Special issue in honour of Prof. Reto J. Strasser - Improving tolerance in seedlings of some Polish varieties of Dactylis glomerata to water deficit by application of simulated drought during seed germination

Abstract

Effects of drought stress on the physiological and morphological parameters of Dactylis glomerata varieties were studied. Seeds were germinated under simulated drought during 21 d and then subjected either to drought or optimal soil moisture conditions for 12 d. After this period all plants were optimally watered. Plants derived from seeds germinated under drought showed higher or similar photosynthetic efficiency as compared to those germinated under optimum moisture not only under stress but also after regeneration period. Application of drought during the seed germination improved nitrogen balance index (NBI) and chlorophyll content (Chl) in plants after regeneration, whereas flavonoids content (Flv) was similar to plants derived from the seeds germinated under optimum moisture. Water deficit during seed germination can positively affect the maintenance of the quantum efficiency of PSII of plants under drought stress. NBI, Chl, and Flv indices can be used to assess the response of Dactylis glomerata to drought during the initial growth of plants.

Keywords

• chlorophyll a fluorescence
• cocksfoot
• drought stress
• tillering phase