Differential accumulation 0f phyto-biochemical parameters in Etra (Calligonum comosum Herit) plants against water deficiency

Abstract

 
Abstract: Ertà (Calligonum comosum), a large perennial plant, is a dominant vegetation component of sandy deserts
across central Asia. Photosynthetic pigments and biochemical characteristics of C. comosum in response to water deficiency
were analyzed based on the photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a (Chl. a), chlorophyll b (Chl. b), chlorophyll stability index
(CSI), total protein content (TPC), free amino acids (FAA), total soluble sugars (TSS) and proline (Pro) content. Drought stress
was created by withholding irrigation on base of field capacity percent (FC %). The results indicated that drought stress
significantly decreased the main photosynthetic pigments. Chl. a, Chl. b, total chlorophyll content [Chl. (a+b)], Chl. a/b ratio
and CSI. Drought stress also affected biochemical parameters. FAA, TSS and Pro increased with increase in drought stress
intensity. At all treatments, water deficiency induced a reduction in TPC. The findings indicate that Ertà plants were able to
tolerate conditions of low water availability. Osmotic adjustment in leaves is an important mechanism enabling plants to cope
with drought.