Journal of Plant Process and Function

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of water stress on Satureja hortensis, a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications was carried out in the greenhouse of Yazd University in 2014. The water stress treatments including 100, 75, 50 and 25 Percent of field capacity (FC) were applied. The results showed that water deficit stress significantly (p<0.01) decreased plant height, canopy cover volume, canopy cover surface, shoot dry weight and root dry weigh, root thickness as well as soluble sugars content. Also, proline, chlorophyll content and root length significantly increased under drought stress. The maximum amount of proline, a, b and total chlorophyll and root length was observed in 25% of field capacity. Maximum plant height, crown volume and leaf area was obtained at 75% of field capacity. The shoots and roots dry weight of and crown area was observed in plant treated at 100% of field capacity. The overall results of this study showed that S.hortensis with can be adapted to drought stress by using some avoidance mechanisms such as reduced plant height, plant volume, surface and crown diameter, shoot and root dry weight, root thickness and increasing of chlorophyll contents and proline.