Responses of Strawberry Plants to Water Stress

Th e most of previous studies have been focused on the eff ect of water stress on plant yielding. However, the conditions in which plants grow from the moment of planting might aff ect their morphology and physiological response. Th e aim of this study was to examine the eff ect of water defi ciency on growth and plant physiological response of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cv. ‘Salut’) under greenhouse conditions. Th e plants were grown in plastic containers fi lled with peat substratum. Water stress was imposed by reducing the irrigation according to substratum moisture readings. Water stressed plants had the lowest values of water potential and showed strong decrease in gas exchange rate. Also, biomass and leaf area were the lowest in this group of plants. No diff erences in the length of root system were observed between control and water stressed plants. Th e lack of water in growing medium resulted also in a decrease of density and reduction of dimensions of stomata on plant leaves. Th ese changes contribute to optimising the use of assimilates and water use effi ciency in periods when water availability is decreased. Key words Fragaria x ananassa Duch.; drought; growth; stomata; gas exchang