Evaluation of Antitranspirants for Enhancing Temporary Water Stress Tolerance in Bedding Plants

Abstract

<jats:p>Water stress during shipping and retailing reduces the postproduction quality and marketability of bedding plants. Antitranspirants can temporarily prevent plants from wilting by either physically blocking stomata or physiologically inducing stomatal closure, limiting transpirational water loss from leaves. The goal of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available antitranspirants on enhancing temporary water stress tolerance in bedding plants. Two physical antitranspirants [β-pinene polymer (βP) and vinyl-acrylic polymer (VP)], and three physiological antitranspirants [two sugar alcohol-based compounds (SACs) and a biologically active form of abscisic acid (s-ABA)] were applied to begonia (<jats:italic>Begonia semperflorens-cultorum</jats:italic>), new guinea impatiens (<jats:italic>Impatiens hawkeri</jats:italic>), impatiens (<jats:italic>Impatiens walleriana</jats:italic>), petunia (<jats:italic>Petunia</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>hybrida</jats:italic>), african marigold (<jats:italic>Tagetes erecta</jats:italic>), and french marigold (<jats:italic>Tagetes patula</jats:italic>). Physical antitranspirants were sprayed on foliage and physiological antitranspirants were drenched to the media. All antitranspirants were applied at half (0.5×), equal to (1×), or twice (2×) the manufacturer’s recommended rate. Extended shelf life was observed when βP or s-ABA was applied. Treatment with βP increased the shelf life of impatiens and african marigold by 1 and 1.3 days compared with control plants, respectively. The application of βP at 2× was more effective at delaying visual wilting than at lower rates (0.5× and 1×) in african marigold. Applications of s-ABA delayed wilting by 1.3 to 3.7 days in all tested cultivars. The shelf lives of impatiens and petunia treated with s-ABA at 2× were extended the most by 3.7 and 3.0 days compared with control plants, respectively. A rapid reduction of stomatal conductance (<jats:italic>g</jats:italic><jats:sub>S</jats:sub>) was observed within 4 hours of βP or s-ABA application in plants showing delayed wilting symptoms. s-ABA treatment appeared to cause marginal leaf chlorosis in impatiens, whereas application of βP damaged the opened flowers in all tested cultivars. The application of VP or SACs did not extend shelf life in any treated plants. These results suggest that foliar application of βP on selected species and treatment with s-ABA on most of species would allow bedding plants to withstand water deficit during shipping and/or retailing.</jats:p>

Antitranspirant Application Increases Grafting Success of Watermelon

“…To address this need, products such as chitosan should be evaluated. Chitosan is a naturally derived antitranspirant that has been shown to elicit plant defense mechanisms resulting in stomatal closure and reduction in transpiration (Bittelli et al, 2001; Iriti et al, 2009Park et al, 2016). Joy (2010) observed that when chitosan was applied as a foliar antitranspirant to self-grafted 'Cherokee Purple' tomato under two RH treatments (37% and 95%), chitosan-treated plants had 30% higher survival than nontreated plants at both levels of RH on day 10 (when plants were fully acclimated).…”

Preplant Application of 1-Methylcyclopropene Improves Postplanting Performance of Tomato Transplants by Suppressing Ethylene-induced Stress Responses

“…For example, Agehara and Leskovar (2012) reported that stomatal limitation to photosynthesis by exogenous abscisic acid limited shoot dry matter accumulation in muskmelon seedlings. Other negative side effects of abscisic acid include leaf chlorosis, leaf abscission, and excessive inhibition in leaf expansion and stem elongation (Agehara and Leskovar, 2014aLeskovar, , 2014bLeskovar, , 2015Leskovar, , 2017Park et al, 2016). In addition, the performance of film-forming antitranspirants is limited primarily on the adaxial leaf surface and is dependent highly on spray coverage (Goreta et al, 2007).…”

“…Many chemical compounds have been evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing transplant shock (Berkowitz and Rabin, 1988;del Amor et al, 2010;Goreta et al, 2007;Iriti et al, 2009;Moftah and Al-Humaid, 2005). Antitranspirants can reduce plant water loss by limiting transpiration physically or physiologically (Park et al, 2016). The most popularly used physical antitranspirants are spray emulsions of latex, wax, or acrylic that form thin films over leaf surfaces and block stomata (Park et al, 2016).…”

“…Antitranspirants can reduce plant water loss by limiting transpiration physically or physiologically (Park et al, 2016). The most popularly used physical antitranspirants are spray emulsions of latex, wax, or acrylic that form thin films over leaf surfaces and block stomata (Park et al, 2016). Other physical antitranspirants, such as kaolin clay, are reflective materials, which prevent the absorption of radiant energy, thereby reducing leaf temperatures and transpiration (Bittelli et al, 2001;Jifon and Syvertsen, 2003;Moftah and Al-Humaid, 2005).…”

Effect of a new antitranspirant on the physiology and water use efficiency of soybean under different irrigation rates in an arid region

“…A balance between leaf photosynthesis and transpiration can be achieved by adjusting the stomatal behavior to the optimal status using exogenous substances (antitranspirants), which lead to an increase in water use efficiency (WUE) at the leaf level. Also, antitranspirants can increase leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities to improve drought resistance in crops [3][4][5][6][7][8] , and alleviate the negative effects of drought on crop production [9][10][11][12][13][14] .…”