Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.2478/botcro-2013-0003

Chlorophylls content, photosynthetic efficiency and genetic markers in two sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) genotypes under drought stress

Marija Viljevac orcid.org/0000-0001-8792-641X ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Ju`no predgra|e 17, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
Krunoslav Dugalić ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Ju`no predgra|e 17, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
Ines Mihaljević ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Ju`no predgra|e 17, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
Domagoj Šimić ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Ju`no predgra|e 17, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
Rezica Sudar ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Ju`no predgra|e 17, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
Zorica Jurković ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Ju`no predgra|e 17, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia, Croatian Food Agency, I. Gunduli}a 36b, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
Hrvoje Lepeduš ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, L. Jägera 9, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Drought is a limiting factor in fruit production today. Identification of sour cherry genotypes tolerant to drought will enable the sustainability of fruit production. The aim of our study was to select sour cherry genotypes according to their genetic background as well as drought tolerance and investigate possible mechanisms of drought tolerance through the changes in photosynthetic apparatus (i.e. photosynthetic pigment content) and photosynthesis process assessed through the chlorophyll fluorescence transient. All of them together with molecular markers (SSRs and AFLPs), relative water content (RWC) as indicator of plant water status distinguish two genotypes (Kelleris 16 and OS), which are the opposite in regards to drought tolerance. Down-regulation of photosynthesis in drought-treated Kelleris 16 plants was seen as changes in antenna complexes of PSII (decreased total chlorophylls content (a+b) and chlorophylls ratio (a/b)). Despite unchanged maximum quantum yield of PSII in drought-treated leaves of genotype OS, overall photosynthetic performance expressed as PIABS was down-regulated in both investigated genotypes. However, decrement of PIABS was much pronounced in genotype Kelleris 16, mainly because of changes in a certain fraction of RCs, which become dissipative centres, seen as increase in ABS/RC and DI0/RC, in order to avoid photooxidative damage of photosynthetic apparatus. Also, electron transport, seen as decrease in ET0/(TR0–ET0) and ET0/RC, was impaired which lead to impaired CO2 fixation and photosynthesis. The described changes in the functioning of photosynthetic apparatus in drought-treated plants of Kelleris 16 constitute the main distinction between the two investigated genotypes regarding drought adaptation mechanisms.

Keywords

chlorophyll fluorescence; drought tolerance; genetic variability; leaf water content; photosynthetic pigments; Prunus cerasus; sour cherry

Hrčak ID:

109641

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/109641

Publication date:

10.10.2013.

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