Impact of potassium on the yield of lily (Lilium longifolium × Asiatic cv. Termoli) and antioxidant enzymes activity under drought stress

This study was conducted in two phases: 1) to investigate the effect of drought stress on relative water content and proline of leaf and 2) to evaluate the effect of drought stress and potassium concentrations in nutrient solution on the lily (Lilium longifolium × Asiatic cv. Termoli). Based on a completely randomized design in mixture of sand and perlite medium and in three levels of potassium (0, 6 and 12 mM), the growth indices, vase life of flowers, potassium concentration and antioxidant enzymes activity were measured. The results showed that the proline concentration increased about 7 times in the medium containing the moisture content of one third of field capacity (FC) compared to the FC treatment after 3 months in plant leaves. Lily vase life at 6 mM potassium increased 5.7 days relative to potassium-free conditions. Peroxidase activity in the nutrient solution with 12 mM potassium was significantly lower than the potassium-free conditions.