Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) response to drought condition in terms of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence

Abstract

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) photosynthetic performance was evaluated under drought conditions through leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement. Drought has an impact on sago palm’s leaf gas exchange parameters and its chlorophyll fluorescence of PSII. Stomatal limitations were found to be the main factor limiting photosynthetic activities of sago palm under drought conditions. Photosynthetic rate decreased following the inhibition in the PSII reaction center. Early detection of interference upon the efficiency of the PSII reaction center due to drought stress was recorded by chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement.

Keywords

• chlorophyll a fluorescence
• drought stress
• leaf gas exchange
• metroxylon sagu rottb