Plant water realation and growth response of Cordia Africana Lam. Seedlings of three seed sources exposed to different water regimes.
2007
Yigremacew Seyoum and Masresha Fetene(Researchers)
A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate intraspecific variation in drought tolerance of Cordia Africana Lam. Seedlings obtained from three seed sources. These seed sources were Arjo, Dembi and Melka Oda located in t he southern and western parts of Ethiopia. The seedlings were will-watered, moderately stressed and severely stressed by applying 100%, 60% and 25% of field capacity, respectively. Seedling growth (biomass, leaf area, height, diameter) and water relation (leaf water potential, relative water content, stomatal conductance) parameters were recorded. Seedlings from Arjo showed the least response in leaf area under increasing water stress. Seeds from Dembi showed significantly (O0.05) lower stomatal conductance in severely stressed seedlings while seedlings from Melka Oda had higher leaf area in moderately stressed seedlings indicating distinct response of seed sources to moisture stress. Moreover, Melka Oda showed the highest root-to-shoot ratio and dry weight to turgid weight ratio, indicating differences in biomass allocation pattern and cell wall thickness. Leaf area, stomatal conductance dry weight to turgid weight and root-to-shoot ratios can be used for selection of drought-tolerant seed sources in C.africana. It is concluded that the responses of the seedlings reflect the relative dryness of their seed sources.
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