RWLMod—Potential Model to Study Plant Tolerance in Drought Stress Conditions

Abstract

Rationale: Water loss by evaporation is a normal physiological process, in order to regulate plant temperature. Under conditions of thermal and water stress, water loss is accelerated compared to normal conditions, and the response of plants is variable. In extreme cases, it can lead to wilting and death of plants. It was found that the phenomenon of water loss behaved as a pattern in different plant species, given by two functions, logistics (first part of water loss) and hyperbola (second part of water loss) in relation to a moment m, at which the rate of water loss (RWL) has reached its maximum value. Method: We studied the water loss process for a series of plant samples on different plant species (Picea abies L., H. Karst; Juniperus communis L.; Pinus silvestris L.; Thuja occidentalis L.; Lamium purpureum L.; Veronica hederifolia L.), measuring the rate of weight loss (RWL) in controlled conditions. The drying of the samples was done in identical conditions (thermo-balance, 100 °C, standard temperature for drying the plant samples) with the real-time recording of the drying time simultaneously with the water loss rate (RWL) from the plant samples. The exposure time varied, depending on each species sample, and was approximately 1000 s. Results: The experimental data was recorded at intervals of every 10 s, during the entire drying period. RWL values varied from 0.024 to 0.054 g/min at the beginning of the drying process and reached maximum values after 70–100 s, having values between 0.258 g/min and 0.498 g/min. During the drying period, this indicator presented different graphic evolutions, difficult to be described with a single function. The first segment was described by a logistic function, and the second was described by a hyperbola, resulting in a model (RWLMod) which described the real phenomenon. This model and theoretical calculation were used to quantify the water loss in a time interval and, compared with empirical dates, no significant differences were observed, which indicated an increased degree of accuracy regarding the use of this model. Recommendation and novelty of work: The novelty of the work is given by the obtained model (RWLMod), which makes possible the description of RWL over the entire time interval, and ensures a good fit with the real data. It recommends the method and model in studies of plant behaviour under stress in relation to different influencing factors.