TY  - JOUR
T1  - Stress-Induced Variation in Leaf Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence in <I>Callistemon</I> Plants
AU - Mugnai, Sergio AU - Ferrante, Antonio AU - Petrognani, Luca AU - Serra, Giovanni AU - Vernieri, Paolo 
JO  - Research Journal of Biological Sciences
VL  - 4
IS  - 8
SP  - 913
EP  - 921
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-8846
DO  - rjbsci.2009.913.921
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2009.913.921
KW  - Australian woody plants
KW  -growth
KW  -photosynthesis
KW  -root restriction
KW  -salinity
KW  -water stress
AB  - The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of some abiotic stresses commonly present in the Mediterranean environment (drought, salinity and negative physical soil properties) on a native Australian species (<I>Callistemon citrinus</I> (Curtis) Stapf), as the introduction of species in a new environment is successful, whenever they are able to overcome peculiar stress conditions. Plants were subjected to salinity stress using tap water added with 200 mM NaCl (23.1 mS cm<SUP>-1</SUP>), water stress induced by a reduced irrigation of 450 mL/pot/day and root restriction (1.5 L of pot volume instead of 3 L). Results showed that plant growth and total water potential were significantly reduced with all the stress treatments. Net photosynthesis and the other leaf gas exchange parameters were also reduced by stress conditions. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were lower in salt and root-restricted stress conditions, compared to controls. Results suggest that <I>C. citrinus</I> can be used as an ornamental plant in a Mediterranean area, as this species appeared to be particularly resistant to both water stress and root restriction conditions. For this reason, <I>C. citrinus</I> could be chosen in compact soil and limited water availability such as urban environments and gardens with low maintenance.
ER  -