Biomass partitioning, specific leaf area, and water use efficiency of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) in response to drought stress

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Vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is a promising C4 crop for semi-arid regions due to its high nutritive value and an ability to adapt to drought stress. A pot experiment in a temperature-controlled greenhouse was conducted to investigate the effects of drought stress on biomass production, partitioning, and water use efficiency (WUE) of four genotypes of vegetable amaranth, viz. 'Hin Choi' (A. tricolor), 'Co.2' (A. tricolor), 'WS80-192' (A. blitum), and 'RRC 1027' (A. cruentus). Drought stress significantly decreased plant total dry mass, but the proportion of changes differed among root, stem, and leaf. Under drought, root dry mass ratio was increased in Co.2, WS80-192, and RRC 1027, whereas leaf dry mass ratio was decreased in Hin Choi, Co.2, and RRC 1027. Leaf area per root dry mass was decreased by drought stress in all genotypes examined. These results indicate that drought induced a more conservative balance between water-losing and water-obtaining organs. Specific leaf area (SLA) was decreased by drought stress and differed between genotypes. WUE of the four genotypes of vegetable amaranth was unaffected by drought stress, and ranged from 2.9 to 3.8 g DM kg-1 H2O, being the highest in RRC 1027 and the lowest in WS80-192. A negative relationship between SLA and WUE was observed over the four genotypes of vegetable amaranth under well-watered conditions.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScientia Horticulturae
Volume102
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)15-27
Number of pages13
ISSN0304-4238
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We are grateful to the Lower Saxonian Ministry for Science and Culture for the financial support and to the USDA/ARS, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, IA, USA for supply of seed materials. F. Liu thanks the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the financial support during the experiment.

    Research areas

  • Amaranthus spp., Biomass partitioning, Drought stress, Specific leaf area, Water use efficiency

ID: 271684756