基于电阻抗图谱估测金丝楸茎和叶可溶性糖含量的模型

以金丝楸(Catalpa bungei C.A.Mey)为试材,在抗寒锻炼期间分析其茎和叶的电阻抗图谱(electrical impedance spectroscopy,EIS)、可溶性糖含量及细胞膜透性。将茎和叶的EIS参数分别与相应的可溶性糖含量进行线性和非线性回归分析,选取最佳EIS参数构建估测模型,并对模型的精度进行检验,同时,用电阻抗图谱法和电解质渗出率法对金丝楸的抗寒性进行测定。结果表明:1)随着抗寒锻炼的进程,金丝楸茎和叶的可溶性糖含量均呈上升趋势。2)抗寒锻炼期间,金丝楸茎的EIS单弧逐渐变大,弧顶电抗值呈现下降趋势。叶的EIS单弧先变大后变小,弧顶电抗值呈现先减小后增大的趋势。3)金丝楸茎高频电阻率r为估测茎可溶性糖含量的最佳EIS参数,叶弛豫时间分布系数ψ为估测叶可溶性糖含量的最佳EIS参数,分别构建最佳估测模型r=-0.0177x2+0.889x+8.5912和ψ=0.0068x3-0.2023x2+1.2192x+18.4860,对模型进行检验,预测精度分别达到91.62%和81.06%。4)采用电解质渗出率法与高频电阻率r和弛豫时间分布系数ψ测定的茎和叶的抗寒性较为接近,平均绝对误差值分别为3.01和2.83。     

干旱胁迫对霸王水分生理特征及细胞膜透性的影响

以2年生霸王为试验材料,用盆栽人工控制土壤水分,研究不同梯度土壤水分条件对霸王水分生理特征、丙二醛含量和细胞膜相对透性的影响.结果表明,与充足供水对照(土壤重量含水量为23%)相比,在严重干旱胁迫(土壤含水量为3%)20 d和45 d时,霸王叶水势和叶片相对含水量分别显著降低70.87%和45.54%、26.81%和12.66%;相应的叶片MDA含量和细胞膜相对透性分别显著增加33.81%和21.78%、17.51%和14.98%;严重干旱胁迫30 d使得霸王叶片保水力显著下降;同时随着土壤干旱胁迫程度的增强,霸王日蒸腾耗水量持续下降,且严重干旱胁迫处理的蒸腾耗水量日变化为水平直线型,其余处理均为单峰型.研究发现,严重干旱胁迫下随着胁迫时间的延长,霸王叶水势和叶片相对含水量有增加趋势,而叶片MDA含量和细胞膜相对透性则有减小趋势,它能够通过自身的调节机制,逐渐改善叶片水分状况,降低细胞膜伤害程度,从而适应严重干旱环境.     

土壤水分胁迫对燕麦叶片渗透调节物质含量的影响

以旱棚内盆栽的'内农大莜一号'燕麦品种为材料,测定了其不同水分胁迫下各生育期叶片的脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量和细胞膜相对透性,分析土壤含水量对燕麦叶片渗透调节物质的影响,以明确燕麦不同生育时期的抗旱特性.结果表明:(1)随着土壤相对含水率的下降,燕麦各生育期叶片脯氨酸含量、可溶性糖含量、细胞膜相对透性均呈上升趋势.(2)随着生育期的推进,燕麦叶片脯氨酸含量在30%和45%土壤含水量下呈持续上升趋势,而在含水量 60%、75%、90%处理下则于生育前期上升,灌浆期略有下降;随着生育期的延续,可溶性糖的含量呈先升后降的抛物线型变化,且其最大值随水分胁迫强度增加而提前,含水量 30%和45%处理的最大值均出现在拔节期,含水量60%和75%处理则分别出现在孕穗期和开花期;随着生育期的延续,各处理燕麦叶片的细胞膜相对透性均呈持续上升趋势.可见,水分胁迫能诱导燕麦叶片渗透调节物质的积累,且增幅随着胁迫强度的增加而上升,从而使燕麦表现出较强的抗旱性.     

NaCl胁迫对'金光'杏梅幼苗生长及其生理指标的影响

以‘金光’杏梅盆栽幼苗为试验材料,研究了NaCl胁迫对‘金光’杏梅幼苗生长和生理指标的影响.结果表明:NaCl胁迫显著抑制了‘金光’杏梅幼苗的生长,随着NaCl浓度的升高,‘金光’杏梅的株高、叶面积、叶鲜重、叶干重、茎干重、根干重、叶绿素含量和净光合速率均呈下降趋势;叶片细胞膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性糖、脯氨酸(Pro)含量以及POD活性显著增加;而SOD活性在低NaCl浓度下上升,在高NaCl浓度下下降.     

干旱胁迫对烟草叶片丙二醛含量和细胞膜透性的影响

对干旱胁迫下5个烟草品种(系)丙二醛含量和细胞膜透性进行测定表明,随着干旱胁迫的不断加重,烟草叶片丙二醛含量呈现先升后降的趋势,而细胞膜透性则表现为持续升高;复水后细胞膜透性能很快恢复正常,而丙二醛含量需要较长时间才略有恢复。细胞膜透性反应了烟草受干旱胁迫的程度,而丙二醛含量的稳定对烟草的抗旱性有重要意义。     

干旱胁迫下小麦叶片的电阻抗图谱参数与生理参数的关系

通过盆栽实验,在适宜水分、中度干旱和严重干旱水分条件下,分别测定了3个不同抗旱类型的7个小麦品种叶片的电阻和电抗以及保护酶活性、MDA含量、细胞膜相对透性、脯氨酸和含水量等生理参数,并拟合了胞外电阻、胞内电阻、驰豫时间以及驰豫时间的分布系数等电阻抗图谱参数,分析了叶片的电阻抗图谱参数与生理参数之间的相关性。结果表明,在受到水分胁迫后,小麦叶片的CAT、POD活性较适宜水分条件下降低,MDA含量、细胞膜相对透性和脯氨酸含量增加,含水量减小;胞外电阻、胞内电阻、驰豫时间以及驰豫时间的分布系数在品种间差异均极显著(P<0.01),而仅胞内电阻在水分处理间差异显著(P<0.05);在适宜水分条件下,胞外电阻与细胞膜透性有显著负相关,驰豫时间与丙二醛、含水量之间有显著正相关,而在严重干旱条件下,驰豫时间分布系数与丙二醛含量之间有显著正相关,胞内电阻与含水量之间有显著负相关。可见,胞内电阻和驰豫时间分布系数在一定程度上反映了小麦叶片受水分胁迫的程度。     

硅对受土壤中镉污染的白菜生长和抗胁迫能力的影响

在土培盆栽条件下,硅可提高白菜的地上部鲜重和茎鲜重,但根鲜重下降,叶鲜重略有下降。硅可抑制白菜吸收镉,在0.3、0.6、1.2mg·kg~(-1)镉水平下,施硅可显著降低白菜地上部的镉含量,并在一定程度上提高叶中过氧化物酶(POD)活性,但降低超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性。0.5、1.0 g·kg~(-1)硅可提高白菜的叶绿素含量和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,降低叶细胞膜透性,从而提高其对镉胁迫的耐受力。较高的硅浓度对植物有一定的毒性,叶绿素含量和CAT活性都下降,细胞膜透性也增加。     

辣椒开花结果期对干旱胁迫的形态与生理响应

在遮雨网室选用抗旱性较强的农城椒二号和抗旱性较弱的陕蔬2001,研究辣椒在轻度、中度和重度干旱胁迫下不同时间的生长、产量、渗透调节物质、保护酶活性的变化规律及其生理调节机制。结果表明:随干旱胁迫时间的延长,辣椒的株高、分枝数、叶面积、单位面积产量、叶绿素含量和叶片相对含水量的抗旱系数呈下降趋势,下降速率与干旱胁迫程度呈正相关,与品种的抗旱性呈负相关;脯氨酸、丙二醛含量和细胞膜透性相对值随干旱胁迫时间的延长呈上升趋势;POD、SOD、CAT活性和可溶性蛋白相对值随着干旱胁迫时间的延长先升高后下降,抗旱性强的材料增加幅度低于抗旱性弱的材料;可溶性糖含量的相对值在轻度和中度干旱胁迫下呈上升趋势,在重度干旱胁迫下呈上升—下降趋势,且抗旱性强的材料上升速度大于抗旱性弱的材料。相关分析表明,干旱胁迫下,产量与株高、分枝数、叶片叶绿素含量、叶面积、叶片相对含水量抗旱系数呈显著正相关;与细胞膜透性、CAT活性和可溶性蛋白含量抗旱系数呈显著负相关。主成分分析表明,用作辣椒抗旱性鉴定的主要指标是单株产量、株高、叶面积、分枝数、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、MDA、叶绿素含量和细胞膜透性及叶片相对含水量,叶片POD、SOD、CAT活性、脯氨酸含量可做为辣椒抗旱性鉴定的次要鉴选指标。     

NaCl胁迫对滨梅扦插苗生物量和水分积累的影响

以1年生滨梅(Prunus maritima Marshall)扦插苗为实验材料,在盆栽条件下用质量浓度为0.15%、0.29%、0.58%、0.88%、1.17%、1.46%的NaCl溶液进行盐胁迫处理,测定胁迫后根、茎、叶Na+、K+含量以及全叶、一年生茎、二年生茎和根系生物量、含水率、根系活力变化,探讨滨梅的抗盐胁迫机制。结果显示:(1)盐胁迫80d后,随着盐胁迫强度提高,滨梅植株根、茎、叶Na+含量显著提高,而其根、茎K+含量显著降低,根、茎、叶K+/Na+值显著降低;根Na+含量在低于0.58%NaCl胁迫下显著高于茎、叶,而在高于0.58%NaCl胁迫下却表现为叶Na+含量显著高于根、茎。(2)滨梅根、茎、叶生物量均随盐胁迫强度的提高呈先增加后减少的趋势;随着盐胁迫时间的延长,茎、叶生物量在低于0.58%NaCl胁迫下均呈积累趋势,且茎生物量在0.58%NaCl胁迫下显著提高,而根、一年生茎、叶生物量在高于0.58%NaCl胁迫下均显著下降。(3)滨梅茎、叶含水率均随盐胁迫强度的增加呈先增加后减少的趋势,而随着胁迫时间的延长呈逐渐减少趋势;根系活力及根含水率均随盐胁迫强度的提高而增加,但根含水率随着胁迫时间的延长变化不明显。由此可见,滨梅能通过根系稀释并蓄积Na+,保护地上部分正常生长,当进入根系的Na+量超过吸收阈值时,Na+迅速在叶中积累储存,且叶中较高含量的K+对Na+形成了有效的缓冲。     

野皂荚对NaCl胁迫的生理响应及耐盐性

以盆栽野皂荚2年生实生苗为材料,设置土壤NaCl含量分别为0.053%（CK）、0.15%、0.3%、0.45%和0.6%的盐胁迫处理,研究不同浓度盐处理对苗木生长、细胞膜透性、细胞保护酶活性以及Na⁺和K⁺分布格局的影响,探讨了其耐盐阈值和机理.结果表明：随着NaCl浓度增加,苗木生长量逐渐降低,盐害指数逐渐升高;野皂荚可忍耐的土壤含盐量为0.42%.随着NaCl浓度增加,叶片相对电导率、氧自由基产生速率和丙二醛(MDA)含量均逐渐增大;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈先上升后下降的变化趋势,在土壤含盐量0.3%或0.45%时达到峰值;高盐胁迫下,SOD、POD和CAT活性的增强可及时清除盐胁迫产生的氧自由基,进而缓解或避免膜脂过氧化作用对组织细胞的伤害.盐胁迫下根、茎、叶的Na⁺含量均逐渐增大,且呈现根>叶>茎的分布格局;K⁺含量和K⁺/Na⁺呈下降趋势,呈现叶>根>茎的分布格局;K⁺-Na⁺选择性运输系数(S_K⁺·Na⁺)随着土壤含盐量的增加逐渐升高,且叶S_K⁺·Na⁺高于茎S_K⁺·Na⁺.野皂荚耐盐机制是根系拒盐和叶片耐盐;盐胁迫下,根系Na⁺累积能力增强可控制Na⁺向地上运输以避免盐害发生,叶片K⁺选择性吸收和累积能力的显著提高可忍耐和补偿Na⁺对组织的伤害.     

白桦Trihelix家族全基因组鉴定及抗病表达模式分析北大核心CSCD

Trihelix家族是植物中特有的一类转录因子家族,在植物生长发育、抗逆反应中具有重要的调控作用。该研究基于白桦基因组数据库,对白桦Trihelix家族基因的表达特性以及抗病功能等进行分析,为Trihelix家族成员在白桦抗病过程中的功能研究奠定基础。结果显示:(1)共筛选到白桦8个Trihelix家族成员(BpTrihelix1~BpTrihelix8),分布在6条染色体上;氨基酸分子量在35 633.96~81 871.27 Da之间,等电点在5.32~8.67之间,均为疏水性氨基酸。(2)组织特异性表达分析表明,8个家族成员在白桦根、茎、叶中均有不同程度的表达,且BpTrihelix3在根、茎、叶中的表达量均最高。(3)病原菌侵染试验结果发现,链格孢霉菌(Alternaria alternata)感染白桦植株叶片48 h和立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)感染白桦幼苗根部24 h时,BpTrihelix3、BpTrihelix4和BpTrihelix7均显著上调,其余家族基因表达量无明显变化,说明该家族基因成员中的BpTrihelix3、BpTrihelix4和BpTrihelix7响应了病原菌的感染,推测三者在白桦抗病过程中可能发挥重要作用。     

Effect of flooding and temperature regime on growth and stomatal resistance ofBetula platyphylla var.japonica seedlings

Summary Both flooding and low temperature reduced height and stem diameter growth; leaf initiation; growth of leaves, stems, and roots; and lowered root-shoot ratios of 112-dayoldBetula platyphylla var.japonica seedlings. Flooding also induced leaf scorching and abscission. Growth was reduced much more by flooding than by low temperature. Interactive effects of flooding and temperature were shown on height growth, leaf initiation and expansion, and dry weight increment of leaves, stems and roots. The amount of growth reduction by flooding and low temperature was greater when based on analysis of dry weight increment of leaves, stems, and roots, than on their relative growth rates. The greater reduction of growth by flooding than by low temperature was associated with fewer and smaller leaves, more leaf injury, more stomatal closure, and greater decay of roots in flooded plants. Flooding and low temperature appeared to reduce growth by somewhat different physiological mechanisms. Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA and by Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Japan. McIntyre-Stennis Project 2599.     

黄龙山白桦桦木醇与桦木酸含量研究

为了阐明黄龙山白桦不同生境、不同径级、不同器官桦木醇与桦木酸含量,系统采集了陕北黄土高原黄龙山林场阳坡、阴坡、林缘、孤立木4种生境下的白桦不同径级植株的树皮、树枝和树叶样品,采用超声波辅助提取法提取样品,用高效液相色谱法测定了不同生境、不同径级白桦各器官桦木醇、桦木酸含量。结果表明：（1）不同生境下白桦各器官桦木醇、桦木酸含量均存在显著差异（P＜0.05）,白桦树皮中桦木醇与桦木酸含量、白桦树枝中桦木酸含量在4种生境下均表现为阴坡＞孤立木＞林缘＞阳坡,白桦树叶中桦木醇与桦木酸含量及树枝中桦木醇含量均表现为阴坡＞林缘＞孤立木＞阳坡,总体来看阴坡生境下白桦各器官桦木醇与桦木酸含量都是最高的。（2）在白桦各器官中,桦木醇、桦木酸含量均表现为树皮＞树枝＞树叶。（3）不同生境下白桦各器官桦木醇、桦木酸含量随着胸径的增大均先增大后减小,均在第Ⅱ径级即胸径10.1~20 cm达到最大。研究认为,阴坡生境有利于白桦各器官积累桦木醇、桦木酸;白桦各器官中桦木醇含量较高,桦木酸含量比较低,而以桦木酸为原料的生物制剂已进入临床应用阶段,因此,以桦木醇为原料制取桦木酸是解决桦木酸在天然植物中含量低、提取困难的有效途径;对白桦各器官的采收应注意把握时机,于白桦生长到胸径10.1~20 cm时为最佳采收期。     

Stem hypoxia and root respiration of flooded maple and birch seedlings

Some researchers have attributed flood tolerance of woody plants to air entering the shoot through stems, leaves, or lenticels and diffusing to the roots to sustain aerobie respiration. The purpose of this study was to determine if internal aeration of roots by lower stems, changes in gross morphology of lower stems, or both, contribute to flood tolerance of certain tree species. Greenhouse-grown seedlings of red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) and river birch ( Betula nigra L.) tolerated at least 30 days of flooding, where as sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh) and European white birch (also called silver birch, Betula pendula Roth) were intolerant. Flood treatment induced lentieel intumescences and adventitious root formation on red maple stems, but only adventitious roots formed on river birch stems. Stem morphology of sugar maple and European birch was unchanged by flooding. Flood stress decreased oxygen consumption capacity of excised roots from both tolerant and intolerant species. Exclusion of oxygen from the lower stems of flooded red maple and river birch prevented lenticel intumescence and adventitious root formation, but flood tolerance and root respiration capacity were unchanged. Neither internal aeration nor changes in stem morphology appear to account for flood tolerance of red maple and river birch.     

Leaf-traits and growth allometry explain competition and differences in response to climatic change in a temperate forest landscape: a simulation study

Background and Aims

The ability to simulate plant competition accurately is essential for plant functional type (PFT)-based models used in climate-change studies, yet gaps and uncertainties remain in our understanding of the details of the competition mechanisms and in ecosystem responses at a landscape level. This study examines secondary succession in a temperate deciduous forest in eastern China with the aim of determining if competition between tree types can be explained by differences in leaf ecophysiological traits and growth allometry, and whether ecophysiological traits and habitat spatial configurations among PFTs differentiate their responses to climate change.

Methods

A temperate deciduous broadleaved forest in eastern China was studied, containing two major vegetation types dominated by Quercus liaotungensis (OAK) and by birch/poplar (Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana; BIP), respectively. The Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator (TESim) suite of models was used to examine carbon and water dynamics using parameters measured at the site, and the model was evaluated against long-term data collected at the site.

Key Results

Simulations indicated that a higher assimilation rate for the BIP vegetation than OAK led to the former''s dominance during early successional stages with relatively low competition. In middle/late succession with intensive competition for below-ground resources, BIP, with its lower drought tolerance/resistance and smaller allocation to leaves/roots, gave way to OAK. At landscape scale, predictions with increased temperature extrapolated from existing weather records resulted in increased average net primary productivity (NPP; +19 %), heterotrophic respiration (+23 %) and net ecosystem carbon balance (+17 %). The BIP vegetation in higher and cooler habitats showed 14 % greater sensitivity to increased temperature than the OAK at lower and warmer locations.

Conclusions

Drought tolerance/resistance and morphology-related allocation strategy (i.e. more allocation to leaves/roots) played key roles in the competition between the vegetation types. The overall site-average impacts of increased temperature on NPP and carbon stored in plants were found to be positive, despite negative effects of increased respiration and soil water stress, with such impacts being more significant for BIP located in higher and cooler habitats.     

The effect of elevated carbon dioxide and fertilization on primary and secondary metabolites in birch,Betula pendula (Roth)

Seedlings of European white birch (Betula pendula Roth) were grown in growth chambers for one growth season under four carbon dioxide regimes (350, 700, 1050 and 1400 ppm) and at three fertilization levels (0, 100 and 500 kg ha^–1 monthly). The soluble carbohydrates and secondary phenolics in the leaves and stems were analysed. It was found that fertilizer addition reduced the amounts of glucose and fructose while sucrose remained almost unaffected. The sugar content of leaves increased at 700 ppm and 1050 ppm of CO₂ and decreased at the highest CO₂ concentration (1400 ppm). The amounts of proanthocyanidins and flavonoids in leaves decreased with fertilization addition and increased with CO₂ enrichment. The production of simple phenolic glucosides varied according to the fertilization and CO₂ treatments. The triterpenoid content of stems seemed to increase with fertilization and CO₂-addition. Our results indicate that the production of phytochemicals in the birch seedlings is very sensitive to both fertilization and CO₂ addition, which is in agreement with earlier studies, and thus provide some support for the hypothesis of carbon allocation to plant defence when there is an excess of carbon and nutrient. The considerable variation in the production of secondary components may indicate that the synthesis of these defensive metabolites can be regulated by a plant to certain extent, depending on the ability of the plant to acclimate to changes in the physical environment.     

高温胁迫对菊花电阻抗图谱参数的影响

以菊花(Chrysanthemum morifolium)‘神马’扦插苗茎段和叶片为材料,测定其高温胁迫(25~50℃)下电阻抗图谱参数的变化,通过膜透性(相对电导率)与电阻抗图谱参数间的相关性,来证明电阻抗图谱法研究菊花耐热性的有效性。结果表明:随着温度升高,茎叶的胞外电阻、胞内电阻、弛豫时间呈现先增加,后急剧下降的趋势,而弛豫时间分布系数变化趋势为不规则下降。茎叶相对电导率是随着温度的升高先增加后降低再急剧增加。经过菊花茎叶电阻抗图谱参数拟合菊花的耐热性与相对电导率表示的耐热性温度极为接近。相关分析表明,高温胁迫下菊花茎叶相对电导率与胞外电阻(茎p<0.01,叶p<0.05)、弛豫时间(p<0.05)之间有显著的相关。由此可见,胞外电阻和弛豫时间是测定菊花耐热性的适合参数。     

外源K+和水杨酸在缓解融雪剂对油松幼苗生长抑制中的效应与机理

随着融雪剂在国内外寒冷地区的广泛应用及其在城市使用量的逐年增加,融雪剂对城市生态环境的危害引起了广泛的重视。其中,融雪剂在城市道路土壤中的积累对植物生长的影响已日益凸现。以油松幼苗为材料,通过分析0.2%浓度融雪剂胁迫下外源钾(K+)和水杨酸(salicylic acid,SA)对油松幼苗各生长生理指标的影响,探讨外源K+和SA在缓解融雪剂对油松幼苗生长抑制中的机理与剂量效应关系。结果表明,0.2%浓度的融雪剂处理对油松生长有明显的抑制作用,而20 mmol/L KNO3和2 mmol/L SA能明显诱导过氧化物酶(peroxidase,POD)活性的增强,缓解膜脂过氧化作用,降低丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)在叶片中的积累,维持细胞膜的稳定性。虽然外源K+和SA对油松幼苗叶片胞间CO2浓度(intracellular CO2concentrations,Ci)和气孔导度(stomatal conductance,Gs)的缓解作用并不显著,但其可通过提高叶绿素含量促进光合作用的进行,缓解融雪剂胁迫对油松幼苗生长的抑制,分别增加生物量24.9%和63.6%。可见,20 mmol/L KNO3和2 mmol/L SA处理能有效缓解融雪剂对油松幼苗的伤害,为城市化学融雪剂的污染防治提供科学依据。     

岳桦幼苗光合特性和非结构性碳水化合物积累对干旱胁迫的响应

以长白山林线树种岳桦为对象,利用生长控制试验进行干旱处理,研究干旱对岳桦幼苗光合特性及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)积累的影响。结果表明:干旱显著降低了岳桦幼苗的净光合速率和气孔导度,提高了其水分利用效率;干旱显著增加了岳桦幼苗叶、皮、干和根中的可溶性糖和总NSC的含量,但显著降低了淀粉含量;随着干旱的持续,叶片的气孔导度、光合速率和瞬时水分利用效率迅速降低,而可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC则是先增后减;在试验末期,叶片90%发黄,岳桦幼苗干、皮和根中可溶性糖与淀粉含量的比值均显著高于对照。这表明岳桦在受到干旱胁迫时,迅速降低气孔导度以减少水分散失,提高水分利用效率,它属于避旱型植物;岳桦通过优先储存策略来提高组织器官中可溶性糖含量、增加淀粉与糖之间的转化率来应对水分亏缺的不利环境;在遭受持续干旱,幼苗面临死亡的时候,干旱胁迫可能超过了植物自我调节的阈值,但此时其组织器官中NSC含量并未降低,这说明岳桦最终的死亡可能不是碳饥饿导致的。     

Biological seed priming mitigates the effects of water stress in sunflower seedlings

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. PAC 36) seedlings were inoculated with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), viz. Azotobacter chroococcum (A+), Bacillus polymyxa (B+), separately and in combination of the two (AB+). Relative water content and seedling growth were maximum in AB+ seedlings under control. Water stress significantly decreased the RWC, growth and dry mass of non-inoculated seedlings. However, inoculated seedlings maintained higher growth even under water stress. Pigments and protein contents decreased under water stress, but higher amount of the same was observed in stressed AB+ seedlings. Enhanced activity of nitrate reductase was recorded in AB+ seedlings with maximum in control. Water stress significantly decreased the nitrate reductase activity. A significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leaves was recorded under water stress except in B+ with maximum increase in non-inoculated seedlings. Catalase (CAT) activity decreased in stressed non-inoculated seedlings while increased in the leaves of A+ and AB+ seedlings. Almost similar trends were recorded for both leaves and cotyledons. PGPR improved the water status in stressed seedlings and thereby physiological and biochemical parameters and thus ameliorated the severe effects of water stress.