Class
Article
College
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Department
Plants, Soils, and Climate Department
Faculty Mentor
Youping Sun
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Penstemons are among the most attractive native flowers of North America with high aesthetic importance in urban landscape. Limited studies have been conducted previously to determine their salt tolerance. In this study, we examined how salinities ranging from the electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.0 to 10.0 dS·m-1 affected the growth and physiology of two penstemons [Penstemon barbatus ‘Blue’ (rock candy series beardtongue) and Penstemon strictus ‘Rocky Mountain’ (Rocky Mountain beardtongue)]. Salinity stress reduced the growth rate and biomass production of penstemon species. Penstemon barbatus had slight foliar salt damage with an averaged visual score of 3.2 (0 = dead, 5 = excellent without foliar salt damage) and P. strictus had minimal foliar salt damage with an averaged visual score of 4.0 when irrigated with treatment solution at an EC of 5.0 dS·m-1. Similarly, when irrigated with treatment solution at an EC of 7.5 dS·m-1, P. barbatus and P. strictus had moderate to severe foliar salt damage with averaged visual score of 1.6 and 2.5, respectively. Penstemons had severe foliar salt damage or were dead when irrigated with treatment solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1. Net photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (E) rate measured using a CIRAS-3 portable photosynthesis system decreased with increasing salinity levels. Furthermore, sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) contents in the leaves of P. barbatus and P. strictus increased quadratically with the increase in salinity levels of the treatment solution. Therefore, P. barbatus and P. strictus are sensitive to salinity levels at ECs of 7.5 and 10.0 dS·m-1.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-12-2023 1:30 PM
End Date
4-12-2023 2:30 PM
Included in
Evaluating Two Penstemon Species for Salinity Tolerance
Logan, UT
Penstemons are among the most attractive native flowers of North America with high aesthetic importance in urban landscape. Limited studies have been conducted previously to determine their salt tolerance. In this study, we examined how salinities ranging from the electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.0 to 10.0 dS·m-1 affected the growth and physiology of two penstemons [Penstemon barbatus ‘Blue’ (rock candy series beardtongue) and Penstemon strictus ‘Rocky Mountain’ (Rocky Mountain beardtongue)]. Salinity stress reduced the growth rate and biomass production of penstemon species. Penstemon barbatus had slight foliar salt damage with an averaged visual score of 3.2 (0 = dead, 5 = excellent without foliar salt damage) and P. strictus had minimal foliar salt damage with an averaged visual score of 4.0 when irrigated with treatment solution at an EC of 5.0 dS·m-1. Similarly, when irrigated with treatment solution at an EC of 7.5 dS·m-1, P. barbatus and P. strictus had moderate to severe foliar salt damage with averaged visual score of 1.6 and 2.5, respectively. Penstemons had severe foliar salt damage or were dead when irrigated with treatment solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1. Net photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (E) rate measured using a CIRAS-3 portable photosynthesis system decreased with increasing salinity levels. Furthermore, sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) contents in the leaves of P. barbatus and P. strictus increased quadratically with the increase in salinity levels of the treatment solution. Therefore, P. barbatus and P. strictus are sensitive to salinity levels at ECs of 7.5 and 10.0 dS·m-1.