Vetch species (Vicia narbonensis, V. sativa and V. villosa) are widely used for fodder production in Tunisia. This study aims to investigate vetch strategies involved in drought resistance through morphological and physiological criteria. Plants were sown in pots and subjected to four soil‐water levels: 100% (control), 80, 60 and 40% of field capacity (FC). After 133 d of water treatment, and under well‐watered conditions, V. narbonensis showed the largest plant height and shoot and root dry matter and the highest leaf relative water content and water potential (Ψw), whereas V. sativa had the greatest leaf area (LA). At the 40% FC treatment, V. narbonensis showed smaller decreases in plant height and LA, and the greatest reduction in Ψw (140%). Thus, it shows better adaptation and a more equilibrated water balance, despite having accumulated less proline than the two other species. Vicia sativa and V. villosa showed a similar behaviour under water stress with a superiority of the latter. Vicia sativa was the species most affected in terms of its growth and water‐status parameters. Vetch species mainly used avoidance mechanisms to withstand drought, with V. narbonensis showing the highest tolerance.
Plant growth and production are greatly affected by water deficit worldwide and particularly in Tunisia. In this context, a study was conducted to analyse the response of three vetch species (Vicia narbonensis, V. sativa and V. villosa) to four water treatments: 100% (Control), 80%, 60% and 40% of field capacity. Water stress led to important changes of both leaf physiology and anatomy. V. narbonensis kept cells turgor by adjusting the osmotic potential without changes in cell walls elasticity. V. sativa showed the most pronounced reductions of leaf water potential and the lowest osmotic adjustment under water stress although cell walls elasticity has not changed. However, V. villosa kept a higher fraction of apoplastic water over V. sativa that allowed it to maintain cells turgor despite the rigidity of its cell walls. Drought did not affect lamina thickness but increased the palisade parenchyma at the expense of spongy parenchyma. It was characterised by leaf lamina increase and constant thickness of the spongy parenchyma: a strategy to cope with drought. Moreover, stomata were reduced in size but were increased in number in order to avoid water loss.
Abstract:Responses to salt stress were investigated in three alfalfa varieties (Gabès, Hunterfield, and Hyb.555). Seedlings were submitted to salinity induced by adding NaCl into water at 4 concentrations (0 -2.5 -5 and 10g.l -1
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