Deciphering of the morpho-physiological traits of two native grasses from Argentina with contrasting drought resistance strategies

Context Semiarid environments, such as the Patagonian shrublands, are characterised by having shrubby patches surrounded by grasses with different ecophysiological strategies to tolerate long dry periods. Aims We hypothesised that coexisting grasses of the Patagonian rangeland, already classified as drought-escaping or drought-tolerant, have different traits according to the season and the annual rainfall events. Methods Two dominant native grasses were selected: Pappostipa speciosa (evergreen) and Poa ligularis (deciduous). Samples were collected in the four seasons for the term of 1 year. Rainfall events and soil water content of each season were determined. Spring was the wettest season and autumn the driest. Physiological (relative water content, pigments, hormones), biochemical (polyphenols, antioxidant activity) and morphological traits were measured in the four seasons. Key results P. speciosa was characterised by keeping evergreen leaves with high production of polyphenols as secondary metabolites with high antioxidant capacity during the dry autumn and winter seasons. P. ligularis was characterised by high contents of gibberellin (GA1), auxin (IAA), total phenols, total flavonoids and tartaric acid esters, and high antioxidant capacity in roots during the autumn dry season. In addition, P. ligularis leaves had higher content of carotenoids and polyphenols than P. speciosa during the summer dry season. Conclusions The major adaptive strategy to tolerate dry periods is the high activity of the secondary metabolism, mainly in leaves in P. speciosa (a drought-tolerant grass) and in roots in P. ligularis (a drought-escaping grass). Implications Rainfall variations during a year can affect the phenological growth stages and the metabolism of two native grasses from Argentina characterised by different drought resistance mechanisms.