Drought response of Trichloris crinita plants with different aridity history: water use, leaf elongation and senescence.

QUIROGA RE., BLANCO L.J., GOLLUSCIO R.A. Y FERNANDEZ R.J.

Hohhot, China

Congreso; XXI International Grassland Congress- VIII International Rangeland Congress.; 2008

Internacional Rangeland Society

The use of water and the leaf growth are key processes for functioning and fitness of the plants. Differences in the form in which plants use the water of the soil in conditions of water stress might be associated to advantages in terms of leaf growth and be translated in differences in fitness. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect that aridity as a selective force, imprints over the drought responses in water use and leaf growth of plants of Trichloris crinita, a forage grass native of the Argentinean region of Chaco Arido. We hypothesized that when subjected to drought, plants from arid sites, that can have mechanisms to save water, will use the soil water more slowly, and will be less affected by drought in terms of leaf elongation and leaf senescence,  than plants from humid sites.