Effect of Drought Stress on Physio-morphological Characteristics and Proline Content of Three Varieties of Petunia

Water deficiency is one of important abiotic stresses that severely effects on plant growth. The effects of drought range from morphological to molecular levels and are evident at all phenological stages of plant growth at whatever stage the water deficit takes place. Growth is accomplished through cell division, cell enlargement and differentiation, and involves genetic, physiological, ecological and morphological events and their complex interactions. The quality and quantity of plant growth depend on these events, which are affected by water deficit. Cell growth is one of the most drought-sensitive physiological processes due to the reduction in turgor pressure. Under severe water deficiency, cell elongation of higher plants can be inhibited by interruption of water flow from the xylem to the surrounding elongating cells. Impaired mitosis, cell elongation and expansion result in reduced plant height, leaf area and crop growth under drought. Chlorophyll content is one of the major factors affecting photosynthetic capacity changing in chlorophyll content of plant under drought stress has been observed in different plant species and its intensity depends on stress rate and duration. Chlorophyll content of leaf is indicator of photosynthetic capability of plant tissues. In the mid-80s, RWC was introduced as a best criterion for plant water status which, afterwards was used instead of plant water potential as RWC referring to its relation with cell volume, accurately can indicate the balance between absorbed water by plant and consumed through transpiration. To study the effects of drought stress on three varieties of petunia, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. The treatments consisted of four irrigation levels ((100% control), 80%, 60% and 40% of field capacity) and three varieties of petunia (Supercascade, Tango blue and Tango white). After planting and transplanting and after full deployment in the pot, water stress treatments were applied on three varieties of petunias. At the end of each week fully blossomed flowers were counted, flower diameter, peduncle length and corolla length were measured. In order to determine the stability of the cell membrane electrolyte leakage index was measured. Specific leaf area (SLA) was determined. The amount of chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoid and relative water content in the leaves were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using the software MSTAT-C. EXCEL was used for diagramming software. Means were compared using LSD test with a 0.05 significance level. Results indicated that interaction impacts of variety and irrigation on dry weight, leaf area, flower number, flower diameter, length Corolla, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, relative water content and proline content was significant. The most shoot dry weight (76/1 g) was in control stress (100% FC) and Tango White variety. Also the most leaf dry weight (07/2 g) and root dry weight (g 43/0) were in Tango Blue variety. With increasing drought stress from 100% FC to 40% FC, leaf area decreased in Supercascade from 314 to 49, in Tango Blue from 405 to 44 and in Tango White from 459 to 69 cm2. In 80% FC, electrolyte leakage increased in all varieties (Supercascade variety 2%, Tango Blue 10% and in Tango White 3%) compared to control. Also electrolyte leakage increased in Supercascade 17%, in Tango Blue 9% and in Tango White10% in 40% FC compared to control. Comparison of interaction effects of drought stress and variety also showed the most proline had accumulated in Tango White and drought 40% of field capacity and then in Tango Blue and stress 40% of field capacity. Generally two varieties of Tango Blue and Tango White in control irrigation had better growth and also in low irrigation were more resistant.