Influence of Water Stress on Growth, Chlorophyll Contents and Solute Accumulation in Three Accessions of Vicia faba L. from Tunisian Arid Region

Abstract

In this study, we aim to investigate the physiological and biochemical adaptations of Vicia faba plants to moderate irrigation regime (T1) and describe the effects of water stress on their growth performance and chlorophyll contents. For this reason, three Tunisia accessions (ElHamma, Mareth and Medenine) were studied. An experiment was conducted for one month. Faba bean plants were first grown in a greenhouse and then, exposed to water stress, whereby they were irrigated up to the field capacity (FC) of 0% (control, T0) and 50% of the control (moderate stress, T1). The effect of water stress on physiological parameters showed differences in relation to the accessions studied and the water regime. Relative water content (RWC) of ElHamma accession does not seem to be affected by stress as compared with the control regime. Total chlorophyll content decreases, whereas soluble sugar contents increases for all accessions studied. ElHamma has the highest content. About morphological parameters, bean growth varies according to the ascension and treatment. Hydric stress impedes the growth of the root part and caused a significant reduction in the shoot and root Dry Weight (DW) of the T1-stressed beans, compared to the optimal irrigation (T0).