Water use efficiency, morpho-physiological and biochemical reactions of some bedding plants to drought stress

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the growth and water consumption efficiency five garden plants (marigold (Tagetes erecta ‘Red Brocade’), moss-rose (Portulaca grandiflora ‘Sun Rose’), dahlia (Dahlia sp. ‘Double Opra’), gazania (Gazania splendens ‘New Day’), Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella. Dance’)) during warmer seasons year under various levels drought stress based on field capacity (FC; 25, 50, 75, 100 %). interaction effect plant × (FC) fresh dry mass aerial underground organs was significant. Decreased availability resulted in a drop parameters (leaf leaf area). In compared organs, root biomass increased response stress. Marigold, blanket, had highest root-to-shoot ratio extreme stress, i.e., FC 25 %. significantly influenced flower number, whereas diameter by main (not their interaction). % treatments lowest accumulations proline soluble sugars, respectively. Moss-rose, gazania, marigold ornamental use at 75 %, followed Dahlia 50