Physiological and morphological characteristics of Hevea rootstock in response to water stress
2001
Bastiah Ahmad
The influence of rootstock and scion clones on physiological response of polybag buddings of Hevea to prolonged water stress was studied in glasshouse experiments. Stomatal response of scion clones to water stress could be influenced by monoclonal seedling rootstock that was grafted on. Clones grafted on RRIM 623 rootstock exhibited drought avoidance characteristics. This was indicated by rapid stomatal closure at the onset of water stress and the ability to maintain a high relative water content. The stomatal response of clone PM 10 grafted on PB 260 and RRIM 600 seedling rootstocks was less consistent. Hevea rootstocks also had distinct morphological development of the root system which was influenced by moisture availability. Differences in pre-dawn leaf water potential were also detected between rootstocks indicating differences in quantity of feeder roots, hence capacity for water uptake. The importance of root morphological development and stomatal responses to soil water deficit, as affected by rootstocks in influencing rootstock field performance, are discussed.
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