Dependence of some physiological indicators of generative and vegetative organs of Sambucus nigra on habitat conditions

Abstract

We carried out studies on water deficiency of Sambucus nigra L. (black elderberry) plant leaves extract and fruit juice, relative turgidity, sucrose content in fruits, chlorophyll content in the leaves, as well as gas exchange rates in the leaves, in particular, the changes in the concentrations of oxygen released during photosynthesis by leaves and carbon dioxide released during leaf respiration depending on habitat conditions (altitude of the habitat, position of slopes, average annual precipitation). Taking into account the difference in climatic conditions and the generality of some indicators, Vanadzor (1326–1600 m above sea level) and Stepanavan (1400–1830 m above sea level) regions of Lori Province, "Dilijan" National Park, Lake Parz, and the forest areas adjacent to the city of Dilijan (1240–1612 m above sea level) in Tavush Province in Armenia were chosen as the research sites. The test samples were taken from eight different test sites in Lori and Tavush provinces. Tavush Province is more humid than Lori Province. The highest rate of water deficiency in the leaves of the studied plants was recorded in S. nigra f. laciniata (L.) Zabel., and the lowest in S. nigra in Vanadzor forest. It can be assumed that the index of water deficiency in the leaves may depend on the position of the slopes of the test sites and the value of the filtration coefficient of the soil types. On the north-facing slope at the height of 1341 m above sea level and on the south-facing slope at the height of 1830 m above sea level, the values of water deficiency of the leaves are almost the same. Such data allows us to assume that the degree of water deficiency in the leaves is also affected by the filtration coefficient of habitat soil types. In two points that have north-facing positions, the water deficiency of leaves at the height of 1341 m above sea level is 2.14 times more than at the height of 1328 m above sea level. At 1328 m above sea level the filtration coefficient is small and the plant absorbs a lot of water. Based on the data we received we obtained rankings of plants according to the different criteria of the experimental plants: water deficiency in leaves tissues, relative turgidity, the sum of chlorophylls in the leaves, the sucrose content in the fruits, percentage of oxygen released as a result of photosynthesis, percentage of carbon dioxide released as a result of respiration. We found a certain dependence between the indicators of the water regime and the height above sea level of the researched habitats. We also found out that the water regime is influenced by certain microclimatic conditions such as the position of the slopes, whether they are north or south facing, as well as the average annual precipitation. Knowing the physiological processes taking place in the vegetative and generative organs of the S. nigra plant is important from the point of view of evaluating the intensity of growth and development of the generative organs. We consider that the results of the study will be applicable in the process of plant selection based on the indicators of the physiological processes taking place in the plant organism.