Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2010.10.020
Title (Primary) Do plants remember drought? Hints towards a drought-memory in grasses
Author Walter, J.; Nagy, L.; Hein, R.; Rascher, U.; Beierkuhnlein, C.; Willner, E.; Jentsch, A.
Source Titel Environmental and Experimental Botany
Year 2011
Department NSF
Volume 71
Issue 1
Page From 34
Page To 40
Language englisch
Keywords Recurrent drought stress; Climate warming; Memory-effect; Water deficit; Chlorophyll a fluorescence; Phenotypic plasticity
Abstract The frequency of extreme drought events is projected to increase under global climate change, causing damage to plants and crop yield despite potential acclimation. We investigated whether grasses remain acclimated to drought even after a harvest and remember early summer drought exposure over a whole vegetation period. For this, we compared the response of Arrhenatherum elatius plants under a second, late, drought (they were pre-exposed to an early drought before), to plants exposed to a single, only late, extreme drought. Surprisingly, the percentage of living biomass after a late drought increased for plants that were exposed to drought earlier in the growing season compared to single-stressed plants, even after harvest and resprouting after the first drought. Relative leaf water content did not differ between the two treatments. Net photosynthesis was non-significantly reduced by 25% in recurrent drought treatment. Maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) and maximum fluorescence (Fm) were reduced in plants that were exposed to recurrent drought. These findings indicated improved photoprotection in double-stressed plants. Our results provide first hints towards a "drought memory" over an entire vegetation period, even after harvest and resprouting. However, the advantage of improved photoprotection might also cause reductions in photosynthesis that could have adverse effects on crop yield under more severe or longer droughts.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=10876
Walter, J., Nagy, L., Hein, R., Rascher, U., Beierkuhnlein, C., Willner, E., Jentsch, A. (2011):
Do plants remember drought? Hints towards a drought-memory in grasses
Environ. Exp. Bot. 71 (1), 34 - 40 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2010.10.020