Eco-physiological studies on Hyoscyamus muticus L. inhabiting El-Kharga Oasis in the Egyptian Western Desert

Document Type : Original papers

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1 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt

2 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, El-Kharga 71511, Egypt.

Abstract

Hyoscyamus muticus L. (Egyptian Henbane) plant (Fam: Solanaceae) is characterized by high economic importance due to its content of bioactive alkaloids and hypnotic medical benefits. The aim of the current study was to identify physiologic and metabolic processes H. muticus L. uses as way of adapting to survive in arid and drought environments. El-Kharga is the largest Oasis in the Egyptian Western Desert. Four sites during the wet (winter) season were chosen for collecting plant and soil samples. The collected data indicated that the high summer temperatures and scattered vegetation had a detrimental effect on the soil's organic matter (OM%), which correlates with species richness. As a result of accumulating more amino acids and soluble proteins during the summer rather than the winter, when existing environmental conditions may be better for such plants. The studied plant is often adapted for drought conditions that are prevalent in the habitats. Drought stress lowers the chlorophyll content in leaves and the activity of photosynthetic enzymes, which lowers the efficiency of photosynthesis. Results indicated that H. muticus L. is regarded as a very economical plant, and there is increasing interest in its cultivation in severely arid areas that are subject to drought stress.

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