Water relations of a Fragaria chiloensis and a F. virginiana selection during and after water deficit stress

A comparative study was performed to elucidate changes in the water relations of Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duch. 'BSP14' (FC) and F. virginiana (L.) Duch. 'NCC85-13V' (FV), grown in containers in a greenhouse, in response to imposed water deficit stress and subsequent recovery. At incipient wilting, a reduction in osmotic potential at full turgor of 0.42 MPa occurred in leaves of FC, while no change was found in FV. Leaf water potential isotherms revealed that as leaf water potential and relative water content (RWC) declined, stressed FC plants maintained a higher turgor potential and lower osmotic potential than nonstressed (control) plants, while there was no effect of drought stress on these relationships in the FV plants. From the isotherms, turgor loss was estimated to occur at a lower leaf water potential and RWC in stressed FC plants than either in control FC plants or stressed and control FV plants. During a diurnal phase 36 hours after wilting, leaf water potential osmotic potential and RWC of the FC selection were generally lower in stressed than in control plants, with differences ranging from 0.14 to 0.74 MPa, 0.28 to 0.47 MPa, and 1% to 8%, respectively. In the FV selection, osmotic potential was 0.09 to 0.31 MPa lower in stressed than in control leaves, while the other characteristics were not affected. Leaf turgor potential of stressed FC plants was 0.09 to 0.27 MPa higher than controls during the dark period, but was similar during the day. When plants of both species were grown and stressed in the same container, FV plants wilted approximately 4 days earlier than FC plants, and foliar osmotic potential at full turgor of FC was 0.35 MPa lower than that of FV at incipient wilting. The isothermal relationships between leaf water potential and osmotic potential at full turgor indicated FC had a osmotic potential at full turgor approximately 0.25 MPa lower than FV at a water potential < 1.5 MPa. This study provided evidence for greater osmotic adjustment in response to imposed water deficit stress in a selection of F. chiloensis than in one of F. virginiana.