Water deficit and polyethylene glycol 6000 affects morphological and biochemical characters of Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.)

The effects of water deficit and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 on the growth and content of essential oil, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, proline, macroelements (N-P-K) and microelements (Mg-Zn-Fe-Mn) of Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) plants were investigated. Water deficits of 80% and 40% of field water capacity decreased certain growth characters (total leaf area, leaf number, and total fresh and dry mass). The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b, total carotenoids) and mineral content (N-P-K-Mg-Zn-Fe-Mn) also decreased as water deficit level increased. Water deficit promoted the accumulation of essential oil content and its main components (methyl eugenol, isomenthone and limonene) as well as total soluble sugars and proline contents. The water deficit × PEG 6000 interaction was greater than water deficit treatments alone on all plant growth characters assessed. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.