PHYSIOLOGICAL PARTICULARITIES OF PORTULACA OLERACEA L. PLANTS

Abstract

Portulaca oleracea L., considered by many a weed, is in fact a plant with multiple food and medicinal  values, and with a specific adaptation to stress conditions. Grown in water supply option conditions, the plant has a C4 type metabolism, but in drought conditions, it uses the way of closing the stomata during the day, achieving a CAM type metabolism. The high values of the stomatal conductance recorded in the dark and the high contentof malic acid in the leaves especially in the morning, indicate this adaptation. Plants exposed to water stress also showed higher values of suction force and higher percentages of bound water.