Potassium Starvation Increases Stomatal Conductance in Olive Trees

By O. Arquero, D. Barranco, M. Benlloch. 2006

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The effects of potassium (K) status and water availability in the growth medium on growth, water content, water-use effi ciency and stomatal conductance was studied in mist-rooted 'Chemlali de Sfax' olive (Olea europaea L.) cuttings grown in a perlite sub- strate. Potassium starvation produced dehydration of all parts of the plant, reduced shoot growth and water-use effi ciency. By contrast, K starvation enhanced stomatal conductance in well-irrigated plants and, even more, in water-stressed plants. These results suggest that moderate K defi ciency in olives may impair the plant's ability to regulate stomatal closure; this may account for the dehydration observed in K-starved plants, particularly in situations of water stress. This result is of great importance for agricultural practices of this crop, because K status, which may not be considered defi cient, can cause disorders in olive trees. The olive (Olea europaea) is grown in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Worldwide, the crop occupies a total surface area of 10 × 10 6

Subfields: Global and Planetary Change, Plant Science, Soil Science

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