涝渍胁迫对不同树种生长和能量代谢酶活性的影响

为了解涝渍条件下不同树种的耐涝性和适应性,通过田间模拟试验,分析了涝渍胁迫对1年生落羽杉、美国山核桃和乌桕实生苗生长及能量代谢酶的影响.试验分为对照、渍水和淹水3个处理,处理时间为60 d.结果表明：在渍水和淹水条件下,3种树种的相对生长率均表现为落羽杉>美国山核桃>乌桕,落羽杉耐涝性最强,乌桕耐涝性最弱.涝渍条件下,3种树种的根冠比显著增加,更多的光合产物被分配到根系.3树种乙醇脱氢酶和乳酸脱氢酶活性显著升高,其中耐涝性强的落羽杉增加幅度不大,但一直维持在较高水平;而乌桕和美国山核桃在处理初期增幅较大,在处理后期呈下降趋势.3种树种的苹果酸脱氢酶、磷酸己糖异构酶和葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶-6-磷酸葡萄糖酸脱氢酶的活性均低于对照,其中落羽杉降幅最低,淹水条件下分别下降35.6%、21.0%和22.7%.耐涝性强的树种能够通过自身的调节,维持各种能量代谢途径的强度,为树种在低氧条件下的生命活动提供能量,进而维持一定的生长量.     

涝渍胁迫对喜树幼苗形态和生理的影响

为了解喜树对涝渍土壤条件的适应性, 通过温室土培盆栽试验, 从形态和生理两方面探讨了涝渍胁迫对1年生喜树(Camptotheca acuminata)实生苗的影响, 试验分对照、轻度渍水、渍水和淹水等4个处理, 处理时间为 21 d。结果表明, 喜树根系生长以轻度渍水最好, 其次为对照, 而渍水和淹水的处理初生根系逐渐腐烂、死亡, 与之相对应, 轻度渍水处理的根系活力与对照无显著差异, 但渍水和淹水处理随着处理时间的延长逐渐下降, 同时观察到渍水和淹水的喜树茎在水面以下部位出现较多的皮孔。随着处理时间的延长, 轻度渍水处理喜树叶片内POD和SOD活性一直保持较高水平, 渍水和淹水处理则表现出先升高后下降的趋势, 各个处理叶片中O₂^-· 、H₂O₂和MDA含量有逐渐升高的趋势, 且各处理之间均表现为淹水>渍水>轻度淹水>对照。各处理根系LDH活性在处理前期较对照低, 而在处理的中后期, LDH活性均比对照高, 以渍水和淹水处理最高。因此, 喜树在轻度渍水条件下, 一方面由于皮孔和不定根的增多, 根系能够获得更多的氧气, 另一方面由于POD和SOD抗氧化酶活性的增强, 降低了O₂^-·和H₂O₂对细胞的伤害, 喜树能够在轻度渍水的立地上正常生长。     

淹水胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗生理特性和生长的影响

为揭示青杨(Populus cathayana)雌雄幼苗对淹水胁迫的适应性, 在实验地内通过土培盆栽淹水方式从植株生理生态和生长发育方面探讨淹水胁迫对青杨扦插苗的影响。试验分为对照和淹水2个处理, 处理时间为40天。结果显示: (1)淹水胁迫导致青杨幼苗叶片中的丙二醛(MDA)含量和茎部淹水区的不定根数显著升高, 植株的净光合速率(P_n)、叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、株高、基径、总叶面积、比叶面积(SLA)、根生物量、叶生物量、茎生物量、总生物量干重和根冠比(R/S)显著降低。(2)与雄株相比, 淹水胁迫显著增加了雌株幼苗的MDA含量, 降低了SOD活性、P_n、类胡萝卜素(Caro)含量、叶绿素a/b、SLA、根生物量和R/S, 并导致雄株在淹水胁迫下具有比雌株更高的气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、不定根数和株高。可见, 淹水胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗的形态生长和生理过程均有严重的抑制作用, 但表现出显著的性别间差异。雄株可以通过维持更高的光合作用能力和增加不定根数量来维持植株的生长, 从而表现出比雌株更强的抗逆性。     

苗期涝渍对黄淮地区夏玉米生长和产量的影响

以玉米品种"浚单20"为试验材料,采用盆栽方式,在4叶期分别设置持续淹水(3、5和7 d)和持续渍水(5、10和15 d)处理,研究苗期涝渍对夏玉米生长及产量的影响。结果表明:苗期连续淹水3 d以上或渍水15 d的产量显著降低;与对照相比,淹水3~7 d,产量下降58.8%~69.8%(P0.05);渍水15 d,产量下降47.8%(P0.05);淹水3~5 d以及渍水15 d导致产量下降的主要原因是穗粒数减少,而淹水7 d减产是穗粒数减少和千粒重下降共同作用的结果;产量相对损失率与淹水天数的回归分析表明苗期淹水应控制在1 d以内;涝渍胁迫显著降低了地上部分干物质质量,其后续影响与胁迫方式、涝渍天数和生育期有关;淹水显著降低了拔节期及以后各生育期的地上干物质质量(P0.05),而渍水对成熟期干物质重影响不显著(P0.05);淹水处理可显著降低穗部占地上部分干物质的比例,淹水3~7 d,收获指数下降48.7%~64.1%(P0.05)。由此可判断,玉米产量随涝渍时间的延长而减少,且淹水胁迫对产量的影响大于渍水。     

秋茄幼苗对盐度、淹水环境的生长适应

室内模拟12个盐度+淹水处理组合对红树植物秋茄幼苗生长的影响,测定不同组合下秋茄幼苗的株高、茎高、基径、节数、叶数、根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量及总生物量等9项指标.结果表明:盐度-淹水交互处理及盐度处理对秋茄各项生长指标影响显著,淹水处理对株高、茎高、基径、节数及叶数影响不显著,对根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量及总生物量影响显著;秋茄幼苗生长量及生物量积累随盐度升高而降低,随淹水时间增加而下降;结合主成分分析得出,盐度7‰+淹水2 h下秋茄幼苗生长最好,临界胁迫组合为盐度21‰+淹水8 h处理组.     

涝渍胁迫对入侵植物白花鬼针草及其本地近缘种金盏银盘生长和生理特性的影响

[目的]揭示涝渍胁迫下白花鬼针草与其本地近缘种金盏银盘的生长和生理特性差异。[方法]研究对照和涝渍胁迫下白花鬼针草和金盏银盘株高、新生不定根数目、净光合速率（P_n）、总生物量、相对生长速率、叶面积等生长和生理指标的变化。[结果]涝渍胁迫后入侵植物白花鬼针草比本地种金盏银盘保持了更高的株高、新生不定根数目和P_n（P<0.01）,更高的总生物量、相对生长速率、根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量、叶面积（P<0.05）。涝渍胁迫10 d内,白花鬼针草根系活力和光系统II最大光量子产量显著高于金盏银盘（P<0.05）,涝渍胁迫20 d后2物种的2个参数趋于一致,这些结果表明涝渍对白花鬼针草生长的负面影响较小。涝渍胁迫前期更快的不定根生长速度和更高的根系脱氢酶活力可缓解涝渍对白花鬼针草的胁迫,减少了涝渍对光合系统的破坏,使其保持更高的P_n,从而有助于白花鬼针草保持更高的生长速率,是白花鬼针草耐受涝渍的生理机制。[结论]与本地近缘种金盏银盘相比,短期涝渍可使入侵植物白花鬼针草形成生长优势,华南地区雨季短期集中降水所形成的土壤涝渍有利于白花鬼针草的入侵。全球气候变化造成的降水不平衡性可能会加剧白花鬼针草在华南地区的入侵。     

土壤涝渍对杨树和柳树苗期生长及生理性状影响的研究

研究了两种杨树无性系（ＮＬ８０１０５、ＮＬ８０３５１）和柳树在土壤涝渍条件下的生长及生理性状．结果表明,在涝渍胁迫下苗木根系数量减少,根系长度缩短,根活力下降;高生长降低;最终生物量明显减小;叶片气孔对涝渍胁迫有较强反应,叶片中硝酸还原酶（ＮＲ）活性也会受到一定影响．柳树与杨树之间存在较大差异,无论从生长还是生理性状看,杨树不如柳树耐涝．     

不同水分胁迫对绵毛水苏幼苗形态和生理特性的影响

以绵毛水苏幼苗为试材,以正常供水为对照,研究不同水分胁迫(淹水、渍水、中度干旱、重度干旱)对绵毛水苏形态和生理指标的影响。结果表明:(1)绵毛水苏植株在淹水处理3d后外围叶片坏死,根系死亡,但茎基部有不定根萌生;渍水处理植株地上部始终无明显变化,但部分根系根尖变褐色;干旱处理7d时叶片萎蔫,且重度干旱处理叶片萎蔫程度大于中度干旱。胁迫解除后,除淹水处理在第13天恢复生长外,其余处理均在第2天恢复正常生长。(2)绵毛水苏叶片含水量和根系活力在淹水处理下显著降低,在渍水处理下无明显变化;在干旱胁迫下,叶片含水量迅速下降,而根系活力升高。(3)在各水分胁迫条件下,绵毛水苏植株叶、根的相对电导率和MDA含量均较对照显著升高,且根部受损程度均重于叶片,其中淹水胁迫受损最严重。(4)淹水处理叶片可溶性蛋白含量下降,可溶性糖、游离脯氨酸持续积累;渍水和干旱处理叶和根的可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和游离脯氨酸均升高。研究认为,绵毛水苏具有较强的渗透调节能力,在渍水和干旱胁迫解除后迅速缓解膜质过氧化伤害,恢复正常生长;绵毛水苏虽不能在长时间淹水条件下生长,但可在渍水条件下正常生长,且能忍受干旱胁迫,可应用于滨水消落带等水分变化较大的区域。     

根际低氧胁迫对网纹甜瓜生长、根呼吸代谢及抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用气雾法栽培系统,研究了根际低氧（10% O₂和5% O₂）胁迫对网纹甜瓜果实发育期间植株生长、根呼吸代谢及抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明：与对照相比,低氧胁迫下,网纹甜瓜株高、根长降低,植株鲜、干物质量显著下降;根呼吸速率极显著低于对照（21% O₂）,且5% O₂处理下降幅度大于10% O₂处理;乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、乙醇脱氢酶（ADH）和丙酮酸脱羧酶（PDC）活性较对照显著升高,而苹果酸脱氢酶（MDH）活性显著降低;根系中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量显著高于对照,其中10% O₂处理抗氧化酶活性升高幅度显著大于5% O₂处理,而MDA含量5% O₂处理高于10% O₂处理.说明网纹甜瓜果实发育期间根际氧浓度降到10%及其以下时,根系有氧呼吸明显受阻,无氧呼吸代谢被促进,同时根系抗氧化酶发生应激反应,但随低氧胁迫时间的延长,根细胞质膜过氧化程度加剧,根系受到伤害,植株生长受到抑制,最终导致果实产量和品质下降.     

长期淹水环境下河竹鞭根系统形态、生物量和养分的适应性调节

为揭示长期淹水环境下基于形态、生物量和养分的河竹鞭根系统的生长策略,为河竹在水湿地和江河湖库消落带植被恢复中的应用提供参考,调查测定了人工喷灌供水和淹水处理3、6、12个月的河竹一年生竹鞭及其根系的形态和生理生化指标,分析了河竹鞭和鞭根形态特征和生物量分配及鞭根系统的养分吸收与平衡.结果表明: 长期淹水对河竹鞭节长、鞭径和土中根根径并无明显影响.淹水3个月整体上对鞭的形态特征影响小,水中翘鞭较少,但一定程度上抑制了根的生长.随着淹水时间的延长,水中鞭、根大量生长,同时促进了土中鞭、根的生长,但土中、水中鞭生物量和土中根生物量占总生物量的比例变化并不明显,而水中根生物量/总生物量和水中根生物量/土中根生物量显著升高,体现出河竹可以通过鞭根系统的生长调节和生物量合理分配来逐步适应淹水环境.长期淹水整体上降低了河竹土中根的根系活力,抑制了土中根对养分的吸收,但对土中根养分化学计量比的影响较小,而使水中根的根系活力显著增强,养分化学计量比产生明显的适应性调节,N/P升高,N/K和P/K降低.水中根不仅起到氧气吸收功能,还具有较强的养分吸收功能.这是河竹有效适应淹水环境的生长策略之一.     

Flooding and salinity effects on growth and survival of four common forested wetland species

The survival, growth, and biomass of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) seedlings were examined in an experiment varying water levels (watered, flooded) and salinity levels (0, 2, and 10 ppt, plus a simulated storm surge with 32 ppt saltwater). All seedlings, except for those flooded with 10 ppt saltwater, survived to the end of the experiment. In 10 ppt saltwater, flooded baldcypress, water tupelo, and green ash survived two weeks whereas Chinese tallow survived for 6 weeks. However, a second set of slightly older baldcypress, water tupelo, and Chinese tallow seedlings survived eight weeks of flooding with 10 ppt saltwater. When carried through the winter to the beginning of the second growing season, flooded baldcypress and Chinese tallow seedlings from the 0 and 2 ppt treatments leafed out, but only Chinese tallow recovered from the saltwater surge treatment. The diameter and growth (height) of each species was not affected when watered with 2 ppt saltwater, except for the effects of the height growth of baldcypress. Growth was reduced for all species when watered with 10 ppt saltwater. The diameter growth of green ash was reduced by freshwater flooding. The diameter growth of baldcypress and water tupelo was greater when flooded with fresh water. Flooding with 2 ppt saltwater caused a significant reduction in diameter growth in water tupelo, green ash, and Chinese tallow, but not in baldcypress. Root and stem biomass values were not significantly different for any species between the 0 and 2 ppt salinity watering treatments. However, seedlings watered with 10 ppt saltwater had significantly lower root and stem biomass values, except for baldcypress roots and green ash stems. Baldcypress was least affected by flooding with 0 and 2 ppt saltwater, although there were slight reductions in root biomass with increasing salinity. Because of the susceptibility of the seedlings of these four species to increases in flooding and salinity, their regeneration may be limited in the future, thereby causing shifts in species composition.     

Waterlogging responses in dune,swale and marsh populations of Spartina patens under field conditions

Summary Soil waterlogging responses were examined in three Spartina patens populations along a steep flooding gradient in coastal Louisiana. Root anatomy and physiological indicators of anaerobic metabolism were examined to identify and compare flooding responses in dune, swale and marsh populations, while soil physicochemical factors were measured to characterize the three habitats. Soil waterlogging increased along the gradient from dune to marsh habitats and was accompanied by increases in root porosity (aerenchyma). Aerenchyma in marsh roots was apparently insufficient to provide enough oxygen for aerobic respiratory demand, as indicated by high root alcohol dehydrogenase activities and low energy charge ratios. Patterns of root metabolic indicators suggest that dune and swale roots generally respired aerobically, while anaerobic metabolism was important in marsh roots. However, in each population, relatively greater soil waterloging was accompanied by differences in enzyme activities leading to malate accumulation. In dune and swale roots under these circumstances, depressed adenylate energy charge ratios may have been the result of an absence of increased ethanol fermentation. These trends suggest that: 1) Aerenchyma formation was an important, albeit incomplete, long-term adaptation to the prevalent degree of soil waterlogging. 2) All populations adjusted root metabolism in response to a relative (short-term) increase in soil waterlogging.     

Comparative studies on physiological and biochemical adaptation of Taxodium distichum and Taxodium ascendens seedlings to different soil water regimes

Responses of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) and pondcypress (Taxodium ascendens) seedlings in leaf gas exchange and root metabolism to a wide range of hydrological regimes were studied. Four water treatments included control (C), mild drought (MD), wet soil (WS) and flooding (FL). Both species showed no significant change in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in response to flooding in contrast to significant reduction in Pn under mild drought conditions. In baldcypress, Pn was also maintained at control level compared to significant increase of Pn in pondcypress when subjected to the wet soil treatment. In flooding, both species showed significant increase in contents of malate and shikimate in their lateral roots and further in total roots, as compared to control. However, different adaptation to flooding was demonstrated in their taproots in contents of malate and shikimate. Furthermore, baldcypress seedlings showed significant reductions in lateral and total root biomass, in contrast with no significant change in that of pondcypress seedlings in response to flooding. In wet soil, no significant effects were revealed in contents of malate and shikimate in roots (including different root portions) of baldcypress seedlings in contrast to significant increase of their contents in lateral roots of pondcypress seedlings. No significant effects on root biomass were detected in either baldcypress or pondcypress seedlings in response to wet soil. When subjected to mild drought, baldcypress seedlings displayed no significant change in contents of malate and shikimate in roots, whereas pondcypress seedlings exhibited significant reduction in content of shikimate in lateral roots and total roots. In addition, root biomass of baldcypress seedlings showed no significant change, while lateral and total root biomass of pondcypress seedlings demonstrated significant increase when mild drought was imposed. These findings indicate that baldcypress and pondcypress appear to be promising candidates for reforestation in the Three Gorges Reservoir region due to their characteristics of water-tolerance and mild drought endurance. However, pondcypress is more resilient than baldcypress to the continuum of water availability conditions expected in the Three Gorges Reservoir region.     

Flooding tolerance of Tabebuia cassinoides: Metabolic, morphological and growth responses

Tabebuia cassinoides (Lam.) DC (Bignoniaceae) is a tree species that occurs in swampy areas of the coastal “restinga” in SE Brazil (a coastal sandy plains scrub and forest formation). To elucidate possible adaptive strategies that enable this species to occupy areas subjected to seasonal or perennial waterlogging, metabolic, morphological and growth responses of plants under flooding conditions were studied. The root system of T. cassinoides plants presented elevated amounts of ethanol (10.6 μmol g⁻¹ fresh wt) only in the first 5 d of soil water saturation. The two-fold increase in ethanol production under flooding was corroborated by an increase in ADH activity in the same period. Lactic acid concentrations did not change significantly during four months of flooding treatment. The decrease of alcoholic fermentation under hypoxia was associated with the appearing of new roots. The induction of aerenchyma formation in roots developed under flooding conditions, allowed oxygen transport from the shoot to these organs, thus maintaining an aerobic respiration. We conclude that this characteristic and the capacity to oxidize the rhizosphere are probably responsible for the survival and growth of plants while flooded and for their success in an environment, which restricts the presence of the majority of competing tree species.     

Roots of willow (Salix viminalis L.) show marked tolerance to oxygen shortage in flooded soils and in solution culture

Responses to soil flooding and oxygen shortage were studied in field, glasshouse and controlled environment conditions. Established stools ofSalix viminalis L., were compared at five field sites in close proximity but with contrasting water table levels and flooding intensities during the preceding winter. There was no marked effect of site on shoot extension rate, time to half maximum length or final length attained. When rooted cuttings were waterlogged for 4 weeks in a glasshouse, soil redox potentials quickly decreased to below zero. Shoot extension was slowed after a delay of 20 d, while, in the upper 100 mm of soil, formation and outgrowth of unbranched adventitious roots with enhanced aerenchyma development was promoted after 7 d. At depths of 100–200 mm and 200–300 mm, extension by existing root axes was halted by soil flooding, while adventitious roots from above failed to penetrate these deeper zones. After 4 weeks waterlogging, all arrested root tips recommenced elongation when the soil was drained; their extension rates exceeding those of roots that were well-drained throughout. Growth in fresh mass was also stimulated. The additional aerenchyma found in adventitious roots in the upper 100 mm of soil may have been ethylene regulated since gas space development was inhibited by silver nitrate, an ethylene action inhibitor. The effectiveness of aerenchyma was tested by blocking the entry of atmospheric oxygen into plants with lanolin applied to lenticels of woody shoots of plants grown in solution culture. Root extension was halved, while shoot growth remained unaffected. H Lambers Section editor     

Lacunal allocation and gas transport capacity in the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora

Summary Lacunal allocation as the fraction of the total cross sectional area of leaves, stem bases, rhizomes, and roots was determined in both tall and short growth forms of Spartina alterniflora collected from natural monospecific stands. The results indicate that in both growth forms lacunal allocation is greater in stem bases and rhizomes than in leaves and roots and that tall form plants allocate more of their stem and rhizome to lacunae than short form plants.Measurements made in natural stands of Spartina alterniflora suggest that total lacunal area of the stem base increases with increasing stem diameter and that stem diameter increases with increasing plant height and above-ground biomass. However, the fraction of cross section allocated to lacunae was relatively constant and increased only with the formation of a central lacuna.Experimental manipulations of surface and subsurface water exchange were carried out to test the influence of flooding regime on aerenchyma formation. No significant differences in lacunal allocation were detected between plants grown in flooded (reduced) and drained (oxidized) sediments in either laboratory or field experiments. While aerenchyma formation in Spartina alterniflora may be an adaptation to soil waterlogging/anoxia, our results suggest that lacunal formation is maximized as a normal part of development with allocation constrained structurally by the size of plants in highly organic New England and Mid-Atlantic marshes.The cross sectional area of aerenchyma for gas transport was found to be related to the growth of Spartina alterniflora with stands of short form Spartina alterniflora exhibiting a lower specific gas transport capacity (lacunal area per unit below ground biomass) than tall form plants despite having a similar below-ground biomass supported by a 10 fold higher culm density. The increased specific gas transport capacity in tall vs. short plants may provide a new mechanism to explain the better aeration, higher nutrient uptake rates and lower frequency of anaerobic respiration in roots of tall vs. short Spartina alterniflora.     

Process of aerenchyma formation and reactive oxygen species induced by waterlogging in wheat seminal roots

The development and regulation of aerenchyma in waterlogged conditions were studied in the seminal roots of wheat. Evans blue staining and the first cell death position indicated that the cortical cell death began at the root mid-cortex cells in flooding conditions. Continuous waterlogging treatment caused the spread of cell death from the mid-cortex to the neighboring cells and well-developed aerenchyma was formed after 72 h. Meanwhile, the formation of radial oxygen loss barrier was observed in the exodermis owing to the induction of Casparian bands and lignin deposition. Analysis of aerenchyma along the wheat root revealed that aerenchyma formed at 10 mm from the root tip, significantly increased toward the center of the roots, and decreased toward the basal region of the root. In situ detection of radial oxygen species (ROS) showed that ROS accumulation started in the mid-cortex cells, where cell death began indicating that cell death was probably accompanied by ROS production. Further waterlogging treatments resulted in the accumulation of ROS in the cortical cells, which were the zone for aerenchyma development. Accumulation and distribution of H₂O₂ at the subcellular level were revealed by ultracytochemical localization, which further verified the involvement of ROS in the cortical cell death process (i.e., aerenchyma formation). Furthermore, gene expression analysis indicated that ROS production might be the result of up-regulation of genes encoding for ROS-producing enzymes and the down-regulation of genes encoding for ROS-detoxifying enzymes. These results suggest that aerenchyma development in wheat roots starts in the mid-cortex cells and its formation is regulated by ROS.     

Formation and function of secondary aerenchyma in hypocotyl, roots and nodules of soybean (Glycine max) under flooded conditions

Flooding is a major problem in many areas of the world and soybean is susceptible to the stress. Understanding the morphological mechanisms of flooding tolerance is important for developing flood-tolerant genotypes. We investigated secondary aerenchyma formation and function in soybean (Glycine max) seedlings grown under flooded conditions. Secondary aerenchyma, a white and spongy tissue, was formed in the hypocotyl, tap root, adventitious roots and root nodules after 3 weeks of flooding. Under irrigated conditions aerenchyma development was either absent or rare and phellem was formed in the hypocotyl, tap root, adventitious roots and root nodules. Secondary meristem partially appeared at the outer parts of the interfascicular cambium and girdled the stele, and then cells differentiated to construct secondary aerenchyma in the flooded hypocotyl. These morphological changes proceeded for 4 days after the initiation of the flooding. After 14 days of treatment, porosity exceeded 30% in flooded hypocotyl with well-developed secondary aerenchyma, while it was below 10% in hypocotyl of irrigated plants that had no aerenchyma. When Vaseline was applied to the hypocotyl of plants from a flooded treatment to prevent the entry of atmospheric oxygen into secondary aerenchyma, plant growth, especially that of roots, was sharply inhibited. Thus secondary aerenchyma might be an adaptive response to flooding.     

Effects of flooding and salinity on photosynthesis and water relations of four Southeastern Coastal Plain forest species

The influence of flooding and salinity on photosynthesis and water relations was examined for four common coastal tree species [green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.). Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.), and baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Richard)]. Both chronic (as might be associated with sea level rise) and acute (similar to hurricane storm surges) exposures to these stresses were examined. Chronic freshwater flooding of green ash, water tupelo, and Chinese tallow seedlings reduced photosynthesis (A) relative to that of watered seedlings, while baldcypress was unaffected. Chinese tallow A declined with increasing length of flooding. A salinity increase of the floodwater to 2 ppt decreased A of baldcypress and water tupelo, but not A of green ash and Chinese tallow, which was already severely reduced by freshwater flooding. All seedlings of the four species died within 2 to 6 weeks when flooded with 10 ppt saltwater. Photosynthesis of all four species did not differ between 0 and 2 ppt watering. Watering with 10 ppt salinity initially reduced A of all four species, but the seedlings recovered over time. Photosynthesis was severely decreased for all species when flooded with 21 ppt salinity for 48 hours. Reduced A continued following the treatment. Photosynthesis of only green ash and water tupelo was reduced by watering with 21 ppt salinity for 48 hours. Flooding of low-lying areas with increased salinity would lead to shifts in species composition of coastal forests due to these differential tolerances.     

Variation for Root Aerenchyma Formation in Flooded and Non-Flooded Maize and Teosinte Seedlings

Morphological and anatomical factors such as aerenchyma formation in roots and the development of adventitious roots are considered to be amongst the most important developmental characteristics affecting flooding tolerance. In this study we investigated the lengths of adventitious roots and their capacity to form aerenchyma in three- and four-week-old seedlings of two maize (Zea mays ssp. mays, Linn.) inbred accessions, B64 and Na4, and one teosinte, Z. nicaraguensis Iltis & Benz (Poaceae), with and without a flooding treatment. Three weeks after sowing and following a seven day flooding treatment, both maize and teosinte seedlings formed aerenchyma in the cortex of the adventitious roots of the first three nodes. The degree of aerenchyma formation in the three genotypes increased with a second week of flooding treatment. In drained soil, the two maize accessions failed to form aerenchyma. In Z. nicaraguensis, aerenchyma developed in roots located at the first two nodes three weeks after sowing. In the fourth week, aerenchyma developed in roots of the third node, with a subsequent increase in aerenchyma in the second node roots. In a second experiment, we investigated the capacity of aerenchyma to develop in drained soil. An additional three teosinte species and 15 maize inbred lines, among them a set of flooding-tolerant maize lines, were evaluated. Evaluations indicate that accessions of Z. luxurians (Durieu & Asch. Bird) and two maize inbreds, B55 and Mo20W, form aerenchyma when not flooded. These materials may be useful genetic resources for the development of flooding-tolerant maize accessions.