The Impact of Selected Ecological Factors on the Growth and Biochemical Responses of Giza Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Seedlings

Abstract

The climate is changing, warming and drying, and how plants will fare under such deteriorating climate is presently a prime question in plant ecology research. Giza faba bean (Viacia faba L.) is one essential crop of the world, and reductions in its biomass and yield are expected in response to global climate change, particularly in stressful habitats. A greenhouse study was conducted from March to April 2022 to examine the impacts of the main components of climate change. temperature, elevated CO 2 , and water stress on the growth and biochemical responses of Giza faba bean seedlings. Seedlings were grown under two temperature regimes (22/18°C and 28/24°C), 12/12h light/dark photoperiod, two CO 2 concentrations (400 and 800 μmol mol -1 ), and two watering regimes (well-watered and water stressed). Twelve-day-old seedlings were assigned in random to experimental conditions where they were grown for 14 days. Upon harvest, growth and biochemical parameters were measured. Overall, higher temperatures and water stress, individually, decreased growth parameters, leaf moisture content, dry and fresh matter of all plant parts, leaf mass area, nitrogen balance index and anthocyanin, but increased electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll measured by Dualex, flavonoid content, and Chl a, carotenoids, total chlorophyll, and Chla/b ratio. Moreover, higher temperatures increased proline content and water stress increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Elevated CO 2 increased growth parameters, leaf moisture content, fresh matter of stems and leaves and dry matter of all plant parts, leaf area ratio, flavonoid content, but decreased MDA and electrolyte leakage. Interactions among the three components of climate change primarily affected leaf number, moisture content, root dry mass, MDA and flavonoid contents. Elevated CO 2 alleviated the negative impacts of temperature and water stress on Giza faba bean seedlings through decreasing oxidative stress and increasing plant water status. Our study showed that Giza faba bean has the potential to decrease negative impacts of the main components of climate change in the future.