RWLMod-Potential Model to Study Plant Tolerance in Drought Stress Conditions.

Area of Science:

• Plant physiology
• Evaporation dynamics
• Stress response in plants

Background:

• Water loss via evaporation is crucial for plant temperature regulation.
• Thermal and water stress accelerate water loss, potentially causing wilting and death.
• Plant water loss exhibits a predictable pattern, characterized by logistic and hyperbolic functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and model the phenomenon of plant water loss under controlled conditions.
• To develop a mathematical model describing the rate of water loss (RWL) over time.
• To assess the model's accuracy in quantifying water loss across different plant species.

Main Methods:

• Studied water loss in six plant species (Picea abies, Juniperus communis, Pinus silvestris, Thuja occidentalis, Lamium purpureum, Veronica hederifolia).
• Measured the rate of weight loss (RWL) using a thermo-balance at 100°C under controlled conditions.
• Recorded drying time and RWL in real-time, with sample exposure up to approximately 1000 seconds.

Main Results:

• RWL varied from 0.024–0.054 g/min initially, peaking at 0.258–0.498 g/min between 70–100 seconds.
• A novel model (RWLMod) was developed, combining logistic and hyperbolic functions to describe RWL evolution.
• RWLMod showed high accuracy when compared with empirical data, with no significant differences observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed RWLMod accurately describes plant water loss over the entire drying period.
• The model provides a good fit with real experimental data, offering a novel approach to quantifying water loss.
• Recommends the RWLMod and methodology for studying plant behavior under various stress factors.