Response of three new Atriplex species (Atriplex spp.) to drought and its recovery

The present study was conducted to evaluate drought stress and its recovery on the growth and biochemical changes of three Atriplex species. The experiment included three Atriplex species and four irrigation regimes. The results showed that light (75% field capacity) and severe drought (50% field capacity) caused significant reduction in the growth of all three Atriplex species, and no irrigation destroyed Atriplex leucoclada and Atriplex canescens. Recovery could compensate some loss of weight in all three species, especially Atriplex lentiformis, so that there were significant differences between the control and 75% field capacity (FC) treatments. Tissue moisture content percentage in the control, 75% and 50% FC showed no significant difference. No irrigation caused a significant reduction in the moisture percentage of A. lentiformis; however, recovery alleviated considerable parts of this loss. Water deficit treatments (75% and 50% FC) increased the activity of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, but no irrigation reduced the activity of these enzymes in A. lentiformis, which had the highest antioxidant enzymes activity. Dry weight had a positive and significant correlation with moisture content percentage and antioxidant enzymes activity. Generally, drought stress, depending on the stress levels, reduced growth and increased antioxidant enzymes levels; recovery, depending on the species and stress levels, could compensate some of these changes. A. lentiformis had the highest drought resistance and higher recovery ability, which might be due to higher activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Atriplex leucoclada L. is the native halophyte species in Iran that has been planted most often, and this is the first time that the effect of drought stress and its recovery ability have been evaluated and compared with other Atriplex species. It is also worthy of mention that this species is also found in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide