The role of abscisic acid and water relations in drought responses of subterranean clover

Abstract

The role of water relations and abscisic acid (ABA) in the responses to drought were studied in a mediterranean forage crop, Trifolium subterraneum L. under field conditions. Soil end plant water status, leaf gas exchange parameters, and xylem sap ABA content were determined at different times during a long-term soil drying episode in irrigated and droughted plants. The diurnal time-courses of these parameters were also measured at the end of a drought period. In response to soil drying stomatal conductance (g) was reduced early to 50% that of irrigated plants before any substantial change in water potential was detected. A close logarithmic regression between photosynthesis rate (A) and g was present. For the first weeks of drought the decline in A was less pronounced than in g, thus increasing water use efficiency. Stomatal conductance during diurnal time-courses showed no consistent relationships with respect to either ABA or leaf water potential. Throughout the experimental period dependence of g on leaf water status was evident from the tight correlation (r2 = 0,88, P<0.01) achieved between stomatal conductance and midday water potential, but the correlation was also high when comparing g with respect to ABA content in xylem sap (r2=0.83, P<0.001). However, the stomata from drought acclimated plants were apparently more sensitive to xylem ABA content. For similar xylem ABA concentrations stomatal conductance was significantly higher in irrigated than in water-stressed plants.