Abstract:
Drought is one of the critical
environmental stresses that affect growth
and development of plants. Plants are
damaged directly and indirectly under
drought stress. Increasing water stress
tolerance in plants is crucial. The aim of this
study was to investigate the effects of
different water stress levels (-1, -5, and -10
bars) and paclobutrazol application (0 and
50 mg-l) on strawberry cv. Paros. According
to analyses of variance there were
significant effects of drought stress and
paclobutrazol application on leaf area, leaf
dry weight, leaf relative water content
(RWC), cell membrane stability index
(MSI), proline and protein content of leaves.
Leaf area, leaf dry weight, leaf relative
water content and cell membrane stability
index decreased in drought stress, especially
at -10 bars. Proline and protein contents
were enhanced by increasing water stress
levels. Paclobutrazol application increased
leaf relative water content and cell
membrane stability index, proline and
protein contents of leaves. Leaf relative
water content was 68.77% in -10 bars
drought stress that increased to 79% in
paclobutrazol treatment. Also, cell
membrane stability index was 69.65% in
severe drought stress and reached to 77% in
paclobutrazol treatment. According to the
results pacloburazol is a benefit substance to
ameliorate drought stress effects in
strawberry cv. Paros.
