Physiological and biochemical responses to drought in Eucalyptus and their relationship to drought and freezing tolerance.

OBERSCHELP, G.P.J.; SALTO, C.S.; HARRAND, L.; MARGARIT, E.

Rosario

Congreso; XXXIV Argentinian Meeting of Plant Physiology - SAFV; 2023

SAFV

Título: Physiological and biochemical responses to drought in Eucalyptus and their relationship to drought and freezing tolerance.Autor Presentador*: Margarit, E. (1) Email*: margarit@cefobi-conicet.gov.arCo-autores*: Oberschelp, G.P.J. (2), Salto, C.S. (2), Harrand, L. (2), Margarit, E. (1) Lugar de trabajo*: (1) Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET). Suipacha 570, Rosario, Santa Fe. (2) Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Ruta 22 y vías del ferrocarril, CP E3200AQK, Estación Yuquerí, Concordia, Entre Ríos, Argentina.Seleccione la modalidad de presentación preferida: PósterResumen* Drought and frost can affect eucalypts plantations in the early stages of cultivation, causing economic losses. However, plants can activate physiological and biochemical responses to prevent or reduce the effects of one or both stresses. Some of these mechanisms, such as the accumulation of compatible solutes, have been reported to help prevent dehydration and cell damage. Identifying these mechanisms in Eucalyptus species is key to the application of genetic improvement techniques. In this work, we evaluated the drought and freezing tolerance as well as the physiological and biochemical responses in seedlings of four Eucalyptus species (E. grandis, E. benthamii, E. dunnii, E. grandis x E. camaldulensis) subjected to water stress and control treatments. E. benthamii (Eb) showed high tolerance to water stress. Eb, together with E. dunnii (Ed), also showed high tolerance to freezing. However, all species were able to induce freezing tolerance as a result of applied water restriction. Interestingly, several physiological parameters (RWC, LA, LDW, SLA) were less sensitive to drought treatment in Eb. Biochemical studies indicated that Eb accumulated amino acids and compatible solutes such as myo-inositol or quinic acid, although all species showed sugar accumulation responses. The leaf proteome study identified 1,843 proteins and revealed differences at both species and treatment level. In particular, it was possible to identify that the adjustment of metabolism, photosynthesis, and some protective mechanisms could play an active role in protecting plants of this and other genera against different stresses. The species tested showed different responses to water restriction and different tolerances to drought and freezing. Biochemical studies linked metabolites and proteins to the observed tolerances. This study opens the door to identifying tolerance mechanisms and breeding traits for species of productive interest.Palabras claves: Eucalyptus, frost, drought, stress, tolerance, physiology, metabolomics, proteomics.