Effects of Water Regime on the Structure of Roots and Stems of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)‎

Abstract EN

Yield improvement of durum wheat is considerably limited by the expression of environmental abiotic factors.

Water deficits are one of these limiting factors.

Plants develop various strategies to tolerate the effects of water deficit.

Some of such mechanisms might occur in the root and stem systems.

The present study aimed to investigate some anatomical traits contributing to the drought tolerance in the durum wheat.

The anatomical variations of the meristem of roots and stems, as a response to water deficit, were evaluated.

The results indicated that the enhancement of the intensity of water deficit was accompanied by profound structural changes in the piliferous zone of roots.

Water deficit caused a significant decrease in the diameter of the newly formed adventitious roots, which can be explained by a reduction in the thickness of the cortical parenchyma, through the reduction of cell size.

This action was usually a contrary effect in the principal adventitious roots.

The study also showed that increasing the intensity of water deficit reduced the diameter of vessels in the primary xylem, thereby increasing the hydraulic resistance of roots and lowering the flow of sap.