Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Volume LXII
Written by Violeta IVANOVA, Nadejda ZAPRIANOVA, Bistra ATANASOVA, Valentin PANCHEV
In our study, to simulate water deficit induced by osmotic stress, different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) were used: 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% at different durations of treatment (1, 3 and 6 days) in vitro conditions. The model plant was Bulgarian spray-carnation (D. caryophyllus f. spray, Hort.) flowers, cv. ʻRusalkaʼ. The response to drought stress was studied based on the following end-points: plant growth reactions, relative water content (RWC %), and electrolyte leakage (conductivity). The water deficit varied from 16% (control) to 75% (40% PEG-6 days). The growth of the explants proportionally decreased with the increase of polyethylene glycol concentration from 10% to 40% and the fresh weight was below 50% vs. the control at 30% and 40% PEG. The relative water content of the plant tissues decreased depending on PEG quantity, the lowest values - 25.16 ± 2.06% being reported at 40% PEG concentration on the 6th day. The highest values of electrolyte leakage up to 1712 µS/g fresh weight were reported on the 6th day at 40% PEG concentration.
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