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Technique for Simulating Field Drought Stress in the Greenhouse

Dep. of Plant Pathol., The Pennsylvania State Univ., Univ. Park, PA 16802
USDA-ARS, U.S. Regional Pasture Res. Lab., Univ. Park, PA 16802
USDA-ARS, U.S. Regional Pasture Res. Lab., Univ. Park, PA 16802
USDA-ARS, U.S. Regional Pasture Res. Lab., Univ. Park, PA 16802

^* corresponding author.

Drought stress in the field develops gradually, allowing plants to acclimate to the stress, however, in the greenhouse it often develops too rapidly to allow acclimation. A technique was developed to induce drought stress on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the greenhouse, in a manner conducive to plant acclimation. The technique allows: (i) gradual development of drought stress; (ii) use of plants with large root systems; and (iii) imposition of several cycles of drought. The method uses 90-cm-tall by 20-cm-diam. containers and a growth medium that allows development of plant drought stress within the working range of soil tensiometers. The growth medium, a 2:1 mixture, by volume, of commercial potting mix and coarse sand, is amended with gypsum and slow-release nutrients. Drought-stressed plants were shorter than nonstressed plants and had lower leaf and stem dry weights, total aerial biomass, leaf water potentials, stomatal conductances, and osmotic potentials. These responses are indicative of plants undergoing drought acclimation. The technique is an inexpensive, low maintenance method of inducing a gradually intensifying drought stress in the greenhouse.

Received for publication October 23, 1989.

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