Rehydration of Sugar Beet Plants after Water Stress: Effect of Cytokinins

Vomáčka, L.; Pospíšilová, Jana
BIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 46 [1]: 57-62, 2003

Keywords: benzyladenine; Beta vulgaris; chlorophyll
Abstract: The possibility to improve the recovery of sugar beet plants after water stress by application of synthetic cytokinins N6-benzyladenine (BA) or N6-(m-hydroxybenzyl)adenosine (HBA) was tested. Relative water content (RWC), net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b contents, and photosystem 2 efficiency characterized by variable to maximal fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm) were measured in control plants, in water-stressed plants, and after rehydration (4, 8, 24, and 48 h). Water stress markedly decreased parameters of gas exchange, but they started to recover soon after irrigation. Application of BA or HBA to the substrate or sprayed on leaves only slightly stimulated recovery of PN, E, and gs in rehydrated plants, especially during the first phases of recovery. Chl contents decreased only under severe water stress and Fv/Fm ratio was not significantly affected by water stress applied. Positive effects of BA or HBA application on Chl content and Fv/Fm ratio were mostly not observed.
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IEB authors: Jana Pospíšilová