Paper details

Title:

Morpho-physiological Response to Water and Salt Stress in Hemp under LED Light

Author(s):

Cafaro, V., Siracusa, L., Iurato, A., Testa, G., Cosentino, S.L., Patanè, C.

Document(s):

Abstract:

This study evaluated the morphological and physiological responses of hemp to varying levels of water availability and salinity. At harvest, number of leaves, stem height, and fresh biomass (total and partitioned into stem, leaves, and inflorescence) were measured. Cannabidiols (CBD) production and proline content were assessed. Water deficit significantly reduced total plant biomass, (-0.29% and -0.66% at 60% and 30% ETc restoration, respectively). Salinity, as well, decreased total plant biomass of -0.33% at –0.2 MPa and -0.80% at –0.4 MPa. Water stress had a minor impact on biomass partitioning among plant organs. In contrast, salinity changed biomass allocation, increasing leaf proportion (from 38.8% to 47.2) and reducing inflorescence share (from 25.9% to 21.7%) in 0 and -0.4 MPa, respectively. CBD content was highly sensitive to both drought and salinity. Compared to control, CBD concentration decreased by 10.9% under moderate water deficit and by 65.9% under severe drought. Salinity stress reduced CBD content by 45.6% at –0.2 MPa and 80.2% at –0.4 MPa. Moderate salinity did not change CBD production per plant, whilst severe salinity drastically lowered it (–74.1%). Proline accumulation showed a moderate response to water stress (+12.5% at 30% ETc) and a stronger increase under salinity (+14.0% at –0.4 MPa). These results suggest hemp’s relative tolerance to water limitation at low level of it, however productivity and secondary metabolite synthesis are highly vulnerable to severe drought and saline conditions.

Keywords:

hemp, abiotic stress, CBD, proline

Topic:

Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy

Subtopic:

Biomass resources and potentials

Event:

33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

1CV.2.7

Pages:

161 - 164

ISBN:

978-88-89407-25-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-1CV.2.7

Price:

FREE