JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 111-119.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202002019

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Resistance response of five afforestation tree species under drought stress

HONG Zhen1(), LIU Shuxin2, HONG Conghao3, LEI Xiaohua4   

  1. 1. Scientific Research and Management Center of East China Pharmaceutical Botanical Garden, Lishui 323000, China
    2. Lishui Vocational & Technical College, Lishui 323000, China
    3. College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing 100083, China
    4. Center of Lishui City Liandu District Urban Forestry Working Station, Lishui 323000, China
  • Received:2020-02-19 Accepted:2020-06-20 Online:2021-03-30 Published:2021-04-09

Abstract:

【Objective】To select species for afforestation in difficult sites by evaluating the drought resistance of five native and alien tree species. 【Methods】Pot experiments were conducted to study the physiological response and drought resistance of 1-year-old seedlings of Liquidambar formosana, Pistacia chinensis, Ulmus elongata, Koelreuteria bipinnata, and Quercus texana under conditions of appropriate humidity and light, moderate, and severe drought (75%-80%, 55%-60%, 40%-45% and 30%-35% of the soil field capacity).【Result】With the increase of drought extent, five species showed different levels of symptoms of drought stress and major symptoms are yellow leaves and wilting. Severely affected branches’ tops dried up with the increasing time of continuing drought. After sereve drought stress for 30 days, partial seedings of U. elongata and K. bipinnata died, whole leaves of P. chinensis turned yellow or red, and leaves in the middle and lower portions of L. formosana and Q. texana turned yellow and dry. The chlorophyll and relative water content in the leaves of the five tree species decreased; the relative conductance and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in leaves increased; the content of free proline, soluble sugar and protein in leaves increased. The SOD, POD, and CAT activities in the leaves of Q. texana increased, whereas it increased and then decreased in L. formosana, P. chinensis, and K. bipinnata trees. With the increasing drought extent, the SOD and CAT activities in the leaves of U. elongate increased at first and then decreased, while the activity of POD increased with the increasing drought stress. Membership function analysis showed that under moderate and severe drought stress, drought resistance levels were Q. texana > L. formosana > P. chinensis > U. elongate > K. bipinnata.【Conclusion】Q. texana has the strongest drought resistance among the five tree species, which provides a competitive advantage for afforestation usage in difficult sites.

Key words: afforestation tree species, drought stress, physiological responses, evaluation of drought resistance, subordinate function method

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