Evaluating the resistance of six rice cultivars to drought: restriction of deep rooting and the use of raised beds

Soil water deficits reduce rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity under upland field conditions. In this study, we constructed screening facilities to evaluate the performance of rice cultivars under drought conditions and to assess the roles of deep roots. Two experiments were conducted with six rice cultivars, including drought-tolerant and drought-susceptible cultivars, grown in two root environments: a root-restricted treatment that restricted rooting depth with water-permeable sheets, and a raised bed that reduced water availability in the surface soil by inserting a gravel layer between the topsoil and subsoil layers to interrupt capillary transport of water. In the root-restricted treatment, in which root growth was restricted to the surface 25-cm layer, leaf water potential decreased faster in cultivars with a large canopy during drought stress, and there was little difference in panicle weight among cultivars. With a normal (unrestricted) root environment, the deepest-rooting cultivar (‘IRAT109’) maintained higher leaf water potential during drought, although panicle weight under drought stress was affected by yield potential as well as by deep rooting. Under the intermittent drought stress in the raised bed, deep-rooting cultivars accumulated more nitrogen and produced more biomass, and the difference in panicle weight between deep-rooting drought-tolerant and shallow-rooting drought-susceptible cultivars was magnified by the raised bed compared with the yield differences under drought in a normal root environment. These results demonstrate that the drought screening facilities we developed can help to identify superior cultivars under upland field conditions without time-consuming measurement of deep root systems.     

干旱胁迫对小麦幼苗根系生长和叶片光合作用的影响

采用水培试验方法,以2个耐旱性不同的小麦品种(敏感型望水白和耐旱型洛旱7号)为材料,研究了干旱胁迫对小麦幼苗根系形态、生理特性以及叶片光合作用的影响,以期揭示小麦幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应机制.结果表明： 干旱胁迫下,2个小麦品种幼苗的根系活力显著增大,而根数和根系表面积受到抑制;干旱胁迫降低了望水白的叶片相对含水量,提高了束缚水/自由水,而对洛旱7号无显著影响;干旱胁迫降低了2个小麦品种叶片的叶绿素含量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度,但随胁迫时间的延长,洛旱7号的叶绿素含量和净光合速率与对照差异不显著;干旱胁迫降低了2个小麦品种幼苗的单株叶面积,以及望水白的根系、地上部和植株生物量,而对洛旱7号无显著影响.水分胁迫下,耐旱型品种可以通过提高根系活力、保持较高的根系生长量来补偿根系吸收面积的下降,保持较高的根系吸水能力,进而维持较高的光合面积和光合速率,缓解干旱对生长的抑制.     

Water stress effects on maize: Carbohydrate metabolism of resistant and susceptible cultivars ofZea mays L.

Carbohydrate changea in drought resistant and susceptible cultivars ofZea mays L. were studied at two different stages under imposed water stress in water culture experiments. The gradual decline in total carbohydrates with increasing stress levels was observed. At the 1st leaf stage starch content of the resistant cv. Agati-76 was lower than that of susceptible cv. Vijay but the reducing and non-reducing sugar content was much higher. At the 3rd leaf stage starch content was similar in two cultivars but sugar content was higher in the resistant cv. Agati-76. Differential changes in root and shoot carbohydrates as affected by increasing levels of stress were noticed. Carbohydrate changes have been discussed in relation to drought resistance.     

Application of silicon enhanced drought tolerance in Sorghum bicolor

The effects of silicon application on the drought tolerance of sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were investigated for two cultivars differing in drought susceptibility. Silicon application ameliorated the decrease in dry weight under drought stress conditions, but had no effect on dry matter production under wet conditions. Under dry conditions, silicon-applied sorghum had a lower shoot to root (S/R) ratio, indicating the facilitation of root growth and the maintenance of the photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance at a higher level compared with plants grown without silicon application. The diurnal determination of the transpiration rate indicated that the silicon-applied sorghum could extract a larger amount of water from drier soil and maintain a higher stomatal conductance. Very similar effects of silicon application were observed for both cultivars regardless of their drought susceptibility. These results suggest that silicon application may be useful to improve the drought tolerance of sorghum via the enhancement of water uptake ability.     

The impact of different soil moisture and soil compaction on the growth of triticale root system

Effects of different soil moisture (soil drought and waterlogging) and soil compaction (1.33 and 1.50 g·cm⁻³) on the growth and morphological traits of the root system were studied in four breeding forms and seven cultivars of triticale. Morphological changes, including the restriction of root extension, expansion and proliferation of laterals roots, occur in plants grown in different soil moisture and in compact soil. The investigations comprised quantitative and qualitative analyses of a developed plant root system through determining the number, length and dry matter of the particular components of the root system. Obtained results have demonstrated a relatively broad variation in the habit of the triticale root system. Plants grown under compact soil and low or high soil water content showed a smaller number and less dry matter of lateral branching than plants grown in control conditions. The harmful effects of compact soil and drought conditions on the growth of roots was greater when compared with that of plants exposed to waterlogging. The observed effects of all treatments were more distinct in a drought sensitive strains. The drought resistant forms were a more characterize with extensive rooting and by smaller alterations in the root morphology under the stress conditions compared with drought sensitive one. Results confirm that the breeding forms (CHD-12 and CHD-173) of a high drought susceptibility was found to be also more sensitive to periodical soil water excess. A more efficient water use and a lower shoot to root (S/R) ratio were found to be major reasons for a higher stress resistance of the breeding forms (CHD-220 and CHD-247). The reasons for a different response of the examined breeding forms and cultivars to the conditions of drought or waterlogging may be a more economical water balance and more favourable relations between the shoot and root dimensions in the drought resistant forms and cultivars. The results suggest that the morphological traits of the triticale root system may be used in practice as direct or indirect selection criteria in maize breeding.     

Proline accumulation: A parameter for evaluation of sensitivity of tomato varieties to drought stress?

The pattern of proline accumulation and the growth response were followed in several tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties which were exposed to 7 days of drought stress followed by a 15-day period of rewatering. During dehydration, water potential and leaf elongation rates decreased more in var. 'Hosen' and 'S-5' than in 'LX-11', '1970', 'Pakmor', 'Faculty-16', 'Alcobaca' and '475'. Proline accumulation during stress was greatest in the first two varieties. In 'Hosen' and 'S-5' rewatering resulted in a decrease of proline to control levels, whereas in the other varieties accumulation of proline continued long after turgor had been regained. The extent of this continued accumulation was not correlated with the degree to which each variety was dehydrated. Upon rewatering of the plants the rate of leaf elongation was increased, but the final leaf size as well as whole shoot and root fresh weight of the recovered plants were not colated with the degree of "suffering" that each variety experienced during the drought period. Incubation of detached young tomato leaves in polyethylene glycol solution for 48 h resulted in a substantial accumulation of proline. The varietal differences observed under these conditions were reminiscent of the differential responses in proline accumulation obtained in the intact plants. It is concluded that proline accumulation at the time of dehydration signals drought stress in tomato plants but does not correlate with the overall varietal sensitivity to transient dehydration in recovered plants.     

Comparison of growth and performance in upland and lowland switchgrass types to water and nitrogen stress

The objective of the study was to examine lowland (Alamo and Kanlow) and upland (Blackwell and Caddo) cultivars of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for differences in response to water deficit and nitrogen fertilizer. Cultivars were grown in pots with fritted clay at two water levels: well watered and deficit conditions (-0.1 and -1.0 MPa) and two nitrogen levels (10 and 100 kg ha(-1)). Nitrogen determined growth potential of the cultivars more than water availability. The lowland cultivars produced greater biomass yields than upland cultivars. However, upland cultivars showed a smaller response to drought stress. Under water stress conditions all cultivars exhibited a higher leaf percentage of total dry matter (DM), with the upland cultivars having the highest leaf percentage of total DM. Nitrogen proved to have more of an effect on single-leaf photosynthesis rates than water. Alamo demonstrated the greatest biomass production among all cultivars. The differences found between the two lowland cultivars suggest that Alamo would be better suited for forage and biomass production in central Texas, being a higher producer under drought and non-drought conditions than Kanlow as well as upland cultivars.     

干旱复水对柑橘幼苗叶片光合、叶绿素荧光和根系构型的影响

干旱严重影响柑橘的生长和发育.为探索柑橘对干旱胁迫的响应机制,本试验以抗旱性不同的三湖红橘和三湖化红为材料,通过盆栽控水进行干旱胁迫和复水处理,研究处理后植株叶片光合、叶绿素荧光和根系构型的变化.结果表明: 干旱显著降低了两种柑橘幼苗的净光合作用速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和胞间CO₂浓度,而三湖红橘的下降幅度更小;复水后,光合参数均有所恢复,但仍低于对照.三湖红橘水分利用率在干旱15 d后开始显著高于对照,而三湖化红除干旱15 d外的其他处理时间均低于对照.干旱提高了两种幼苗的PSII最大光合效率,但抑制了三湖化红的PSII实际光合效率.干旱到一定程度后,两种幼苗的PSII电子传递速率和光化学淬灭均下降,干旱和复水后非光化学淬灭在三湖红橘中下降,但在三湖化红中上升.根系构型分析表明,干旱导致两种幼苗的根表面积和根体积下降,同时抑制了三湖化红的总根长,但能够提高三湖红橘的总根长和总根尖数.进一步分析不同直径的侧根长度发现,三湖红橘的一类侧根长度在干旱胁迫10 d后开始增加,而三湖化红的一类侧根长度在干旱前期没有变化,干旱20 d时显著下降;除三湖红橘的三类侧根外,两种幼苗其余直径等级侧根的生长均受干旱抑制.除总根尖数外,复水后根系生长各参数均没有恢复.干旱对三湖红橘光合性能的影响小于三湖化红,并且前者能够维持更高的水分和光能利用率.干旱后三湖红橘根尖数和细根长度增加,可能有助于提高其对水分的吸收能力.     

短期干旱对水稻叶水势、光合作用及干物质分配的影响

采用盆栽水分试验,研究了不同生育期短期干旱处理对水稻叶水势、光合作用和干物质分配的影响．结果表明,干旱胁迫后,水稻叶水势低于对照,午后叶水势回升缓慢。凌晨叶水势随土壤含水量的降低而降低,表现为阈值反应。叶片净光合速率与凌晨叶水势密切相关,低于凌晨叶水势临界值,水稻叶片净光合速率急剧下降在水稻抽穗期和灌浆期叶片净光合速率显著下降的凌晨叶水势临界值为-1.04和-1．13MPa,对应的土壤含水量阈值分别为饱和含水量的61.0％和50．9％,土壤水势分别为-0．133和-0．240MPa干旱胁迫下单叶净光合速率的日变化规律表现为：胁迫较轻时,单叶净光合速率在正午附近出现低谷;胁迫严重时,净光合速率全天低于对照,且不及对照的一半。短期干旱后,水稻叶、根、穗的分配指数均降低,茎鞘的分配指数升高。本研究可为水稻节水灌溉管理和水分限制下水稻的生长模拟提供生理基础和理论依据。     

亚低温与干旱胁迫对番茄植株水分传输和形态解剖结构的影响

为探讨亚低温和干旱对植株水分传输的影响机制,以番茄幼苗为试材,利用人工气候室设置常温(昼25 ℃/夜18 ℃)和亚低温(昼15 ℃/夜8 ℃)环境,采用盆栽进行正常灌水(75%～85%田间持水量)和干旱处理(55%～65%田间持水量),分析了温度和土壤水分对番茄植株水分传输、气孔和木质部导管形态解剖结构的影响。结果表明: 与常温正常灌水处理相比,干旱处理使番茄叶水势、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水力导度、茎流速率、气孔长度和叶、茎、根导管直径显著减小,而使叶、茎、根导管细胞壁厚度和抗栓塞能力增强;亚低温处理下番茄叶水势、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水力导度和叶、茎、根导管直径显著降低,但气孔变大,叶、根导管细胞壁厚度和叶、茎、根抗栓塞能力显著升高。亚低温条件下土壤水分状况对番茄叶水势、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水力导度、气孔形态、叶、根导管结构均无显著影响。总之,干旱处理下番茄通过协同调控叶、茎、根结构使植株水分关系重新达到稳态;亚低温处理下番茄植株水分关系的调控主要通过改变叶和根导管结构实现,且受土壤水分状况的影响较小。     

盐旱复合胁迫对小麦幼苗生长和水分吸收的影响

为明确盐害、干旱及盐旱复合胁迫对小麦幼苗生长和水分吸收的影响,从而为盐害和干旱胁迫下栽培调控提供理论依据。以2个抗旱性不同的小麦品种(扬麦16和耐旱型洛旱7号)为材料,采用水培试验,以NaCl和PEG模拟盐旱复合胁迫,研究了盐旱复合胁迫下小麦幼苗生长、根系形态、光合特性及水分吸收特性的变化。结果表明,盐、旱及复合胁迫下小麦幼苗的生物量、叶面积、总根长与根系表面积、叶绿素荧光和净光合速率均显著下降,但是复合胁迫处理的降幅却显著低于单一胁迫。盐旱复合胁迫下根系水导速率和根系伤流液强度显著大于单一胁迫,从而提高了小麦幼苗叶片水势和相对含水量。盐胁迫下小麦幼苗Na~+/K~+显著大于复合胁迫,但复合胁迫下ABA含量却显著小于单一的盐害和干旱胁迫。因此,盐旱复合胁迫可以通过增强根系水分吸收及降低根叶中ABA含量以维持较高光合能力,这是盐旱复合胁迫提高小麦适应性的重要原因。洛旱7号和扬麦16对盐及盐旱复合胁迫的响应基本一致,但在干旱胁迫下洛旱7号表现出明显的耐性。     

干旱胁迫对大豆鼓粒期叶片光合能力和根系生长的影响

以晋大70(抗旱型)和晋豆26(敏感型)2个大豆品种为材料,采用盆栽方法,在鼓粒期设置充分供水、轻度干旱和重度干旱3种水分处理,研究了干旱胁迫对大豆鼓粒期叶片光合能力和根系生长的影响.结果表明： 随着干旱程度加剧,2个品种的叶面积、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、叶片气孔导度、蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂浓度、株质量、株高、籽粒产量和收获指数均降低;根长和根质量在轻度干旱胁迫下增加,在重度干旱胁迫下减少;根冠比随干旱程度加剧而升高.重度干旱胁迫下,抗旱型品种晋大70根冠比的增幅达到135.7%,大于敏感型品种晋豆26根冠比的增幅(116.7%),晋大70的叶面积和叶绿素含量分别为对照的69.3%和85.5%,均优于晋豆26,晋大70的气孔导度和净光合速率分别下降了67.9%和77.9%,降幅均小于晋豆26,晋大70的收获指数的降幅为43.8%,小于晋豆26 (78.8%).不同干旱处理下,2个品种的叶面积、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂浓度两两之间均呈显著正相关;株质量、株高、根长、根质量、籽粒产量、收获指数两两之间均呈显著正相关;根冠比与根质量呈显著正相关,而与其他5个指标呈显著负相关.     

土壤干旱条件下氮素营养对玉米内源激素含量影响

在田间持水量分别保持于35％、55％和75％±5％的土壤水分条件下,利用盆栽实验研究了土壤干旱和氮素营养对玉米内源激素和气孔导度的影响．结果表明,土壤干旱下氮素营养明显降低了玉米根系木质部汁液ABA浓度,而正常供水下施氮处理间则无显著差异(施氮处理仍较低),同时测定的叶片ABA浓度则呈相反的变化趋势,表现为干旱下施氮处理要高于不施氮处理;施氮处理木质部汁液中ZRs浓度应低于相应的不施氮处理,在调控气孔行为方面并未表现拮抗ABA作用;3种土壤水分条件下,施氮玉米叶片的气孔导度均高于不施氮处理,与木质部汁液ABA浓度呈负相关,说明施氮处理较低的根源ABA浓度是导致其气孔导度较大的主要原因．     

Differences in abscisic acid concentration in roots and leaves of two young Olive (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Olea europaea</Emphasis> L.) cultivars in response to water deficit

Differences in abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation between two olive cultivars were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in roots and leaves, leaf water potential (Ψ_l), stomatal conductance (g _s) as well as photosynthetic rate (A) were also determined in well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) plants of two olive cultivars ‘Chemlali’ and ‘Chetoui’. ‘Chemlali’ was able to maintain higher leaf CO₂ assimilation rate and leaf stomatal conductance throughout the drought cycle when compared with ‘Chetoui’. Furthermore, leaf water potential of ‘Chemlali’ decreased in lower extent than in Chetoui in response to water deficit. Interestingly, significant differences in water-stress-induced ABA accumulation were observed between the two olive cultivars and reflect the degree of stress experienced. Chemlali, a drought tolerant cultivar, accumulated lower levels of ABA in their leaves to regulate stomatal control in response to water stress compared to the drought sensitive olive cultivar ‘Chetoui’ which accumulated ABA in large amount.     

Genotypic variation between maize (Zea mays L.) single cross hybrids in response to drought stress

Effects of soil drought on growth and productivity of 16 single cross maize hybrids were investigated under field and greenhouse experiments. The Drought Susceptibility Index (DSI) was evaluated in a three year field experiment by the determination of grain loss in conditions of two soil moisture levels (drought and irrigated) and in a pot experiment by the effects of periodical soil drought on seedling dry matter. In the greenhouse experiment response to drought in maize genotypes was also evaluated by root to shoot dry mater ratio, transpiration productivity index, indexes of kernel germination and index of leaf injury by drought and heat temperature. The obtained values of DSI enabled the ranking of the tested genotypes with respect to their drought tolerance. The values of DSI obtained in the field experiment allow to divide the examined genotypes into three, and in the greenhouse experiment into two groups of drought susceptibility. The correlation coefficients between the DSI of maize hybrids in the field and the greenhouse experiments was high and statistically significant, being equal to 0.876. The ranking of hybrids drought tolerance, identified on the basis of field experiments was generally in agreement with the ranking established on the basis of the greenhouse experiment. In the greenhouse experiment statistically significant coefficients of correlation with DSI values in hybrids were obtained for the ratio of dry matter of overground parts to dry matter of roots, both for control and drought treatments, whereas in the estimation of the transpiration productivity coefficient and total dry matter the correlation coefficients were not statistically significant. In this study several laboratory tests were carried out for the drought tolerance of plants (kernel germination, leaf injury) on 4 drought resistant and 4 drought sensitive maize hybrids. Statistically significant correlation coefficients between DSI and the examined parameter of grain germination and leaf injury were obtained for the determination of promptness index (PI), seedling survival index (SS) and leaf injuries indexes (IDS, ITS) as a result of exposure to 14 days of soil drought, osmotic drought −0.9 MPa and exposure to high temperature 45 ° or 50 °C. The results of laboratory tests show that in maize the genetic variation in the degree of drought tolerance is better manifested under severe conditions of water deficit in the soil.     

Changes at panicle emergence in the water relations of a wetland and a dryland Japonica rice cultivar under wetland conditions

The diurnal and seasonal changes in plant water relations of two Japonica rice ( Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, Nipponbare and Tachiminori, were studied under flooded conditions at Kyoto University. The dryland cv. Tachiminori maintained higher predawn and midday leaf osmotic potentials relative to the wetland cv. Nipponbare during the vegetative stage, but the ranking was reversed after flowering. The relationship between leaf water potential and leaf osmotic potential showed that prior to panicle emergence Nipponbare was able to adjust osmotically to maintain turgor, whereas after heading there was little turgor maintenance. Tachiminori showed little difference in osmotic adjustment before and after panicle emergence. Fertilizer treatment during panicle development also helped to maintain the degree of osmotic adjustment in both cultivars.     

Effects of dew on eco-physiological traits and leaf structures of Leymus chinensis and Agropyron cristatum grown under drought stress北大核心CSCD

Aims: To investigate the effects of dew on plants, we conducted the experiment to determine the physiological characteristics and leaf structures of Leymus chinensis and Agropyron cristatum in response to increasing dew under drought stress. Methods: Four treatments (no dew, three times dew and five times dew per week under drought stress, and well-watering) were designed to examine leaf relative water content, water potential, net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, biomass, and leaf structures of L. chinensis and A. cristatum. Important findings: There was a significant increase in the relative water content and water potential by simulated dew increase for two plants species under drought stress (p < 0.05). For A. cristatum, simulated dew increase significantly enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of plants under drought stress (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate for L. chinensis among treatments. Simulated dew increase improved the aboveground biomass and root biomass of two species. The ratio of yellow leaves to the total leaves was decreased by simulated dew increase for two species. Dew increase also protected leaf structures against the drought stress, suggesting that the dew increase can slow down the death process of leaves resulted from drought stress. Therefore, the study demonstrated that dew increased the available water for the leaves of L. chinensis and A. cristatum grown in the drought stress and thus had positive effects on the photosynthesis, water physiology and plant development.     

Physiological and morphological adaptations in relation to water use efficiency in Mediterranean accessions of Solanum lycopersicum

The physiological traits underlying the apparent drought resistance of 'Tomàtiga de Ramellet' (TR) cultivars, a population of Mediterranean tomato cultivars with delayed fruit deterioration (DFD) phenotype and typically grown under non-irrigation conditions, are evaluated. Eight different tomato accessions were selected and included six TR accessions, one Mediterranean non-TR accession (NTR(M)) and a processing cultivar (NTR(O)). Among the TR accessions two leaf morphology types, normal divided leaves and potato-leaf, were selected. Plants were field grown under well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) treatments, with 30 and 10% of soil water capacity, respectively. Accessions were clustered according to the leaf type and TR phenotype under WW and WS, respectively. Correlation among parameters under the different water treatments suggested that potential improvements in the intrinsic water-use efficiency (A(N)/g(s)) are possible without negative impacts on yield. Under WS TR accessions displayed higher A(N)/g(s), which was not due to differences in Rubisco-related parameters, but correlated with the ratio between the leaf mesophyll and stomatal conductances (g(m)/g(s)). The results confirm the existence of differential traits in the response to drought stress in Mediterranean accessions of tomato, and demonstrate that increases in the g(m)/g(s) ratio would allow improvements in A(N)/g(s) in horticultural crops.     

Water stress induced changes in the leaf lipid composition of four grapevine genotypes with different drought tolerance

To dissect differences in both lipid accumulation and composition and the role of these modifications during drought stress, four grapevine cultivars exhibiting differential tolerance to drought were subjected to water shortage. Tolerant cultivars, Kahli Kerkennah and Cardinal, exhibited higher leaf water potential (Ψ_w), and lower lipid peroxidation compared to the sensitive cultivars Guelb Sardouk and Superior Seedless during stress. Total lipid amounts increased during stress only in the leaves of the tolerant cultivars. Drought induced increases in the ratios digalactosyldiacylglycerol/monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine/phoshatidylethanolamine of almost all the drought stressed cultivars. Moreover, the overall analysis of the composition of fatty acids revealed that a linolenic acid was prevalent in grapevine and the unsaturation level of lipids increased under water stress in all the cultivars. Specific adjustments in the lipid composition during stress could compromise stress tolerance.