模拟干旱胁迫对枣树幼苗的抗氧化系统和渗透调节的影响

用不同浓度的PEG-6000对抗旱性不同的1年生枣树(Zizyphus jujuba)幼苗进行渗透胁迫处理后,研究了不同抗旱性品种枣树幼苗的抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量的变化.结果显示,干旱胁迫下3种枣苗叶片的相对含水量(RWC)均降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞质膜相对透性均增加.在30%PEG胁迫下除骏枣1号的SOD活性降低外,3个品种枣苗在干旱胁迫下SOD和POD活性都增加;狗头枣2号的过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在胁迫下明显增加,而木枣1号和骏枣1号的CAT活性均随着胁迫程度的增加而逐渐下降;木枣1号和骏枣1号的APX活性随着胁迫程度的增加先增加后降低,而狗头枣2号明显增加.干旱胁迫下,除骏枣1号的脯氨酸(Pro)含量和木枣1号的可溶性糖含量在30%的胁迫水平下降低(P>0.05)外,3种干旱胁迫水平下3个品种枣苗的Pro和可溶性糖含量均增加.总之,干旱胁迫下,枣苗叶片相对含水量、抗氧化酶(SOD、POD、CAT和APX)活性、渗透调节物质Pro和可溶性糖含量均为:狗头枣2号>木枣1号>骏枣1号,而MDA含量和膜透性均为骏枣1号>木枣1号>狗头枣2号,表明3个品种的抗旱性为:狗头枣2号>木枣1号>骏枣1号,研究结果与其品种的实际抗旱性一致.     

干旱胁迫下沙棘叶片细胞膜透性与渗透调节物质研究

研究了在干旱胁迫下沙棘幼林苗木渗透调节能力与沙棘耐旱性的关系。结果表明：长期轻度及中度干旱胁迫下渗透调节物质中可溶性糖、游离氨基酸、Pro在干旱中、后期累积显著增加而降低渗透势,使沙棘具备较强的渗透调节能力而表现为低水势耐旱特性;K^ 在干旱下无显著累积。渗透调节物质（可溶性糖、游离氨基酸、Pro）的共同作用,使长期轻度、中度干旱下沙棘叶片可溶性蛋白降解少,细胞膜透性和MDA含量增加缓慢,重度二进下也能在一定时间内保持稳定,这些物质是构成沙棘强耐旱性的内在基础。     

长期水分胁迫对小麦生育中后期根叶渗透调节能力、渗透调节物质的影响

以 2个抗旱性强的和 2个抗旱性弱的小麦品种为材料 ,研究了中度及严重水分胁迫对根系及叶片渗透调节能力的影响。结果表明 :随着水分胁迫的加剧 ,叶片的渗透调节能力增强 ,但在籽粒迅速扩大的灌浆期 ,叶片的渗透调节能力下降。去穗处理明显地提高叶片的渗透调节能力。说明叶片渗透调节能力的高低与同化物的供应及分配有关。不同品种根系渗透调节能力与叶片基本一致 ,但根系的渗透调节能力低于叶片。开花、灌浆期根系的渗透调节能力大大降低 ,严重水分胁迫下根系的渗透调节能力低于中度水分胁迫。这一方面与同化物的供应有关 ,另一方面严重水分胁迫还会对根细胞造成损伤 ,对根系的渗透调节能力产生影响。渗透调节物质的变化趋势与渗透调节能力基本一致。叶片中 K+对渗透调节的贡献最大 ;其次是可溶性糖 ,6种渗透调节物质排列顺序为 K+>可溶性糖 >游离氨基酸 >Ca2 +>Mg2 +>Pro。根系中仍以 K+占绝大部分 ,但根系中 Ca2 +也是不可忽视的成分之一。     

土壤缓慢脱水对开花期小麦根系及叶片渗透调节及渗透调节物质的影响

以抗旱性不同的小麦品种为材料,在小麦的水分临界期开花期进行缓慢脱水处理,分别在脱水的不同阶段取样测定叶片及根系的渗透调节能力及渗透调节物质。结果表明：随着土壤含水量的降低,叶片与根系的饱和渗透势同步下降,表现出叶片与根系对水分胁迫反应的一致性,但根系的渗透调节能力低于叶片。根系与叶片的渗透调节物质,一方面在物质总含量方面,表现出与渗透调节能力的一致性,另一方面各种物质的相对含量又有一定差异,叶片中可溶性糖与K+的含量及增加量都高于根系,而根系中的游离氨基酸与Ca2+的相对增加量则大于叶片。     

土壤缓慢脱水对开花期小麦根系及叶片渗透调节及渗透调节物质的影响

以抗旱性不同的小麦品种为材料,在小麦的水分临界期开花期进行缓慢脱水处理,分别在脱水的不同阶段取样测定叶片及根系的渗透调节能力及渗透调节物质。结果表明：随着土壤含水量的降低,叶片与根系的饱和渗透势同步下降,表现出叶片与根系对水分胁迫反应的一到场生,但根系的渗透调节能力低于叶片。根系与叶片的渗透调节物质,一方面在物质总含量方面,表现出与渗透调节能力的一致性,另一方面各种物质的相对含量又有一定差异,叶片中可溶性糖与K＋含量及增加量都高于根系,而根系中的游离氨基酸与Ca^2 的相对增加量则大于叶片。     

土壤干旱对元宝枫渗透调节能力的影响

采用盆栽控水法和P—V技术研究分析了不同土壤干旱(速度、程度)条件对元宝枫渗透调节能力的影响。结果表明,元宝枫具有很强的渗透调节能力．但该能力受土壤干旱的速度和程度影响,在缓慢干旱条件下,元宝枫叶片的ψw、ψ0、π100、RWC^0、ROWC^0均明显降低．其中与渗透调节能力直接相关的(π100可下调0．52MPa,ψ0下调1．51MPa。在快速干旱条件下π100和ψ0分别仅下凋0．20MPa和0．48MPa。△π100值也表明缓慢干旱条件下元宝枫渗透调节能力是快速干旱下的45倍。在缓慢干旱条件下．由轻度到中度干旱时其渗透调节能力显著增强(增加270％);由中度到严重干旱时．增加不明显(增加了24．5％)。从3种有机渗透调节物质含量与△π100值的动态变化可见,可溶性糖含量增加对渗透调节能力的贡献是第一位的．其次是Pro、游离氨基酸。     

土壤干旱对黄土高原乡土树种水分代谢与渗透调节物质的影响

以黄土高原4个乡土树种的幼苗为试验材料,采用盆栽方式模拟土壤干旱环境,研究土壤干旱对不同树种水分代谢与渗透调节物质的影响。结果表明,大叶细裂槭、虎榛子叶水势、叶片含水量下降迅速,叶片离体保水能力降幅明显;白刺花、辽东栎则表现为叶水势、叶片含水量缓慢下降,组织相对含水量在中度胁迫下略有上升。白刺花在不同水分处理条件下离体叶片保水力明显高于其它树种。1个树种可溶性糖含量随土壤干旱程度加剧明显增加,可溶性蛋白质含量在树种之间变化较为复杂,无明显规律性。K^ 离子含量和游离脯氨酸含量在中度水分胁迫下均有不同程度升高。白刺花在土壤干旱进程中,可溶性蛋白质含量、K^ 离子含量和游离脯氨酸含量均明显高于其它树种。综合水分代谢和渗透调节物质来看,水分胁迫条件下,白刺花以保持高水势、减少组织水分散失和增加渗透调节物质来提高细胞原生质浓度,增强其抗旱性。     

渗透胁迫下小麦根系渗透调节与根冠淀粉水解的研究

用不同浓度的PEG—600对抗旱性不同的小麦幼苗进行渗透胁迫处理,研究了小麦幼苗根系的淀粉酶活性、可溶性糖含量、渗透势、渗透调节能力和根冠淀粉的水解状况。结果表明,随着渗透胁迫程度的加重,抗旱性强的小麦品种昌乐5号和北农2号根系渗透势和饱和渗透势的降低程度大于抗旱性弱的小麦品种鲁麦5号和921842,并且抗旱性强的小麦品种根系的渗透调节能力大于抗旱性弱的小麦品种。随着渗透胁迫程度的加重．各品种小麦根冠淀粉粒均有不同程度的减少。而抗旱性强的品种根冠淀粉粒的减少程度小于抗旱性弱的品种;抗旱性强的小麦品种根系淀粉酶活性显著高于抗旱性弱的小麦品种,但是,随着渗透胁迫程度的加重,抗旱性弱的品种淀粉酶活性增加的幅度远高于抗旱性强的品种。可溶性糖含量的变化趋势与淀粉酶活性的变化趋势一致．即渗透胁迫下根冠淀粉水解程度大的小麦品种,可溶性糖的含量高。但根冠淀粉水解在根系的渗透调节以及在小麦适应水分胁迫中的作用还有待于进一步探讨。     

抽穗期不同程度水分胁迫对水稻产量和根叶渗透调节物质的影响

抽穗期是水稻生长对干旱胁迫比较敏感的时期,而渗透调节是作物适应逆境的重要生理机制之一。以水稻品种丰华占为实验材料,在人为控制水分的盆栽条件下,对水稻生长的抽穗期分别进行不同时间长短的控水处理,研究干旱胁迫对水稻干物质积累、产量、根系及叶片渗透调节物质的变化规律及其生理调节机制。结果表明,不同程度干旱胁迫后叶片水势均显著下降,除长期控水处理（12d）的可溶性糖含量下降外,其余控水处理（3～9d）的根系和叶片的有机渗透调节物质可溶性糖、游离氨基酸、脯氨酸均大幅度上升,而且水分胁迫程度越高,上升幅度越大,根系与叶片表现一致,但叶片的渗透调节能力大于根系,而根系的反应比叶片更迅速和敏感。短期干旱胁迫（3d和6d）再复水后根系和叶片的有机渗透调节物质含量可恢复到对照水平,而长期干旱胁迫（9d和12d）则不能。除长期干旱（控水12d）造成无机离子显著下降外,其他不同程度的干旱胁迫后根系和叶片的无机离子K^＋、Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋等含量则变化不大或轻微下降。水分胁迫后水稻根系、茎叶和穗干物质积累显著下降,抽穗期短期控水（3d）对产量没有明显影响,而控水6,9,12d分别使产量下降12．09％,48．55％,58．30％。不同控水处理均显著增加叶片的水分利用效率,控水时间越长,水分利用效率越高。研究结果表明了水稻在抽穗期经受短期干旱胁迫能有效地进行渗透调节,产量影响较小,而有机渗透调节物质比无机离子对干旱胁迫的反应更为敏感。     

干旱胁迫对不同玉米自交系苗期渗透调节的影响

以5个抗旱性不同的玉米骨干自交系黄早四、掖478、郑58、旱21、齐319为试验材料,对持续水分胁迫下玉米幼苗的叶片相对含水量、渗透调节能力(OA)、脯氨酸含量和可溶性糖含量的变化规律进行了研究。结果表明:随着干旱胁迫的加重,叶片相对含水量呈现下降的趋势,渗透调节能力和可溶性糖含量呈现先上升后又下降的趋势,脯氨酸含量呈现持续上升的趋势;在持续干旱条件下,不同自交系各个指标的变化幅度不同,说明不同种质资源对干旱胁迫的响应方式不同,渗透调节能力也有差异。在水分胁迫的前7d中,渗透调节能力逐渐增加,第7天时达到最大值,OA从大到小的排列顺序为齐319郑58掖478旱21黄早四;但此后,除旱21外,其余4个自交系的OA都随之下降。旱21和齐319以可溶性糖和脯氨酸为主要的渗透调节因子,黄早四则以脯氨酸为主要的渗透调节物质。     

Recurrent Mild Drought Events Increase Resistance Toward Extreme Drought Stress

The frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events such as drought are expected to increase in the future. At present, plant responses to recurrent extreme events have been sparsely examined and the role of stress history on subsequent stress response has been widely neglected. In a long-term field experiment, we investigated the response of grassland and heath communities to a very severe drought event, which exceeded the duration of projected drought scenarios. During the preceding 6 years, the plant communities experienced scenarios of varying water supply, including annually recurring drought, heavy rain, regular watering, and natural drought periods. Single species and plant communities that were regularly watered in the preceding years revealed the highest tissue die-back under a very severe drought when compared to plants that experienced mild or severe drought stress before. Contrary to expectations, the root to shoot ratio did not increase due to previous recurrent drought occurrences. Furthermore, pre-exposure effects on Vaccinium myrtillus and Plantago lanceolata tissue die-back and reproductive biomass (P. lanceolata) were altered by community composition. Recurrent mild drought stress seems to improve drought resistance of plant communities and species. Potential reasons could be epigenetic changes or soil biotic legacies. Morphological legacies such as altered root to shoot ratio did not play a role in our study. Imprinting events which trigger this ecological stress memory do not have to be extreme themselves. Thresholds, longevity of effects, and the role of biodiversity shown by the importance of community composition require further attention.     

Drought and drought tolerance

Drought tolerance is a nebulous term that becomes more nebulous the more closely we look at it, much as a newspaper photograph does when viewed through a magnifying glass. From the vantage point of an ecologist the features that distinguish xerophytic from mesophytic vegetation are clear. We can all tell that a cactus is more drought tolerant than a carnation. But when we look at crop plants, the features that confer drought tolerance are far from clear. The main reason for the contrast is that the traits we associate with xerophytes typically concern survival during drought, whereas with crops we are concerned with production—and insofar as the term drought tolerance has any useful meaning in an agricultural context, it must be defined in terms of yield in relation to a limiting water supply.Further, with the well-developed major crop plants, those of us trying to increase water-limited yield would be pleased to achieve improvements of just a few percent in environments that are highly variable in their water supply. This variability often means that several seasons are required to demonstrate the advantages of an allegedly improved cultivar. Traits that confer drought tolerance in such circumstances are subtle, and may manifest themselves in some types of drought but not in others. Indeed the most influential characters often have no direct connection to plant water relations at all, as I elaborate on below.I will concentrate on the agricultural rather than the natural environment (although there are no doubt lessons for us still to learn from analysing the behaviour of natural vegetation—see Monneveux, this volume), and will argue that drought tolerance is best viewed at an ontogenetic time scale—i.e. at the time scale of the development of the crop—weeks to months for an annual crop. The timing of the main developmental changes, like floral initiation and flowering, and the rate of development of leaf area in relation to the seasonal water supply, are the most important variables at this time scale. Occasionally though, rapid changes in the environment, such as a sudden large rise in air temperature and humidity deficit, perhaps associated with hot dry winds, make appropriate short-term physiological and biochemical responses essential for the survival of the crop. These short term responses may be amenable to cellular and sub-cellular manipulation, especially if the sudden environmental deterioration occurs at especially sensitive stages in development such as pollen meiosis or anthesis.Purists insist that drought is a meteorological term that refers only substantial to periods in which rainfall fails to keep up with potential evaporation. Within the spirit of this meeting it is appropriate to interpret the term more loosely than this definition, and to define it as circumstances in which plants suffer reduced growth or yield because of insufficient water supply, or because of too large a humidity deficit despite there being seemingly adequate water in the soil.     

Drought avoidance byCyperus rotundus

Cyperus rotundus L. is a hygrophilous plant, but it flourishes well even in the Indian desert. Higher bound water, hygroscopic capacity, % dry matter, lower desiccation rate and volume to mass ratio, development of thick sclerenchymatous layer, presence of cortical vascular bundles and endodermis-like layer appear to be the factors responsible for such adaptation.     

Drought tolerance genes in rice

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for drought tolerance (DT) can be readily identified in available databases and in this paper, these QTLs were summarized in the form of a consensus map. An in silico strategy was then deployed to mine for candidate genes associated with DT QTLs using rice dbEST and rice genome databases. DT QTLs on rice chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9 were selected to test the method. The result showed candidate genes associated with DT could be readily identified.     

Drought and biodiversity in Grasslands

Summary The local species richness of four different grassland fields fell an average of 37% during a 1988 drought that decreased above-ground living plant mass by an average of 47%. Despite the return to more normal plant mass and precipitation during the next two years, there was no significant recovery in species richness in the 46 permanent plots, suggesting that local species richness became recruitment limited. The drought led to the loss of annual species independent of their abundance. For perennial grasses, perennial forbs, legumes and woody species, the probability of a species being lost from a plot was significantly negatively correlated with its predrought abundance. These results demonstrate that environmentally extreme conditions can limit species richness by causing the local extinction of rare species. Because droughts of this intensity occur about every 50 years in the prairie, periodic drought may have limited prairie diversity. Moreover, if the accumulation of greenhouse gases leads to a more variable or extreme climate, it could cause increased rates of species extinctions.     

Separating Drought Effects from Roof Artifacts on Ecosystem Processes in a Grassland Drought Experiment

1

Given the predictions of increased drought probabilities under various climate change scenarios, there have been numerous experimental field studies simulating drought using transparent roofs in different ecosystems and regions. Such roofs may, however, have unknown side effects, called artifacts, on the measured variables potentially confounding the experimental results. A roofed control allows the quantification of potential artifacts, which is lacking in most experiments.

2

We conducted a drought experiment in experimental grasslands to study artifacts of transparent roofs and the resulting effects of artifacts on ecosystems relative to drought on three response variables (aboveground biomass, litter decomposition and plant metabolite profiles). We established three drought treatments, using (1) transparent roofs to exclude rainfall, (2) an unroofed control treatment receiving natural rainfall and (3) a roofed control, nested in the drought treatment but with rain water reapplied according to ambient conditions.

3

Roofs had a slight impact on air (+0.14°C during night) and soil temperatures (−0.45°C on warm days, +0.25°C on cold nights), while photosynthetically active radiation was decreased significantly (−16%). Aboveground plant community biomass was reduced in the drought treatment (−41%), but there was no significant difference between the roofed and unroofed control, i.e., there were no measurable roof artifact effects.

4

Compared to the unroofed control, litter decomposition was decreased significantly both in the drought treatment (−26%) and in the roofed control treatment (−18%), suggesting artifact effects of the transparent roofs. Moreover, aboveground metabolite profiles in the model plant species Medicago x varia were different from the unroofed control in both the drought and roofed control treatments, and roof artifact effects were of comparable magnitude as drought effects.

5

Our results stress the need for roofed control treatments when using transparent roofs for studying drought effects, because roofs can cause significant side effects.     

Drought tolerance processes in soybeans

Fifteen soybean cultivars were evaluated in two water supply conditions, inducing or not a drought stress. Main canopy traits were measured several times during the reproductive period and, at maturity date, the yield components were estimated. Using principal components analysis, the main physiological functions involved in soybean drought tolerance are described: leaf cells enlargement and assimilates transport. These processes could be a good basis on which to define new selection criteria for soybean drought tolerance.     

Drought resistance in woody plants

The Botanical Review -     

Drought stress responses in crops

Among the effects of impending climate change, drought will have a profound impact on crop productivity in the future. Response to drought stress has been studied widely, and the model plant Arabidopsis has guided the studies on crop plants with genome sequence information viz., rice, wheat, maize and sorghum. Since the value of functions of genes, dynamics of pathways and interaction of networks for drought tolerance in plants can only be judged by evidence from field performance, this mini-review provides a research update focussing on the current developments on the response to drought in crop plants. Studies in Arabidopsis provide the basis for interpreting the available information in a systems biology perspective. In particular, the elucidation of the mechanism of drought stress response in crops is considered from evidence-based outputs emerging from recent omic studies in crops.