Short communication: morphophysiological response of kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix DC) subjected to defoliation and drought stress

ABSTRACT

Renowned for its leaf-spice attributes, kaffir lime has economic value that is worthy of intensifying amidst environmental threats, such as drought stress. This study aimed to analyze the morpho-physiological traits of kaffir lime in response to defoliation and drought stress. Kaffir lime was subjected to drought, defoliation, and a combination of both arranged in a randomised complete block design. Concerning morphology, defoliated lime produced a new flush that grows like a crown, while drought-treated plants displayed a bent pose with withered, edge-rolled, and drooping leaves. Higher leaf drop incidences were also noticed in drought-stressed plants. A combination of defoliation and drought stress produced severe flushing disruption by reducing 61% flush number, 77% flush fresh weight, and 74% flush dry weight, compared to undefoliated plants in normal irrigated conditions. Regardless of drought stress conditions, leaf production did not show significant differences among all defoliated plants. Defoliated plants maintained their photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency, leading to the absence of bent flush and rolling leaves as morphological markers of drought-treated plants. It is implied that defoliation can be a practical strategy for adapting kaffir lime in a drought environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Drought environment
• flushing
• morphological markers
• photosynthetic rate
• water use efficiency

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the team of Bale Tatanen Padjadjaran for the technical support during the fieldwork.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data in the present finding are available from the corresponding author [RB] upon reasonable request.

Author contributions

RB, SM, and MAN were involved in the conception and design, MAR, and MHISJ in data analysis and interpretation; RB, and SA in the drafting of the paper, RB, DNS, AK, and SLS in revising it critically for intellectual content; RB in the final approval of the version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Universitas Padjadjaran under the grant of Associate Professor Acceleration Research fiscal year 2023 [grant number: 1549/UN6.3.1/PT.00/2023]; fiscal year 2024 [grant number: 1579/UN6.3.1/PT.00/2024]; Universitas Padjadjaran for the article processing charge.