华北夏玉米干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫的响应

干物质分配系数反映作物各器官干物质的分配与积累,研究干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫的响应,是研究干旱胁迫对作物生长发育影响的基础.本文基于华北夏玉米主产省山东、河北和山西3个试验点2013—2015年田间水分控制试验资料,建立了夏玉米苗期、抽雄期、灌浆期3个主要发育阶段叶、茎、穗的干物质分配系数与土壤相对湿度的定量关系模型,分析了叶、茎、穗干物质分配系数对不同程度干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明: 3个阶段叶、茎、穗的干物质分配系数与土壤相对湿度均呈显著的一元二次关系.干旱胁迫下,叶片向外转运的干物质相对减少,叶干物质分配比例增加,并且在轻、中度干旱胁迫时的灌浆期(叶干物质分配系数增加0.04~0.09)以及重度干旱胁迫时的抽雄期(叶干物质分配系数增加0.17)响应最敏感.穗干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫表现为负响应,干旱胁迫越严重,分配系数越小,轻-重度干旱胁迫使穗干物质分配系数减小0.08~0.34.茎干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫的响应总体表现为灌浆期(正响应)＞抽雄期(负响应)＞苗期(负响应).     

灌水对冬小麦群体、花后干物质和籽粒淀粉积累的影响

为优化北方晚熟冬麦区冬小麦节水灌溉方式，于2018—2020年连续2年进行田间试验，第一年设置全生育期不灌水(CK)、越冬期1水(W)、拔节期1水(J)、孕穗期1水(B)、越冬期+拔节期2水(WJ)、越冬期+孕穗期2水(WB)、拔节期+孕穗期2水(JB)以及生产上采用的越冬期+拔节期+孕穗期3水(WJB)共8个处理；在第一年试验结果基础上，第二年设置CK、W、B和WB共4个处理，调查了不同灌水处理对冬小麦群体、花后干物质和籽粒淀粉积累的影响。结果表明：灌越冬水W更有利于提高冬小麦群体总茎数；与CK相比，灌水处理(B除外)显著提高花前及花后干物质积累量；早期灌水(如W)有利提高花前贮藏同化物向籽粒转运量，而后期灌水(如B)有利提高花后积累同化物向籽粒分配量；花前贮藏同化物与花后积累同化物对籽粒贡献率因夏闲期降水而异；随灌水次数及灌水总量增加，花后同化物对籽粒贡献率增大。成熟期不同器官干物质含量和比例表现为籽粒(约50%)>茎鞘+叶片(约33%)>颖壳+穗轴(约17%);灌水提高了籽粒淀粉及其组分含量，而降低了直链淀粉与支链淀粉比值。灌越冬水W或孕穗水B处理的籽粒总淀粉及其组分...     

测墒补灌对小麦光合特性和干物质积累与分配的影响

以高产冬小麦品种济麦22为材料,研究了测墒补灌对小麦光合特性和干物质积累与分配的影响.结果表明:W2(拔节期补灌至相对含水量75％,开花期70％)和DW2(拔节后10 d补灌至相对含水量75％,开花期70％)灌浆后期旗叶光合速率和实际光化学效率分别高于W3(拔节期补灌至相对含水量80％,开花期70％)和DW3(拔节后10 d补灌至相对含水量80％,开花期70％)处理;W2和DW2开花期和成熟期干物质积累量、开花前贮藏干物质向籽粒的转运量和籽粒干物质分配量高于W1(拔节期补灌至相对含水量65％,开花期70％)和DW1(拔节后10d补灌至相对含水量65％,开花期70％)处理,水分利用效率和灌溉水生产效率显著高于W3和DW3处理.相同补灌水平下,DW2和DW3灌浆后期旗叶光合速率和实际光化学效率分别高于W2和W3处理,开花期干物质积累量及其向籽粒的转运量低于W2和W3处理,开花后干物质积累量、籽粒产量、水分利用效率和灌溉水生产效率高于W2和W3处理.DW2是本试验条件下的高产高水分利用效率灌溉方案.     

干旱胁迫对群众杨光合特性与器官干物质分配的影响

土壤干旱是北方地区杨树人工林生长和生态效益的重要限制因子。以群众杨(Populus×popularis‘35-44’)扦插苗为研究材料,采用盆栽称重法控制土壤水分,设置正常供水、中度干旱、重度干旱3种水分梯度。分别于2016年9月与2017年9月测定叶片气体交换参数、各器官干重、根冠比、叶经济性状等指标,研究了持续2年干旱胁迫下群众杨扦插苗光合特性与器官干物质分配的变化规律,分析了土壤干旱程度、树龄在"小老树"形成中的作用过程。2016年与2017年中度、重度干旱胁迫下功能叶净光合速率(P_n)受到非气孔限制,与正常供水相比分别降低了36.08%、56.42%;18.47%、5.13%。第一年干旱胁迫下群众杨气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)显著降低;第二年干旱胁迫下G_s与正常供水无显著差异,而T_r显著提高,有利于叶片C、N元素的运输分配进而维持较高的P_n。第一年随干旱胁迫程度加剧,群众杨叶片C/N显著提高,光合产物分配趋向于叶器官。第二年中度干旱胁迫下叶片C/N与正常供水相比无显著差异,各器官干重下降幅度均低于2016年,而根冠比显著增加,表明其光合产物主要用于地下部构建以适应中度干旱环境;持续重度干旱则光合产物向茎中的分配比例提高。干旱胁迫导致群众杨功能叶水分利用效率(WUE,Water use efficiency)与光合氮利用效率(PNUE,Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency)显著降低,整株氮利用效率(NUE,Whole plant nitrogen use efficiency)显著提高。严重土壤干旱下叶片耗水增强、PNUE下降以及茎木质部碳投资增加可能是群众杨小老树形成的重要原因。     

宁夏灌区春小麦形态结构及干物质分配对不同时期干旱胁迫的响应

于2018年,以宁夏主推春小麦品种"永春4号"为试验材料,设置了6种不同灌水处理来研究春小麦形态结构及干物质分配对不同时期干旱胁迫的响应过程及机制。结果表明:全发育期不灌水处理使发育期缩短达11 d;分蘖期及拔节期干旱会导致春小麦穂下茎节缩短、叶面积和株高显著下降、叶片提前变黄衰退;分蘖期缺水对叶面积影响最大,拔节期缺水对株高影响最大;干旱影响春小麦干物质的积累和分配,分蘖期干旱使叶片占干物质总量的比重下降,叶鞘占干物质总量的比重上升;与CK组相比,全发育期干旱处理的穗长、穗数、穗粒数和千粒重分别显著下降5.9%、43.4%、9.6%和7.6%;分蘖期轻微干旱显著降低小麦穗数,但显著提高小麦穗粒数和千粒重;开花-灌浆期干旱对小麦千粒重影响最大,与CK组相比千粒重下降17.4%。     

水稻物质生产与氮、磷、钾、硅素积累特点及其相互关系

大田条件下研究了30个水稻基因型的干物质与N、P、K、Si积累特性及其相互关系.结果表明,水稻干物质积累总量随N、P、K和Si积累总量的增加呈直线增加,其相关系数早季和晚季均达极显著水平.同时,N、P、K、Si积累的平衡有利于干物质积累,干物质积累量随NBI(养分平衡指数)直线增加,随NDI(养分偏离指数)直线下降.30个水稻品种平均N、P、K、Si积累总量比值早季为3.76:1:4.55:7.10,晚季为2.88:1:4.54:8.09.干物质积累能力以中期最强,前期最弱,而N积累能力却以前期最强,后期最弱.水稻抽穗前积累的干物质主要分配在茎鞘中,当抽穗期茎鞘比率达到最大时,茎鞘重约为叶片重的2倍,而抽穗前积累的N主要分配在叶片中,叶片中N的分配比率全生育期均比干物质分配比率高.成熟期积累的干物质、N和P主要分配在穗部,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率分别为58.01%、66.42%和70.06%,而K主要分配在茎鞘中,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率为62.08%.早季Si在茎中的分配比率(43.11%)最大,而晚季却以穗中的分配比率(46.99%)最大.     

油松幼苗对干旱胁迫的生理生态响应

在适宜水分(田间持水量为80%)、轻度干旱(60%)、中度干旱(40%)和重度干旱(20%)4种土壤水分条件下研究了油松的生理生态特征,结果显示; 油松各器官(根、茎、叶)的干物质积累量、干物质积累总量、相对生长率、株高和基径均表现为适宜水分＞轻度干旱＞中度干旱＞重度干旱,而根冠比大小顺序与其相反.气体交换参数(净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率) 随干旱程度的加剧显著下降,并且净光合速率的下降主要受气孔因素限制.油松的瞬时水分利用效率和长期水分利用效率(稳定碳同位素含量,δ13C)表现适宜水分＜轻度干旱＜中度干旱＜重度干旱,而且中度和重度干旱显著提高油松的水分利用效率.另外,单位干重叶片氮元素含量(N%)随胁迫增加呈下降趋势,而单位干重碳元素含量(C%)却与之相反,从而导致碳氮比随胁迫增加而增加,并且我们的结果显示光合速率与氮含量存在显著正相关. 结果表明,油松可以通过调节自身生长特征、生物量分配模式和叶片营养元素的含量及提高水分利用效率而增强应对干旱胁迫的能力.     

灌溉对干旱区冬小麦干物质积累、分配和产量的影响

为探明灌溉对干旱区冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)产量、水分利用效率(WUE)、干物质积累及分配等的影响, 以甘肃河西走廊冬小麦适宜种植品种‘临抗2号’为材料进行了研究。在冬季灌水180 mm的条件下, 生育期以灌水量和灌水次数等共设置5个处理, 分别为: 拔节期灌水量165 mm (W1)、拔节期灌水量120 mm +抽穗期灌水量105 mm (W2)、拔节期灌水量105 mm +抽穗期灌水量105 mm +灌浆期灌水量105 mm (W3)、拔节期灌水量75 mm +抽穗期灌水量75 mm +灌浆期灌水量75 mm (W4)、拔节期灌水量105 mm +抽穗期灌水量75 mm +灌浆期灌水量45 mm (W5)。结果表明: 随着生育期的推进, 土壤有效含水量(AWC)受灌水次数及灌水量影响更加明显; W3、W4处理的土壤各层AWC在灌浆期均较高; 叶面积指数(LAI)下降慢, 延缓了生育后期的衰老; 生育后期干物质积累增加, 提高了穗粒数、千粒重和籽粒产量。籽粒产量以W3处理最高, 但W4具有最高的WUE, 且籽粒产量与W3无显著差异, 但W4较灌溉总量相同的W2和W5以及灌水量最少的W1具有明显的指标优势。W1、W2、W5处理灌浆期各层土壤AWC均较低, 花后LAI下降快, 干物质积累减少, 灌浆持续期缩短, 穗粒数和千粒重减少, 最终表现为籽粒产量和WUE下降。灌浆期水分胁迫可促进花前储存碳库向籽粒的再转运, 并随着干旱胁迫的加重而提高, 对籽粒产量起补偿作用; 水分胁迫提高了灌浆速率, 但缩短了灌浆持续期。相关性分析表明, 灌浆持续期、有效灌浆持续期、有效灌浆期粒重增加值和最大籽粒灌浆速率出现时间与千粒重和籽粒产量均呈正相关。综合考虑, 拔节、抽穗及灌浆期各灌溉75 mm是高产高WUE的最佳灌水方案。     

水稻物质生产与氮、磷、钾、硅素积累特点及其相互关系

大田条件下研究了30个水稻基因型的干物质与N、P、K、Si积累特性及其相互关系．结果表明,水稻干物质积累总量随N、P、K和Si积累总量的增加呈直线增加,其相关系数早季和晚季均达极显著水平．同时,N、P、K、Si积累的平衡有利于干物质积累,干物质积累量随NBI(养分平衡指数)直线增加,随NDI(养分偏离指数)直线下降．30个水稻品种平均N、P、K、Si积累总量比值早季为3．76：1：4．55：7．10,晚季为2．88：1：4．54：8．09．干物质积累能力以中期最强,前期最弱,而N积累能力却以前期最强,后期最弱．水稻抽穗前积累的干物质主要分配在茎鞘中,当抽穗期茎鞘比率达到最大时,茎鞘重约为叶片重的2倍,而抽穗前积累的N主要分配在叶片中,叶片中N的分配比率全生育期均比干物质分配比率高．成熟期积累的干物质、N和P主要分配在穗部,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率分别为58．01％、66．42％和70．06％,而K主要分配在茎鞘中,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率为62．08％．早季Si在茎中的分配比率(43．11％)最大,而晚季却以穗中的分配比率(46．99％)最大．     

不同生育时期干旱对冬小麦氮素吸收与利用的影响

以抗旱性强的‘石家庄8号’和抗旱性弱的‘偃麦20’冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)为材料, 在田间遮雨棚条件下, 研究返青-拔节期、拔节-开花期和灌浆后期3个生育期不同干旱程度对冬小麦产量、氮素吸收、分配和利用的影响。结果表明, 在干旱条件下, 抗旱性强的‘石家庄8号’产量高于抗旱性弱的‘偃麦20’, 并且其3个生育时期轻度干旱均可提高产量。拔节-开花期干旱对两个冬小麦品种氮素的吸收和运转影响均最大, 其次为返青-拔节期, 而灌浆后期影响较小。不同生育期中度和重度干旱均降低了花前贮藏氮素向籽粒中的转移, 并且氮肥利用效率和生产率也较低, 而在返青-拔节和灌浆后期轻度干旱有利于营养器官的氮素向籽粒中转移, 提高了氮肥利用效率和生产率。在干旱条件下, 抗旱性强的‘石家庄8号’籽粒氮素积累对花前贮藏氮素再运转的依赖程度高, 而‘偃麦20’对花后氮素的积累和转移依赖较高。综合产量和氮素的转移特点, 在生产实践中, 返青-拔节期和灌浆后期要注意对小麦进行适度的干旱处理, 在拔节-开花期要保证冬小麦的充分灌溉, 从而有利于氮素的积累和分配。     

推迟拔节水对小麦氮素积累与分配和硝态氮运移的影响

摘要：2007—2008年度以高产冬小麦品种济麦22为材料,设置2个拔节水灌溉时期,为拔节期和拔节后10 d;3个目标相对含水量,灌水后0~140 cm土层土壤相对含水量分别达到65%、75%、80%,以W1、W2、W3表示拔节期灌水处理,DW1、DW2、DW3表示拔节后10 d灌水处理;开花期均灌水至0~140 cm土层土壤相对含水量为70%,研究推迟拔节水对小麦氮素积累与分配和硝态氮运移的影响。结果表明：（1）W2和DW2处理有利于提高0~60 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量,促进籽粒氮素积累;营养器官贮藏氮素向籽粒的转运量、籽粒产量和氮肥偏生产力分别高于W1和DW1,与W3和DW3处理无显著差异;开花后植株氮素积累量、籽粒蛋白质含量和水分利用效率分别高于W3和DW3,是拔节期和拔节后10 d灌水的最优处理。（2）W2和DW2处理比较,DW2成熟期100~140 cm土层硝态氮残留量低于W2,籽粒产量、籽粒蛋白质含量、氮素吸收效率、氮肥偏生产力和水分利用效率均显著高于W2,是本试验条件下的最佳灌水方案。2008—2009生长季试验各处理变化趋势同2007—2008年度。     

Effect of drought and high solar radiation on 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and abscisic acid concentrations in Rosmarinus officinalis plants

The endogenous concentrations of ACC and ABA were measured, at predawn and at maximum solar radiation, during a summer drought, and recovery after autumn rainfalls, in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), a drought-tolerant species, growing under Mediterranean field conditions. During the summer, plants were subjected to both water deficit and high solar radiation. Plants showed severe reductions in shoot water potential to -3 MPa, which were associated with drastic stomatal closure (73%), a decrease in net photosynthesis, reaching almost zero, and a severe chlorophyll loss (74%). Despite the severity of the stress, plants recovered after the autumn rainfalls. The concentration of ACC was not enhanced by drought, and at predawn these concentrations remained constant at approximately 600 pmol ACC-1 DW throughout the experiment. Thus, ethylene did not regulate the response of rosemary to drought. However, a sharp increase in ACC levels between predawn and midday was observed. This increase was positively correlated to the intensity of the incident solar radiation. ACC levels recorded in June at midday reached 16 000 pmol g DW and in October values of 1000 pmol g-1 DW were observed. In contrast, in drought-stressed plants predawn concentrations of ABA were up to 130-fold those of recovered plants, and the levels of ABA scored at midday were double of those scored at predawn. In conclusion, although drought-stressed rosemary plants showed a relatively moderate ABA accumulation (approximately 500 pmol g-1 DW#, at predawn), it seems to be an essential factor for the regulation of the plant response to stress, thereby enabling a rapid recovery after stress release, although other mechanisms can not be excluded. As drought stress did not induce ACC accumulation, it was concluded that ethylene production was not a major factor in the drought stress resistance of rosemary plants. The increased ACC and ABA concentrations at midday were correlated with day length and light intensity and not with the water status of the plant.     

A promising approach on biomass accumulation and withanolides production in cell suspension culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Withanolide is one of the most extensively exploited steroidal lactones, which are biosynthesized in Withania somnifera. Its production from cell suspension culture was analyzed to defeat limitations coupled with its regular supply from the plant organs. In order to optimize the different factors for sustainable production of withanolides and biomass accumulations, different concentrations of auxins or cytokinins and their combinations, carbon sources, agitation speed, organic additives and seaweed extracts was studied in cell suspension culture. Maximum biomass accumulation (16.72 g fresh weight [FW] and 4.18 g dry weight [DW]) and withanolides production (withanolide A 7.21 mg/g DW, withanolide B 4.23 mg/g DW, withaferin A 3.88 mg/g DW and withanone 6.72 mg/g DW) were achieved in the treatment of Gracilaria edulis extract at 40 % level. Organic additive l-glutamine at 200 mg/l in combination with picloram (1 mg/l) and KN (0.5 mg/l) promoted growth characteristics (11.87 g FW and 2.96 g DW) and withanolides synthesis (withanolide A 5.04 mg/g DW, withanolide B 2.59 mg/g DW, withaferin A 2.36 mg/g DW and withanone 4.32 mg/g DW). Sucrose at 5 % level revolved out to be a superior carbon source yielded highest withanolides production (withanolide A 2.88 mg/g DW, withanolide B 1.48 mg/g DW, withaferin A 1.35 mg/g DW and withanone 2.47 mg/g DW), whereas biomass (7.28 g FW and 1.82 g DW) was gratefully increased at 2 % level of sucrose in cell suspension culture. This optimized protocol can be utilized for large scale cultivation of W. somnifera cells in industrial bioreactors for mass synthesis of major withanolides.     

The relationship between seedling growth and grain yield under drought conditions in maize and triticale genotypes

The effects of drought stress on seedlings?? growth and grain yield of 13 single cross maize hybrids and 11 breeding lines and cultivars of spring triticale were studied in greenhouse and field experiments. In the field experiment, the drought susceptibility index (DSI_GY) was calculated by determining the change in grain yield (GY) in conditions with two soil moisture levels (IR, irrigated; D, drought). In the greenhouse experiment the response to soil drought was evaluated using DSI_DW, by determining changes in the dry weight (DW) of vegetative plant parts. Marked variations in GY and DW were observed among the studied genotypes. In control conditions, the GY and DW in drought-sensitive genotypes were higher compared to the drought-resistant ones; but in drought conditions, the decreases in GY and DW in resistant genotypes were smaller than in drought-sensitive ones. DSI_GY and DSI_DW revealed variations in the degree of drought tolerance among the examined maize and triticale genotypes. The values of DSI_GY in the field experiment and DSI_DW in the greenhouse experiment enabled a division of the studied genotypes into drought-resistant or -sensitive groups. A close correlation between DSI_GY and DSI_DW was found. The positive linear correlation and determination coefficients between DSI_GY and DSI_DW were statistically significant (P?=?0.05), being equal to R ²?=?0.614 (maize) and R ²?=?0.535 (triticale). The ranking of the studied genotypes based on DSI_GY was in most cases consistent with the ranking based on DSI_DW, which indicates that genetically conditioned drought tolerance is similar for plants in the seedling and reproductive growth stages or may at least partly have a common genetic background.     

建立金线莲原球茎悬浮体系生产次生代谢产物

研究植物激素浓度和培养周期对金线莲原球茎悬浮培养生长及其代谢产物积累的影响,以增加金线莲悬浮培养的生长量,提高次生代谢产物的生产。结果表明,MS培养基添加S-3307 1.0mg/L,6-BA0.5mg/L和3%的蔗糖适合总生物量的生长(214.45g/L,FW和18.23g/L DW)。而MS培养基添加S-3307 1.0mg/L,6-BA 3.0mg/L和5%的蔗糖,总黄酮,总酚和多糖的干重(5.43mg/g,2.87mg/g和243.23mg/g)达到最大化。研究原球茎悬浮培养过程,发现经过7个星期培养就能获得最大的生物质总量(225.98 g/L的FW和18.53 g/L的DW)、总黄酮干重(5.09mg/g)和总酚干重(2.04mg/g),而多糖生产达到其峰值(229.36mg/g干重)是在培养后5个星期。     

The effect of transient and continuous drought on yield, photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Stable carbon isotope discrimination (delta13C), photosynthetic performance (A), dry matter accumulation (DW), and sucrose yield (Y(s)) of sugar beet were evaluated in a glasshouse experiment under transient (TS) and permanent (PS) water stress. A was significantly reduced under drought, to an extent depending on stress duration. The reduced A was strictly associated with a low DW and Y(s), the later being 42% lower in PS than control plants (C). Restoring water steeply increased A and the associated leaf traits (RWC, leaf water potential etc.), but the increase of Y(s) was negligible. Therefore, the negative effects of severe water stress in the early growth period, though reversible on gas-exchange and most leaf traits, can drastically reduce Y(s) of sugar beet. Furthermore, A seems not to be effective in predicting sucrose accumulation, although it was very effective in detecting the occurrence of plant water stress. The A/C(i) model was used to assess the photosynthetic adjustments to continuous or transient drought by calculating the photosynthetic parameters Vcmax and Jmax and then compared with delta13C. Mesophyll conductance (g(m)) was estimated by comparing delta13C measured on soluble sugars and gas-exchange data. This approach confirmed the expectation that g(m) was limiting A and that there was a significant drop in [CO2] from the substomatal cavities and the chloroplast stroma both in favourable and drought conditions. Therefore, the carbon concentration at the carboxylation site was overestimated by 25-35% by conventional gas-exchange measurements, and Vcmax was consistently underestimated when g(m) was not taken into account, especially under severe drought. Root delta13C was found to be strictly related to sucrose content (brix%), Y(s) and root dry weight, and this was especially clear when delta13C was measured on bulk dry matter. By contrast, leaf delta13C measured in soluble sugars (delta(s)) and bulk dry matter (delta(dm)) were found to correlate weakly to brix% and yield, and this was not surprising as the integration time-scale of leaf delta(s) and delta(dm) were found to be shorter than that of root delta13C in bulk dry matter. The effect of water stress on diffusive and biochemical limitations with different integration times ranged from 1 d (leaf delta(s)) to more than 1 month (root delta(dm)).     

Hydrogen peroxide spraying alleviates drought stress in soybean plants

To ascertain the effect of exogenously applied hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on drought stress, we examined whether the spraying of soybean leaves with H₂O₂ would alleviate the symptoms of drought stress. Pre-treatment by spraying leaves with H₂O₂ delayed foliar wilting caused by drought stress compared to leaves sprayed with distilled water (DW). Additionally, the relative water content of drought-stressed leaves pre-treated with H₂O₂ was higher than that of leaves pre-treated with DW. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of H₂O₂ spraying on photosynthetic parameters and on the biosynthesis of oligosaccharides related to water retention in leaves during drought stress. Under conditions of drought stress, the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of leaves pre-treated with H₂O₂ were higher than those of leaves pre-treated with DW. In contrast to DW spraying, H₂O₂ spraying immediately caused an increase in the mRNA levels of d-myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase 2 (GmMIPS2) and galactinol synthase (GolS), which encode key enzymes for the biosynthesis of oligosaccharides known to help plants tolerate drought stress. In addition, the levels of myo-inositol and galactinol were higher in H₂O₂-treated leaves than in DW-treated leaves. These results indicated that H₂O₂ spraying enabled the soybean plant to avoid drought stress through the maintenance of leaf water content, and that this water retention was caused by the promotion of oligosaccharide biosynthesis rather than by rapid stomatal closure.