极端干旱条件下杠柳的落叶相对休眠-复水复苏型生存策略

以3种梯度恒定干旱胁迫(土壤水分分别控制在最大田间持水量的80%、55%和35%)为对照,人工模拟持续自然干旱(干旱15~54 d后复水),研究黄土丘陵区广泛分布的乡土灌木杠柳(Periploca sepium)的形态、耗水、生长、生理在持续干旱、极端干旱以及旱后复水时的变化,探讨长期恒定胁迫及极端干旱下植物的适应性策略。结果表明:(1)在恒定干旱胁迫下,杠柳可调整生长和生理状况使其达到适应有限水分供应的新稳定状态;植株冠层减小,叶片可溶性糖积累以及过氧化物酶活性升高是杠柳适应长期恒定干旱胁迫的重要机制。(2)在长期自然干旱胁迫下,杠柳的形态与生理状况均持续变化。在叶片死亡脱落前,叶片中大量积累的脯氨酸、游离氨基酸和可溶性糖提高了杠柳对干旱胁迫的耐受性;随着干旱胁迫的加剧,杠柳叶片加速衰老死亡、以休眠芽形式进入相对休眠状态。(3)复水后根系和茎复苏长出新芽并补偿生长,新芽中高含量的脯氨酸和游离氨基酸以及高活性状态的SOD和POD表明新芽活跃的生理状态是其补偿生长的重要机制,即杠柳在极端干旱条件下具有落叶相对休眠-复水后复苏型生存策略。     

极端干旱条件下杠柳的落叶相对休眠-复水复苏型生存策略（英文）

以3种梯度恒定干旱胁迫(土壤水分分别控制在最大田间持水量的80%、55%和35%)为对照,人工模拟持续自然干旱(干旱15~54d后复水),研究黄土丘陵区广泛分布的乡土灌木杠柳(Periploca sepium)的形态、耗水、生长、生理在持续干旱、极端干旱以及旱后复水时的变化,探讨长期恒定胁迫及极端干旱下植物的适应性策略。结果表明:(1)在恒定干旱胁迫下,杠柳可调整生长和生理状况使其达到适应有限水分供应的新稳定状态;植株冠层减小,叶片可溶性糖积累以及过氧化物酶活性升高是杠柳适应长期恒定干旱胁迫的重要机制。(2)在长期自然干旱胁迫下,杠柳的形态与生理状况均持续变化。在叶片死亡脱落前,叶片中大量积累的脯氨酸、游离氨基酸和可溶性糖提高了杠柳对干旱胁迫的耐受性;随着干旱胁迫的加剧,杠柳叶片加速衰老死亡、以休眠芽形式进入相对休眠状态。(3)复水后根系和茎复苏长出新芽并补偿生长,新芽中高含量的脯氨酸和游离氨基酸以及高活性状态的SOD和POD表明新芽活跃的生理状态是其补偿生长的重要机制,即杠柳在极端干旱条件下具有落叶相对休眠-复水后复苏型生存策略。     

土壤干旱对黄土高原3个常见树种幼苗水分代谢及生长的影响

应用盆栽试验,在人工控制土壤水分条件下对黄土高原3个常见树种丁香(Syringa oblata)、杠柳(Perip-loca sepium)和连翘(Forsythia suspensa)幼苗的生长及水分生理代谢进行了研究.结果表明,随干旱胁迫程度加剧,各树种耗水量明显减少;不同树种单株耗水量差异明显,表现为:连翘>杠柳>丁香.3树种新生枝条生长和叶面积扩展速率明显受土壤含水量影响,均表现为适宜水分>中度干旱>严重干旱,且在同一胁迫水平下,连翘>杠柳>丁香.随干旱胁迫程度的加剧和干旱时间的延长,丁香、杠柳和连翘叶片的含水量、游离脯氨酸以及叶绿素含量均有不同程度的变化,连翘和杠柳的叶片含水量在3种水分条件下均明显高于丁香,杠柳叶片游离脯氨酸含量明显高于丁香和连翘,连翘体内脯氨酸含量最低,丁香和连翘的叶绿素a/b值随土壤含水量的减少逐渐降低,杠柳则表现出相反趋势.不同树种对土壤干旱和高温的响应机制不同,但它们都具有较强的抗旱能力,适应黄土高原干旱的自然条件.     

甘薯愈伤组织对干旱胁迫和盐胁迫的生理反应对比

研究干旱胁迫和盐胁迫对“芦选一号”。日‘薯愈伤组织可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量、SOD活性等的影响,从而在细胞水平上探讨甘薯抵御渗透胁迫的生理机制。并分析甘薯细胞对干旱处理（PEG-6000）和盐处理（NaCl）的反应差异。结果表明,可溶性蛋白质含量在干旱胁迫下缓慢升高,在轻度和中度盐胁迫的生长前期和中期有较大幅度的上升。但后期下降,表明短时间盐胁迫下,Na^＋可能促进可溶性蛋白的合成;MDA在重度干旱胁迫下的含量显著低于重度盐胁迫,而SOD活性显著高于盐胁迫。表明在盐胁迫下细胞膜透性增加的主要原网是膜脂过氧化作用。干旱处理则是PEG-6000脱水的直接结果;重度干旱胁迫下,可溶性糖含量在短期内迅速升高,然后下降,而脯氨酸含量则在胁迫中后期迅速上升。脯氨酸可能有补偿可溶性糖含量降低的作用。     

干旱胁迫对甘草幼苗生长和渗透调节物质含量的影响

采用人工控制水分模拟干旱的处理方法,研究了干旱胁迫对甘草幼苗生长状况、水分状况和主要渗透调节物质含量的影响.结果显示:轻度干旱胁迫有利于甘草幼苗根系生长,植株根冠比加大.干旱胁迫下甘草根叶组织中相对含水量下降,束缚水/自由水升高.甘草幼苗组织中渗透调节物质可溶性蛋白、游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量在干旱胁迫下也均显著增加;且...     

干旱胁迫对杠柳光合特性及抗氧化酶活性的影响

以盆栽杠柳幼苗为材料,用称重控水的方法设置4个含水量梯度,研究不同程度干旱胁迫对杠柳光合特性和抗氧化系统的影响,为黄河三角洲贝壳堤岛植被恢复过程中的物种培育和种植管理提供依据.结果表明:(1)随着干旱胁迫的加剧,杠柳幼苗叶片净光合速率(Pn)先增后降,蒸腾速率(Tr)和气孔导度(Gs)逐渐下降,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)先降后升,说明杠柳幼苗Pn下降在轻度干旱胁迫下主要是由气孔导度下降引起,而在重度胁迫下主要由非气孔因素引起.(2)随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧,杠柳幼苗瞬时水分利用效率(WUE)、表观光能利用效率(LUE)、羧化效率(CE)均呈现先增加后下降趋势;WUE在重度胁迫下才开始下降,比对照显著下降了39%,LUE(CE)则在中度胁迫下就开始下降,中度和重度胁迫分别比对照下降了48%(33%)、71%(69%).(3)随着干旱胁迫的加剧,杠柳叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性先升高后降低,过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和MDA含量均逐渐增高,表明POD、CAT抑制杠柳叶片脂质过氧化效应不显著,SOD则抑制作用显著,且12.8%的贝壳沙含水量是SOD的耐受阈值,此时MDA含量比对照显著增加153%.     

水分胁迫对春播玉米苗期生长及其生理生化特性的影响

采用盆栽试验,以‘蠡玉18'玉米单交种为供试材料,设置充分供水(CK)、轻度水分胁迫(LS)、中度水分胁迫(MS)和重度水分胁迫(SS)4个水分处理水平,研究了水分胁迫对春播玉米苗期保护酶活性和生长的影响,以探讨土壤水分胁迫对玉米苗期生长发育及其生理过程的影响机制.结果表明:(1)随着水分胁迫程度的加剧,玉米幼苗的生物量显著下降,根冠比、根系活力和脯氨酸含量增加,且水分胁迫对玉米幼苗地上部生物量的抑制作用更大;可溶性蛋白含量差异不明显,MDA含量波动变化.(2)随着水分胁迫时间的延长,根冠比、根系活力和植株脯氨酸含量先升高后降低,可溶性蛋白含量呈先下降后升高的趋势;玉米幼苗叶片和根系MDA积累波动变化,而叶片MDA含量始终高于根系.(3)在水分胁迫初期,玉米叶片中CAT活性较SOD、POD响应更敏感;玉米苗期根系在中度水分胁迫下主要依赖CAT来降低氧化危害,而在重度水分胁迫下前期主要依赖CAT、后期通过CAT和POD的共同作用来降低氧化伤害;水分胁迫条件下,叶片和根系POD同步降低氧化伤害,而SOD和CAT在叶片和根系间存在互补作用.研究表明,在不同程度的水分胁迫条件下,玉米幼苗的生长受到一定程度的抑制,但其能够通过调节自身的保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量来减轻干旱伤害,维持植株的正常生理代谢功能.     

干旱胁迫及复水对香樟幼树生理特性及生长的影响

通过盆栽和持续干旱处理研究了轻度干旱(持续干旱2~4d)、中度干旱(持续干旱6~8d)和重度干旱胁迫(持续干旱10~16d)及复水对香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)幼树生理特性和生长的影响,为香樟育苗、造林及合理的水分管理提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)干旱胁迫下香樟幼树地径生长量(Zd)和树高生长量(Zh)受到了抑制;轻度、中度干旱处理(土壤体积含水量从正常状态下降到7%)下叶片相对含水量(LRWC)与对照差异不显著,重度干旱处理(土壤体积含水量下降到3%)下显著低于对照。(2)轻度、中度干旱处理的超氧阴离子和过氧化氢含量与对照无显著差异,重度干旱处理较对照显著上升。(3)在活性氧酶促清除系统中,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性在轻度干旱时显著上升,而过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在重度干旱时才显著上升,在复水48h后3种酶活性均恢复到对照水平。(4)在轻度、中度干旱处理中叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量无显著变化,而在重度干旱下显著升高,且复水48h后未见显著降低。(5)在渗透调节物质中,轻度干旱时可溶性蛋白(SP)含量开始显著升高,中度干旱时可溶性糖(SS)含量显著升高,重度干旱时脯氨酸(Pro)含量显著上升;复水48h后Pro含量显著降低,而可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量无显著变化。研究发现,香樟幼树在轻度干旱胁迫下能通过自身抗氧化酶系统和渗透调节物质维持正常生长,而在中度和重度干旱胁迫条件下,其水分生理状况变差,膜系统遭受伤害,酶活性受到抑制,最终导致其形态生长和地上部分生物量积累受限。     

干旱胁迫对蒙古黄芪生长及根部次生代谢物含量的影响

以山西道地药材黄芪一年生幼苗为试验材料,设置常规水分条件(CK)、轻度干旱胁迫(A1)、中度干旱胁迫(A2)、重度干旱胁迫(A3)4个不同处理,研究土壤干旱胁迫对黄芪生长及生理的影响。结果表明:黄芪茎叶快速生长集中在出苗后80—120d,以后生长减缓;当茎叶枯萎时,根中生物量短期快速积累。与常规水分条件相比,干旱胁迫处理显著降低了黄芪苗高及茎叶生物量,但对抗氧化能力、根系生长及次生代谢物积累产生了不同的影响。轻度干旱胁迫下SOD、POD、CAT 3种抗氧化酶活性升高,丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞膜透性降低,同时根长与根生物量增加、多糖与皂苷两种次生代谢物积累增多,黄芪药材的质量得到显著提高(P0.05);胁迫上升到中度、重度时,SOD酶活性逐渐降低,重度胁迫下低于对照,而POD及CAT酶活性、MDA含量、细胞膜透性均随胁迫增强而升高,相反,根长、根生物量、多糖与皂苷含量降低,导致黄芪药材的质量显著降低(P0.01)。综上表明,干旱胁迫下,SOD酶表现较为敏感,可能在清除活性氧中起主要作用;轻度水分胁迫能有效启动黄芪体内抗氧化酶系统和次生代谢,它们相互协作共同对抗胁迫对细胞产生的伤害,通过降低地上部分的生长,将营养物质优先运往根部,促进根产量及药材质量的提高。这一结论,可在黄芪多糖和皂苷次生代谢物定向培育的水分管理中加以利用。     

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。     

Drought tolerance of Periploca sepium during seed germination: antioxidant defense and compatible solutes accumulation

Periploca sepium Bunge is a native and widespread shrub on the Loess Plateau, an arid and semi-arid region in China. To understand the adaptability of its seed germination to dry environments, we investigated the germination rate, water relations, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity and accumulation of major organic solutes during seed germination under water deficit conditions. Results showed that seeds pre-treated by hydration–dehydration or ?0.9 MPa PEG germinated faster than control seeds, indicating strong resistance of P. sepium to drought condition. The re-dried seeds showed higher proline, total free amino acids (TFAA) and soluble proteins (SP) contents than control dry seeds, indicating the maintenance of physiological advancement when dehydrated. Osmotic stress made seed germination stay on the plateau phase (phase II). However, germinating seeds moved into phase III immediately once transferred into distilled water. Large increases in SP and soluble sugars (SS) of both re-dried and osmotic stressed seeds help themselves to resist drought stress. The re-hydrated seeds showed significantly higher levels of proline, TFAA, SP and SS than control seeds. The largely accumulated SS during osmotic stress declined sharply when transferred into distilled water. Our data demonstrate that P. sepium’s tolerance to drought stresses during germination is associated with enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of some compatible solutes. Seed physiological advancement progressed slowly under low water conditions and it was maintained when seeds were air dried. This strategy ensures high and more rapid seed germination of P. sepium under drying and wetting conditions in drought-prone regions.     

Organ-dependent responses of Periploca sepium to repeated dehydration and rehydration

Plant responses to water deficit occur in a complex framework of organ interactions, but few studies focus on the effect of drought stress on all organs in a whole-plant. The effects of repeated dehydration and rehydration (DH) on physiological and biochemical responses in various organs of Periploca sepium Bunge (P. sepium) were investigated. The leaf relative water content decreased significantly during drought, but recovered and showed an increase when compared to well-watered control plants. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased in mature and old leaves, but decreased in young leaves, new stems and fine roots during drought, indicating that the young and vigorous tissues of a whole-plant are protected preferentially from the oxidative stress. Among all organs, the fine roots showed the highest levels of proline, total free amino acids (TFAA) and Na⁺, while the leaves showed the highest levels of total soluble sugars (TSS), soluble proteins (SP), Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The response to DH differed in different organs, both in magnitude and in the type of solutes involved. Drought stress increased the contents of proline, TFAA, TSS, SP and K⁺ in all organs of P. sepium plants, while the accumulation amounts were obviously different among the organs. The storage starch in stems and roots plays an important role in providing carbohydrates for growth. Changes in Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ under DH presented a high degree of organ specificity. Our data indicates that response strategies are different between different organs; therefore, evidence the needs to integrate all the information in order to better understand plant tolerance mechanisms.     

Responses of young ‘Pink lady’ apple to alternate deficit irrigation following long-term drought: growth, photosynthetic capacity, water-use efficiency, and sap flow

We studied photosynthetic capacity, growth, sap flow, and water-use efficiency in young trees of ‘Pink Lady’ apple (Malus domestica) that were exposed to 60 d of moisture stress. Three irrigation schemes were tested in the greenhouse: well-watered control; drought; or alternate deficit irrigation (ADI). Compared with the drought-stressed plants, those treated via ADI showed better height growth, larger scion diameters, and greater total leaf area, as well as significantly increased gains in dry biomass and rootstock diameters. However, their performance was still significantly lower than that demonstrated by continuously well-watered plants. Sap flow was greater under ADI than under drought, but less than under control conditions. The average rate of net photosynthesis, total amount of irrigation water applied, and dry biomass gain had highly significant and positive linear correlations with long-term water-use efficiency (WUE_L). The same was true between average stomatal conductance and WUE_L. By contrast, instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE_I) was very significantly and negatively correlated with WUE_L. In addition, values for WUE_L were much higher from well-watered plants when compared with either drought-stressed trees or those treated per ADI. Therefore, our results indicate that, although ‘Pink Lady’ apple normally has high WUE, it still consumes a large amount of water. Therefore, the practice of ADI following a period of long-term drought could be used to improve growth and WUEL by this cultivar.     

Azospirillum and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization enhance rice growth and physiological traits under well-watered and drought conditions

The response of rice plants to inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Azospirillum brasilense, or combination of both microorganisms, was assayed under well-watered or drought stress conditions. Water deficit treatment was imposed by reducing the amount of water added, but AM plants, with a significantly higher biomass, received the same amount of water as non-AM plants, with a poor biomass. Thus, the water stress treatment was more severe for AM plants than for non-AM plants. The results showed that AM colonization significantly enhanced rice growth under both water conditions, although the greatest rice development was reached in plants dually inoculated under well-watered conditions. Water level did not affect the efficiency of photosystem II, but both AM and A. brasilense inoculations increased this value. AM colonization increased stomatal conductance, particularly when associated with A. brasilense, which enhanced this parameter by 80% under drought conditions and by 35% under well-watered conditions as compared to single AM plants. Exposure of AM rice to drought stress decreased the high levels of glutathione that AM plants exhibited under well-watered conditions, while drought had no effect on the ascorbate content. The decrease of glutathione content in AM plants under drought stress conditions led to enhance lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, inoculation with the AM fungus itself increased ascorbate and proline as protective compounds to cope with the harmful effects of water limitation. Inoculation with A. brasilense also enhanced ascorbate accumulation, reaching a similar level as in AM plants. These results showed that, in spite of the fact that drought stress imposed by AM treatments was considerably more severe than non-AM treatments, rice plants benefited not only from the AM symbiosis but also from A. brasilense root colonization, regardless of the watering level. However, the beneficial effects of A. brasilense on most of the physiological and biochemical traits of rice plants were only clearly visible when the plants were mycorrhized. This microbial consortium was effective for rice plants as an acceptable and ecofriendly technology to improve plant performance and development.     

Measures of leaf-level water-use efficiency in drought stressed endophyte infected and non-infected tall fescue grasses

Neotyphodium coenophialum [Morgan-Jones and Gams], grows in the above-ground parts of tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.]. It is an asexual fungus that is transmitted through seed of its host plant. This grass/endophyte association is enhanced by the protection of the host from herbivory and improved drought stress. We investigated how a decline in leaf-level stomatal conductance impacts the instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE), in endophyte-infected (E+) versus non-infected (E?) Kentucky-31 tall fescue grasses grown in a controlled environmental chamber over a 10-week period. Grasses were cut at 6 weeks after germination and allowed to regrow under high and low soil moisture availability. One week after cutting, soil moisture was allowed to decline in the low water treatment for 2 weeks until severe stress was demonstrated through a decline in stomatal conductance to less than 100 mmol m^?2 s^?1. We found no differences in WUE between E+ and E? plants when water was not limiting while higher WUE was exhibited in E+ plants relative to E? plants under severe drought stress. The E? plants showed an 18-fold reduction in mean WUE and a 70-fold reduction in photosynthesis under drought stress, while there was no change in WUE and only a fourfold decline in photosynthesis between well-watered and drought stressed E+ plants at 21 days. While there were no differences in the rates of transpiration between E+ and E? plants under severe drought stress, differences in WUE can be attributed mainly to higher photosynthetic rates of E+ than E? plants. The difference in photosynthetic rates between E+ and E? plants under drought conditions could not be explained by differences in stomatal conductance and Rubisco (EC 4.1.1.39) activities.     

Nutritional status,essential oil changes and water-use efficiency of rose geranium in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and water deficiency stress

Stress induced by water deficit is considered to be a global problem and one of the most important factors limiting crop production in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Application of certain microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is considered to be an effective and sustainable strategy to mitigate the problem. A pot experiment was conducted in the field (from Feb. to Sep. in 2013–2014 in Isfahan, Iran) to assess the effectiveness of AMF inoculation on changes in biomass, essential oils, nutrient uptake and water-use efficiency of rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) experiencing stress induced by a deficit of water. The experiment was planned as a factorial experiment, using a completely randomized design, with two factors, including four AMF inoculation (non-mycorrhizal, Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae inoculated, and the combination of both species) and three irrigation levels including well-watered (WW), moderate water deficiency (MWD) and severe water deficiency (SWD). The results indicated the occurrence of an adverse effect of water deficit on plant total biomass; however, AMF inoculation positively increased plant biomass compared to the non-inoculated ones under three irrigation levels. MWD condition resulted in higher essential oil (EO) content (12.4 %), water-use efficiency (WUE) (29.5 %) and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) (19.1 %) in the plants compared to WW condition. Furthermore, all AMF inoculation improved EO content by at least 12 k%. The results also showed that severe water deficiency adversely affected the uptake of most nutrients by plants especially in non-inoculated plants. The results also revealed that, although EO production was under the control of irrigation regime, nutrient uptake was critically dependent on an association with mycorrhizae. Notwithstanding the fact that rose geranium can tolerate moderate drought stress, the high responsiveness of rose geranium to AMF under water deficiency stress confirms the key role of AMF in facilitating the production of this valuable crop in harsh environments. Dual infection of rose geranium with two AMF species could also synergistically affect biomass, essential oil content and mineral elements absorption.     

Morpho-physiological and phytochemical traits of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus daenensis</Emphasis> Celak.) in response to deficit irrigation and chitosan application

Thymus daenensis Celak. is an aromatic herb used as a popular medicine and its natural products in the form of extracts and essential oil have significant economic values in Iran. We hypothesized that spraying plants grown under deficit irrigation system with chitosan can be considered as an applicable method to enhance essential oil and antioxidant activity in thyme. Response of thyme to three irrigation regimes including well-watered, moderate stress, and severe stress along with three levels of chitosan application rates 0, 200, and 400 μL L^?1 was evaluated in a 2-year study in 2014 and 2015. Drought stress condition significantly shortened phenologic stages, more specifically in the first (establishment) year. All growth parameters were reduced dramatically as drought stress intensified. Imposing even moderate stress reduced leaf area as much as 59 and 44% in the first year and the second year, respectively. Biomass yield of plants grown under severe drought stress decreased substantially, whereas essential oil content and the share of thymol in thyme oil which possesses the greatest degree of biological activity improved. Maximum oil yield (1.50 g plant^?1) was obtained from plants under mild drought stress when sprayed with 400 μL L^?1 chitosan in the second year when plants were well-established. Foliar applications of chitosan reduced the adverse effect of water deficit on oil yield and improved thymol content of the essential oil. Chitosan also increased secondary metabolites including α-terpinene, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, thymol, carvacrol and β-caryophyllene. Leaf flavonoid reduced under deficit irrigation while more phenol was found in plants grown under deficit irrigation. The essential oil of thyme exhibited antioxidant property when the plants were sprayed with 400 μL L^?1 chitosan. The results of this study indicated that thyme can be grown successfully under moderate stress and that application of chitosan elicitor can to some degree compensate the negative impact of deficit irrigation on its biomass and essential oil yield.     

Carbon isotope composition,water-use efficiency and biomass productivity of Eucalyptus microtheca populations under different water supplies

Variation in carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C), water-use efficiency (WUE) and biomass productivity were compared among three populations of Eucalyptus microtheca F. Muell. in a greenhouse. Seedlings were maintained under one well-watered (Control, keeping the soil at field capacity) and two different water deficit conditions (Drought stress I, keeping the same soil water content; Drought stress II, keeping the same soil water supply). In each treatment, significant population differences in δ¹³C, WUE, and dry matter accumulation and allocation were detected. A negative correlation between WUE and biomass productivity was detected under control and drought stress I, but a positive correlation under drought stress II. The results suggested that there were different water-use strategies among the populations, the southeastern population with lower WUE may employ a prodigal water-use strategy, whereas the northwestern and central populations with higher WUE may employ a conservative water-use strategy. This knowledge may be useful as criteria for genotype selection within a breeding program for this species. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Water use efficiency by alfalfa: Mechanisms involving anti-oxidation and osmotic adjustment under drought

Water use and mechanisms relating to osmotic adjustment and anti-oxidation were investigated in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants under reduced water availability. Water use efficiency (WUE), MDA and proline contents, and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured in three alfalfa cultivars under three levels of soil water availability in a greenhouse pot experiment. WUE was determined indirectly using discriminating carbon isotope composition. WUE increased with the severity of water deficit. Under all water regimes examined, cv. Longdong showed the greatest WUE values and the least reduction in biomass production under a 50% soil field water capacity. Stomatal density increased with increasing water deficit, but stomatal conductance decreased. This suggests that water stress can increase WUE by modifying stomatal regulation of the balance between the rates of CO₂ assimilation and water loss. The maintenance of leaf physiological function and leaf water status suggests that alfalfa has some mechanisms to maintain cell function when the plant is subjected to water deficit. The increase in the MDA content under drought conditions indicates that some degree of damage to cell membranes is unavoidable, whereas other results showing increases in the contents of proline and soluble sugars and activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxide dismutase, and catalase indicate how cell function may be to some extent maintained to result in the higher WUE. Alfalfa is shown to exhibit cultivar-specific differences in WUE with the maintenance of cell function under water deficit being related to anti-oxidation and osmotic adjustment.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter Fractal Dimension Characteristics of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Seedlings Through Regulating Plant Growth,Leaf Water Status,Photosynthesis, and Nutrient Concentration Under Drought Stress

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, on plant growth, leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, nutrient concentration, and fractal dimension (FD) characteristics of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings was studied in pot culture under well-watered, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress treatments. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher dry biomass, leaf relative water content (RWC), and water use efficiency (WUE) compared with non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Under all treatments, AMF colonization notably enhanced net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, but decreased intercellular CO₂ concentration. Leaf chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll concentrations were higher in AM seedlings than those in non-AM seedlings although there was no significant difference between AMF species. AMF colonization improved leaf C, N, and P concentrations, but decreased C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. Mycorrhizal seedlings had a larger FD value than non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The FD value was positively and significantly correlated to the plant growth parameters, photosynthesis, RWC, WUE, and nutrient concentration but negatively correlated to leaf/stem ratio, C:N and C:P ratios, and intercellular CO₂ concentration. We conclude that AMF lead to an improvement of growth performance of black locust seedlings under all growth conditions, including drought stress via improving leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake. Moreover, FD technology proved to be a powerful non-destructive method to characterize the effect of AMF on the physiology of host plants during drought stress.