Improving Forage Crops for Semi-Arid Areas

Medrano, H.; Chaves, M. M.; Porqueddu, C.; Caredda, Salvatore

doi:10.1177/003072709802700205

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Moreover, it is not known if the root behaviour at the seedling stage resembles that of the adult coffee tree. In any case, the difficulties in evaluating root systems, the large environmental influences and the complex inheritance of root characteristics hinder the use of these traits in selection programmes in spite of the obvious positive relationship between root depth, root growth and yield under drought conditions (Medrano et al, 1998).…”

Section: Root Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dynamics of soil water depletion, changes in water demand from the atmosphere, as well as plant growth and the phenological state in which water deficit is developed, are sources of the wide variation in plant responses to drought (Medrano et al, 1998). Furthermore, particularly in the tropics, drought episodes are remarkably aggravated by both high solar radiation and temperature, so drought should be accounted for as a multidimensional stress (DaMatta, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring drought tolerance in coffee: a physiological approach with some insights for plant breeding

DaMatta

2004

Braz. J. Plant Physiol.

108

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This paper briefly reviews some selected traits (leaf area, crown architecture, water-use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination, water relations and root characteristics), which may be explored in breeding programmes to tolerance to drought stress in arabica and robusta coffee.Key words: Coffea, water deficit, water use, yield.Explorando a tolerância à seca em café: uma abordagem fisiológica com algumas contribuições para o melhoramento vegetal: Nesta revisão, analisam-se brevemente algumas características (área foliar, arquitetura da copa, eficiência do uso da água e discriminação isotópica do carbono, relações hídricas e características radiculares) que podem ser exploradas em programas de melhoramento para tolerância à seca em cafeeiros arábica e robusta. Palavras-chave:Coffea, déficit hídrico, produção, uso da água.

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Section: Root Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring drought tolerance in coffee: a physiological approach with some insights for plant breeding

DaMatta

2004

Braz. J. Plant Physiol.

108

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“…Extensive rotations based on forage crops in multi‐species pastures composed of perennials or self‐reseeding species are an option for sustained and economic pasture production (Sulas et al. , 1995; Medrano et al. , 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allelopathic potential of Lolium rigidum Gaud. on the early growth of three associated pasture species

Emeterio

Arroyo

Canals

2004

Grass and Forage Science

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In Mediterranean areas, the establishment of multispecies pastures for extensive livestock use is an alternative to the growing of traditional cereal crops. Lolium rigidum Gaud. is one of the most valuable forage grasses adapted to semiarid environments but its performance in mixtures is not fully understood. Field observations suggest that the species exerts allelopathic effects, although there is no evidence in the literature to support this assumption. The objective of the study was to determine whether L. rigidum affects the germination and seedling growth of common forage species by allelopathic means. Two bioassays were conducted to test for the allelopathic potential of seeds and adult (shoot and root) tissues of L. rigidum on two grasses, Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Dactylis glomerata L., and a legume, Medicago sativa L. The three species showed different degrees of sensitivity to L. rigidum with L. multiflorum being particularly sensitive to allelopathy. Positive and negative effects of L. rigidum on seedling development were noted. Shoot extracts of L. rigidum displayed the most consistent negative effects by inhibiting elongation of the radicle of the three target species. The significance of the results is that in drought-prone environments and where water resources are scarce poor root development decreases the ability of the plants to grow and survive.

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“…Drought stress strongly affects photosynthesis, growth and survival of plants growing in Mediterranean climates (Haase et al, 2000;Chaves et al, 2002). Under these conditions, the soil water deficit and air temperature are the main limiting factors that seriously reduce forage production and its seasonal availability (Papanastasis et al, 1997;Medrano et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water uptake dynamics, photosynthesis and water use efficiency in field‐grown Medicago arborea and Medicago citrina under prolonged Mediterranean drought conditions

Lefi

Medrano

Cifré

2004

Annals of Applied Biology

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Drought is the main limiting factor of forage production in semi-arid areas. Annual variation of soil water availability (SWA), predawn leaf water potential (Ψ pd ), stomatal conductance (g), photosynthesis rate (A) and the intrinsic water use efficiency (A/g) were examined under irrigation (control) and rain fed conditions in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) for two Mediterranean shrubs: Medicago arborea (M. arborea), with a wide distribution and Medicago citrina (M. citrina), an endemic species to the Balearic islands. Experimental conditions were typically Mediterranean, with low annual precipitation.In well-irrigated plants, SWA and Ψ pd were similar for both species throughout the year but higher g was observed in autumn and in spring-summer. The photosynthesis rate was slightly higher in autumn and spring. Even though photosynthetic activity in M. arborea was higher than in M. citrina in spring, A/g was relatively higher for M. citrina for most of the year due to a lower transpiration rate.Under rain fed conditions, SWA dropped after February from 70% to 10-20%. Variations in plant water status, g and A were mainly dependent on SWA. Moreover, differences for water extraction and water use efficiency between species were found. Under moderate drought (SWA > 60%), g was more severely reduced than A and Ψ pd (October-March), as a consequence, A/g increased. Stomatal conductance variations for both species were more closely related to soil moisture rather than to leaf water status. Interestingly, M. citrina desiccated the soil more gradually and extracted water at deeper horizons (between 0.5 and 1 m). As a consequence, it maintained relatively higher Ψ pd , g and A than M. arborea throughout spring. For M. arborea, SWA declined more rapidly and leaf shedding in spring was much more substantial. When subjected to severe and prolonged summer drought (SWA < 50%), all parameters were severely reduced for both species and A had values near zero. Consequently, A/g was low and the senescence of the majority of leaves for M. arborea took place. On the basis of these results, M. citrina exhibits a higher water use efficiency under moderate drought.

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Improving Forage Crops for Semi-Arid Areas

Cited by 7 publications

References 7 publications

Exploring drought tolerance in coffee: a physiological approach with some insights for plant breeding

Exploring drought tolerance in coffee: a physiological approach with some insights for plant breeding

Allelopathic potential of Lolium rigidum Gaud. on the early growth of three associated pasture species

Water uptake dynamics, photosynthesis and water use efficiency in field‐grown Medicago arborea and Medicago citrina under prolonged Mediterranean drought conditions

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