Tolerance of lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) to drought stress. II. Leaf gas exchange, stem water potential and dry matter partitioning

Abstract

A 2-yr field study examining the effect of soil moisture on plant water status, photosynthesis and gas exchange parameters in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) was conducted at the Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Institute (NSWBI), Debert, NS. Drought and irrigation treatments were applied over two years in either or both the vegetative and cropping years of production. Midday stem water potential values indicated that all treatments resulted in drought stress. Mean stem water potential values ranged from -1.41 to -1.45 MPa. Predawn stem water potentials in the vegetative growth season indicated that although some recharging and recovery of water loss occurred overnight, the drought-stressed plants did not fully return to pre-stress levels under the moisture-limiting conditions. Higher chlorophyll a and b levels were observed in the single-season drought treatment. Leaves of irrigated plants in both sprout and crop years had the highest stomatal density. There were no differences in photosynthetic rate (Pn) among treatments despite the lower stomatal conductance resulting from limited soil moisture. Key words: Photosynthesis, stomate, stem water potential