JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2017, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (05): 197-202.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201603027

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Effects of drought stress on Camellia oleifera flower-bud growth and production

DING Shaojing, ZHONG Qiuping*, YUAN Tingting, CAO Linqing, YAN Chao, YUAN Yaqi, ZHANG Xunhua, LIN Jianping   

  1. DING Shaojing, ZHONG Qiuping*, YUAN Tingting, CAO Linqing, YAN Chao, YUAN Yaqi, ZHANG Xunhua, LIN Jianping
  • Online:2017-10-18 Published:2017-10-18

Abstract: 【Objective】This study evaluated the effects of drought stress on Camellia oleifera flower-bud growth and production, and the ability of covering straw and soil loosening to alleviate drought stress. 【Method】Flower diameter, flower bud length, per-unit yield and oil weight per unit area were studied using 6-year-old C. oleifera ‘Changlin 4' forests. Four test treatments were used: natural state(control), drought stress, covering straw, and soil loosening. 【Result】Air temperature, humidity, light and soil temperature did not differ significantly between the four treatments. However, there was a significant difference in soil-water content between the treatments. Under drought stress, flower diameter decreased to 21.01% of the size achieved in the control treatment. Using covering straw and loosening the soil increased flower diameter by 5.05% and 9.81%, respectively. Under drought stress, flower bud length was 23.70% less than that in the control treatment. Flower bud length under the covering straw and soil loosening treatments were 13.65% and 15.16% greater, respectively, than those in the control treatment. These treatments moderately alleviated the effects of the drought. Under the three treatments, C. oleifera seed production declined significantly, with production in the control group having the lowest value. Using covering straw and loosening the soil alleviated some of the effects of drought stress on seed production. The yield per unit area of camellia oil was 45.73% lower under the drought stress treatment than that in the control group. Use of covering straw and loosening the soil decreased oil yield by 24.14% and 27.40% respectively. This illustrates that these treatments can somewhat increase oil production. 【Conclusion】Our findings suggest that drought stress has significant negative effects on C. oleifera seed and oil production. However, drought stress negligibly affects flower width and bud length. Use of covering straw and soil loosening can alleviate the effects of drought stress on flower bud length and production, but not on flower width.

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