Atmospheric and soil water deficit induced changes in chemical and hydraulic signals in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Plant responses to soil drying and the metabolic basis of drought-induced limitations in stomatal opening are still being discussed. In this study, we investigate the roles of root-born chemical and hydraulic signals on stomatal regulation in wheat genotypes as affected by soil drought and vapour pressure deficit. Twelve consecutive pot experiments were carried out in a glasshouse. Two bread wheat cultivars (Gonen and Basribey) were subjected to drought under high and low vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in a growth chamber. Total dry matter, specific leaf area, xylem ABA content, xylem osmotic potential, xylem pH, root water potential (RWP), stomatal conductance, leaf ABA content and photosynthetic activity were determined daily during 6 days after the onset of treatments (DAT). In the first phase of drought stress, soil drying induced an increase in the xylem ABA with a peak 3 DAT while RWP drastically decreased during the same period. Then the osmotic potential of leaves decreased and leaf ABA content increased 4 DAT. A similar peak was observed for stomatal conductance during the early stress phase, and it became stable and significantly higher than in well-watered conditions especially in high vapour deficit conditions (H-VPD). Furthermore, xylem pH and xylem osmotic potential appeared to be mostly associated with atmospheric moisture content than soil water availability. The results are discussed regarding possible drought adaptation of wheat under different atmospheric humidity.