigation) treatments. To assess the effects of stress on the plants, several growth parameters and biochemical stress markers (photosynthetic pigments, mono and divalent ions, and different osmolytes) were determined in control and stressed plants after the treatments. Both stress conditions significantly inhibited the growth of the two varieties, but all plants survived the treatments, indicating a relative stress tolerance of the two varieties. The most relevant mechanisms of salt tolerance are based on the maintenance of foliar K<sup>+</sup> levels and the accumulation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> and proline as a functional osmolyte in parallel with increasing external salinities. Under water stress, significant increases of Na<sup>+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> concentrations were detected in roots, indicating a possible role of these cations in osmotic adjustment, limiting root dehydration. No significant differences were found when comparing the stress tolerance and stress responses of the two selected lavender varieties.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/5/637abiotic stressgrowth inhibitionion homeostasis<i>Lavandula</i> varietiesosmotic adjustmentsalt stress |
| spellingShingle | Zsolt Szekely-Varga Sara González-Orenga Maria Cantor Denisa Jucan Monica Boscaiu Oscar Vicente Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill Plants abiotic stress growth inhibition ion homeostasis <i>Lavandula</i> varieties osmotic adjustment salt stress |
| title | Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill |
| title_full | Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill |
| title_short | Effects of Drought and Salinity on Two Commercial Varieties of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill |
| title_sort | effects of drought and salinity on two commercial varieties of i lavandula angustifolia i mill |
| topic | abiotic stress growth inhibition ion homeostasis <i>Lavandula</i> varieties osmotic adjustment salt stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/5/637 |
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