Hydraulic Relations and Water Use of Mediterranean Ornamental Shrubs in Containers

• Published in: Journal of Horticultural Research Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 49 - 56
• Main Authors: Zuccarini, Paolo, Galindo, Alejandro, Torrecillas, Arturo, Pardossi, Alberto, Clothier, Brent
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Skierniewice. Poland Sciendo 01.06.2020; De Gruyter Poland
• Subjects: drought; evapotranspiration; Experiments; gas exchange; greenhouses; horticulture; hydric behavior; irrigation management; landscapes; Ligustrum japonicum; Mediterranean shrubs; Nerium oleander; Physiology; Pittosporum tobira; plant nurseries; Radiation; thermoregulation; Trends; Variance analysis; Water; water stress; water use; United Kingdom > UK; England
• ISSN: 2300-5009; 2353-3978; 2353-3978; 2300-5009
• DOI: 10.2478/johr-2020-0009

A detailed, species-specific comprehension of plant water behavior can be a central tool to improve water management in nursery production and irrigated landscapes. Potted plants of , , and ‘Texanum’ were exposed to controlled increasing drought conditions in greenhouse. Water use, gas exchange, and foliar thermoregulation were monitored along the trial. showed the most efficient response to increasing water stress, maintaining high levels of gas exchange and evapotranspiration rate during the whole trial, whereas emerged as the most sensitive species, with a significant drop in physiological performances already from the second day. The more aggressive water behavior of can be compared to the one of anisohydric plants, whereas displays an isohydric strategy. showed intermediate characteristics between the two other species. This work comes to provide useful tools for the management of irrigation in plant nursery and for decision making in the use of ornamental shrubs for landscape applications.