Electrolyte ions and glutathione enzymes as stress markers in Argania spinosa subjected to drought stress and recovery

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms underlying Argania spinosa responses to drought stress is essential for its regeneration and domestication. Toward that end, an integrative study of tolerance responses to drought stress in four A. spinosa ecotypes (2 contrasting coastal ecotypes (Adm and Rab) and 2 contrasting inland ecotypes (Alz and Lks)) have been conducted. Responses to soil drying and rewatering were measured at physiological and biochemical levels. Soil drying resulted in significant increase in leaf concentrations of potassium (K ) with differential responses between ecotypes. The glutathione -related enzymes: glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) showed a significa nt increase in their enzymatic activity in A. spinosa plants subjected to drought stress. Additionally, a significant increase in thiol protein content in the four ecotypes was recorded, during drought stress. These antioxidant traits responded differently depending on ecotype. However, rapid and significant changes in the studied physiological and biochemical traits were observed during recovery from drought, only after four days. According to the traits having the most discriminating power, the both inlan d ecotypes, especially Lks ecotype, seem to be potential candidates for regeneration of argan forest and their domestication in arid and semi-arid environments.

Expression pattern of candidate genes and their correlation with various metabolites of abscisic acid biosynthetic pathway under drought stress in rice

“…After withholding water for 0, 1, 2, 3 & 4 days, the soil moisture content decreased from 55 to 19% and 56 to 18% in N22 and IR64, respectively (Figure 2C). Soil moisture content also decreased after drought treatment (Chakhchar et al, 2017), which supports our finding. There was no significant difference in SMC between N22 and IR64.…”

Agro-Fruit-Forest Systems Based on Argan Tree in Morocco: A Review of Recent Results

“…Argan trees have developed adaptive mechanisms to tolerate drought stress through various biochemical and physiological processes including, among others, leaf water status, ionic homeostasis, osmoregulation, antioxidant system, secondary metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism (Chakhchar et al, 2015a(Chakhchar et al, ,b,c, 2016(Chakhchar et al, , 2017b(Chakhchar et al, , 2019, leaf morphology (Díaz-Barradas et al, 2013;Zahidi et al, 2013c;Chakhchar et al, 2018b), chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic carbon metabolism (Díaz-Barradas et al, 2010;Chakhchar et al, 2018b,c), and photosynthetic gas exchange (Chakhchar et al, 2017a; Table 1). These mechanisms assist in plant growth and tolerance to arid environments, characterized by high evaporation demand and low water availability (Chakhchar et al, 2017a).…”

“…El Díaz-Barradas et al, 2010, Chakhchar et al, 2015b Ionic homeostasis and osmoregulation -Increase in leaf concentrations of potassium (K + ), calcium (Ca 2+ ) and magnesium (Mg 2+ ) -Increase of proline and soluble sugar content Chakhchar et al, 2015bChakhchar et al, , 2017b Antioxidant system -Induction of enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense systems:…”