Comparative Study of Drought Stress Effects on Traditional and Modern Apple Cultivars

Genotype-dependent responses of apples to drought stress were evaluated between commercial and traditional apple cultivars. The results indicate different mechanisms of tolerance to investigated drought stress conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence induction (OJIP) parameters, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, phenols and leaf water content (WC) were measured. The traditional cultivar Crvenka confirmed the best tolerance to a drought stress condition, presenting higher photosynthetic efficiency, higher leaf water content, higher levels of chlorophyll content and lower lipid peroxidation with greater membrane stability. The commercial cultivar Golden Delicious Reinders showed decreased water content in leaves, increased lipid peroxidation levels and photoinhibition. Considering all results, the commercial cultivar Golden Delicious Reinders was adversely affected by drought, while traditional cultivars exhibited better tolerance to drought stress.

Automated summary

Genotype-dependent responses of apples to drought stress were evaluated between commercial and traditional apple cultivars, showing that traditional cultivar Crvenka exhibited better tolerance with higher photosynthetic efficiency, leaf water content, chlorophyll content, and lower lipid peroxidation. In contrast, the commercial cultivar Golden Delicious Reinders showed decreased water content in leaves, increased lipid peroxidation levels, and photoinhibition, indicating its adverse response to drought stress.