
	Asian Journal of Crop Science
	Year: 2010 \| Volume: 2 \| Issue: 1 \| Page No.: 12-19 DOI: 10.3923/ajcs.2010.12.19

The Bases of Blepharis sp. Adaptation to Water-Limited Environment

F.E. Ahmed, S.M.A. Abusam and E.E.A. Ahmed

Abstract: Plant 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.

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How to cite this article:

F.E. Ahmed, S.M.A. Abusam and E.E.A. Ahmed, 2010. The Bases of Blepharis sp. Adaptation to Water-Limited Environment. Asian Journal of Crop Science, 2: 12-19.

DOI: 10.3923/ajcs.2010.12.19

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajcs.2010.12.19

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