WATER DEFICIT AND SALINITY MODIFY SOME MORPHOMETRIC, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND PRODUCTIVE ATTRIBUTES OF ALOE VERA (L.)

Background: Water deficit and salinity are common conditions in arid agro-ecosystems. Hypothesis: Salinty increases the hydric stress effect on the yield and gel quality of Aloe vera. Study species and data description: In A. vera plants the variables meassured were: plant height, leaf length, width, and thickness, fresh bio-mass, the relative content of water, total solids, gel percentage, and harvest index. Study site and dates: The study was conducted from spring to summer 2020 in Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico. Methods: A split-block experimental design with four replications was used. The large plots were two soil moisture contents: field capacity (18.5 +/- 2.5 %) and permanent wilting point (12.5 +/- 2.5 %). The small plot was the salinity, with levels: 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mM of NaCl. Results:Water deficit and salinity reduced the width and thickness of leaves and, consequently, the fresh biomass and gel percentage were re-duced, but gel quality increased. Conclusions: Water deficit and salinity, mainly the latter, reduced plant growth and leaves, and therefore, the yield of fresh biomass and gel. Although gel yield was reduced, its quality was enhanced, in terms of high total solids content.