The Physiological Response of Three Iranian Grape Cultivars to Progressive Drought Stress

Investigating the role of drought stress conditions on physiological characteristics of plant may provide means to understand basic drought resistance. Differences in leaf emergence rate, leaf relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), leaf mass area (LMA), net photosynthesis (Anet), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), water use efficiency (Anet/gs) and recovery of gas exchange were investigated in two-year-old grapes of three Vitis vinifera L. cultivars (Khoshnave, Bidane-Sefid and Askari), subjected to progressive drought stress (soil water potential: -0.2, -0.6, -1, and -1.5 MPa). The results showed temporary reduction in RWC, MSI, leaf emergence rate, LMA, Anet, gs and E. Ci decreased with increasing drought stress. Khoshnave grape showed a higher photosynthesis rate than Bidane-Sefid and Askari. Higher LMA of Khoshnave may be attributed to the potential for carbon absorbance and higher Anet as compared to the other two cultivars. Complete recovery of Anet for all cultivars occurred one day after rewatering at -0.6 MPa and four days after rewatering at -1 MPa treatments. Complete recovery of gs was not observed in either one or four days after rewatering except for Askari. The results showed that Anet of Khoshnave recovered quickly as compared to those in the other two cultivars. Water use efficiency was maximum in all cultivars under -1 MPa treatment. Similar patterns of Anet/gs were observed for the three cultivars. Khoshnave had higher Anet/gs as compared to Askari and Bidane-Sefid under severe drought stress conditions. Khoshnave cultivar, with a higher Anet, higher leaf emergence rate, higher LMA, rapid recovery of Anet, higher Anet/gs was found to be promising for cultivation in rain-fed areas across the west of Iran in comparison with the other cultivars.