Biometric and Physiological Responses to Water Restriction in Moringa oleifera Seedlings

Abstract

A water deficit in the soil can cause water stress in plants, triggering morphological and physiological changes. The aim of this work was evaluate the ecophysiological development of moringa seedlings under controlled water restriction. The experimental design was completely randomized at 40, 60, 80, and 100% of field capacity and six replicates. The photosynthetic CO 2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration, vapor pressure deficit, internal carbon concentration, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll and stem diameter, height, and number of leaves were measured at 9 a.m. during 21 days of restriction. The treatments differed for photosynthetic parameters. Moringa seedlings reduce gas exchange to adapt to water restrictions until 40% of field capacity. The alterations promoted by water restriction did not negatively affected plant development.

Nutritional composition, bioactive components and antioxidant activity of Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera leaves grown in Gaborone, Botswana

“…Soil is the main reservoir of water and nutrients, and thus controls the availability of most essential plant nutrients for crop growth and establishment (Ewetola et al 2019). A water deficit in the soil can cause water stress in plants, triggering morphological and physiological changes (Vasconcelos et al 2019). The moisture content of the soil significantly influenced the relative water content of M. stenopetala leaves (Galgaye et al 2020).…”

Seed Priming with Glass Waste Microparticles and Red Light Irradiation Mitigates Thermal and Water Stresses in Seedlings of Moringa oleifera

“…However, despite the adaptive potential of M. oleifera to agroecosystems, its development, growth, and production can decrease when the plant is exposed to thermal and water stresses [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], especially in semi-arid regions with high solar radiation levels, increased air temperature, and soil water restriction, conditions that could be further aggravated by environmental climate changes [ 13 , 14 ]. Thermal stress reduces seed germination and vigor in seedlings of M. oleifera [ 15 , 16 ] and increases the accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates, amino acids, and phenols [ 12 ].…”

“…Thermal stress reduces seed germination and vigor in seedlings of M. oleifera [ 15 , 16 ] and increases the accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates, amino acids, and phenols [ 12 ]. Water stress activates the antioxidant mechanism of this species [ 10 ], which, in turn, reduces the stomatal size, the content of photosynthetic pigments, leaf gas exchange, and root and shoot growth [ 9 , 11 , 17 ].…”