Photosynthetica 2005, 43(1):135-140 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-005-5140-2

Drought stress influences leaf water content, photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis at three potassium concentrations

J. N. Egilla1,*, F. T. Davies Jr.2, T. W. Boutton3
1 Cooperative Research Program, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, USA
2 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
3 Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA

The influence of drought stress (DS) upon whole-plant water content, water relations, photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cv. Leprechaun (Hibiscus) plants at three levels of potassium (K) nutritional status were determined after a 21-d gradually imposed DS treatment. Compared to K-deficient plants, adequate K supply improved the leaf water content (LWC) and leaf water relations of Hibiscus by decreasing the Ψ π, and generally sustained rates of net photosynthesis (PN) and transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (gs), both in DS and non-DS plants. In K-deficient Hibiscus, LWC, turgor potential (Ψ P), and PN, E, and gs as well as instantaneous water-use efficiency, WUE (PN/E) were consistently lower, compared to K-sufficient plants. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) was lower (i.e. longterm WUE was greatest) in DS than non-DS plants, but K had no effect on Δ during the 21-d drought treatment period under glasshouse conditions. However, the trend in the Δ value of DS plants suggests that Δ could be a useful index of the response of Hibiscus to DS under glasshouse growing conditions. Thus the incorporation of a properly controlled fertilization regime involving sufficient levels of K can improve the acclimation of PN to low Ψleaf, increase PN/E of Hibiscus, and may have potential benefit for other woody plants species.

Additional key words: carbon isotope discrimination; Chinese hibiscus; stomatal conductance; transpiration

Received: May 3, 2004; Accepted: October 25, 2004; Published: March 1, 2005  Show citation

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Egilla, J.N., Davies, F.T., & Boutton, T.W. (2005). Drought stress influences leaf water content, photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis at three potassium concentrations. Photosynthetica, 43(1), 135-140. doi: 10.1007/s11099-005-5140-2
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