Plants Recovery Performance from Water Stress

Abstract

Recovery of plants after water stress events represents their high suitability for the urban condition areas. Reaction to drought and recovery of woody plants Cornus mas L., Lonicera caerulea L. and perennials Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm., Geranium maculatum L., Geranium x magnificum Hyl. ‘Rosemoor’ and Geranium ‘Philippe Vapelle’ were evaluate. Within a pot experiment the non‑destructive methods of monitoring: measurement of chlorophyll content using chlorophyll meter CL‑01, leaf stomatal conductance using Delta T Leaf porometer AP4 and modulated chlorophyll fluorescence using Hansatech FMS 1 were chosen. Based upon our results we may demonstrate different protective mechanisms of plants in water stress conditions. An increase in the chlorophyll concentration in stress‑exposed tissues and recovery of stomatal conductance in Cornus mas L. and in Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm. were observed. In Cornus mas L. and Lonicera caerulea L. the early recovery of parameter ɸPSII (after 2 days of re‑watering) and the delayed recovery (after 6 days of re‑watering) in Geranium plants and Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm.) were shown.

Keywords

• water stress
• recovery performance
• drought tolerant woody plants
• drought tolerant perennials