Asian Journal of Crop Science1994-78792077-2041Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajcs.2010.12.19Blepharis sp. Adaptation to Water-Limited Environment]]>AhmedF.E. AbusamS.M.A. AhmedE.E.A. 1201021Plant responses to drought have been extensively investigated, however, little is known about the bases of Blepharis sp. adaptation to water-limited environment in North-Western Sudan. The objective of this study was to study the possible mechanisms of drought tolerance in two species of Blepharis (Family Acanthaceae) grown under water stress. The results showed that decreasing water potential significantly reduced stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, specific leaf area and stomatal density. In contrast, root length, leaf area ratio and leaf weight ratio increased significantly under water stress. The concentration of inorganic minerals (particularly potassium) increased in response to water stress. These morpho-physiological traits may contribute to drought tolerance mechanisms of these species in water-limited environments. The tested species varied in their responses, although insignificantly, to water deficit. In this respect, Blepharis linariifolia (S1) showed greater stomatal conductance and transpiration rate than Blepharis ciliaris (S2), whereas the later exhibited higher specific leaf weight, stomatal density and solute concentrations. The variations between species in changes-induced by water deficit are of great ecophysiological significance especially under severe water scarcity. Further in situ work is needed to gain an insight into how gizzu herbs and grasses acclimatize to long-term water deficit and to assess whether solutes accumulation under water deficit contribute to osmotic adjustment.]]>Abusam, S.M.A., F.E. Ahmed and E.E.A. Ahmed,2009188108Aguirrezabal, L., S. Bouchier-Combaud, A. Radziejwoski, M. Dauzat, S.J. Cookson and C. Granier,20062922162227Amede, T., E.V. Kittlity and S. Schubert,1999Vicia faba L.) inbred lines.]]>1833545Chaves, M.M., J.P. Maroco and J.S. Pereira,200330239264Cowan, I.R., J.A. Raven, W. Hartung and G.D. Farquhar,19829489498Fitter, A.H. and R.K.M. Hay,19932nd Edn.,Fotteli, M.N., K.M. Radoglou and H.I. Constantinidou,20002010651075Galmes, J., J. Flexas, R. Save and H. Medrano,2007290139155Gazanchian, A., M. Hajheidari, N.K. Sima and G.H. Salekdeh,200758291300Gaspar, T., T. Franck, B. Bisbis, C. Kevers, L. Jouve, J.F. Hausman and J. Dommes,200237263285Ibrahim, F.N.,1984Jones, H.G.,1992Margui, E., M. Hidalgo and I. Queralt,2007191317Meiri, A., Z. Plaut and D. Shimshi,2006357276Morgan, J.M., B. Rodriguez-Maribona and E.J. Knights,1991276170Munns, R.,198815717726Nambiar, E.K.S. and A.G. Brown,19971997pp: 527-557pp: 527-557O'Neal, M.E., D.A. Landis and N. Isaacs, 20029511901194Passioura, J.,200758113117Passioura, J.B. and S.C. Fry,199219565576Quinn, G.P. and M.J. Keough,2002Ist Edn.,pp: 537pp: 537Radoglou, K.M. and P.G. Jarvis,19902 enrichment on four popular clones. II. Leaf surface properties.]]>65627632Tothill, J.D.,1948Ist Edn.,Ravindra, V., P.C. Nautiyal and Y.C. Joshi,1990Arachis hypogaea L.).]]>67290296Xu, Z.Z. and G.S. Zhou,2005Leymus chinensis.]]>123272280