Responses of Ginkgo biloba to water stress

Autorzy

• Marcel Raček Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
  Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia
• Helena Lichtnerová Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
  Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia
• Marcin Kubus West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin
  P. Pawła VI 3A, 71-459 Szczecin, Poland
• Ivan Iľko Trnava University in Trnava
  Priemyselná 4, 91843 Trnava, Slovakia
  e-mail: ivan.ilko@truni.sk

Abstract

The research paper deals with the adaptability of Ginkgo biloba L. and its growth and physiological responses under conditions of water scarcity. We hypothesised that under conditions of water scarcity, Ginkgo would use adaptive mechanisms that would allow it to manage water efficiently and, at the same time, survive the dry season. Two experimental variants were set up with plants in the juvenile stage of ontogeny with differentiated irrigation. In the control variant, the soil substrate was saturated with water to 70% of the field’s water capacity. The water saturation of the substrate of the stressed plants was 40%. The differentiated irrigation regime was introduced at the beginning of June and maintained until the beginning of September. The results of three years of research were evaluated. Based on the results, we can conclude that Ginkgo biloba has an exceptional ability to protect the water content of the leaves under conditions of water shortage, which probably allows it to survive a prolonged period of drought. However, the survival strategy of the lack of water leads to a significant limitation of the growth of the whole plant, including the root system.

Keywords

• Ginkgo biloba L.
• chlorophyll
• Adaptability
• stress
• growth
• water content