The Influence of Photoperiod and Temperature on the Development of Frost Hardiness in Seedlings of Pinus silvestris and Picea abies

The influence of short days and low temperature on the development of frost hardiness in seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], grown for 6 months in glasshouses and climate chambers, was investigated. The degree of hardiness was estimated by freezing the shoots of the seedlings to predetermined temperatures. After 8 weeks in a glasshouse the viability of the seedlings was determined by establishing bud flushing. The most effective climate for the development of frost hardiness was short days (SD) and low temperature (2°C); the next most effective was SD and room temperature (20°C). However, long days (LD) and low temperature also had a marked effect on the development of hardiness. A combination of 3 weeks’treatment with SD and 20°C, and 3 weeks with SD and 2°C gave the same results as 6 weeks with SD and 2°C. The results clearly demonstrate the importance of the photoperiod prior to low temperature for the development of frost hardiness. In conclusion both short days and low temperature induce frost hardiness development. Probably this occurs by initiation of different processes in the two cases. The degree of frost hardiness development appears to depend on the sum of these different processes and on the timing between them.     

Development of gypsy moth larvae feeding on red maple saplings at elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and temperature

Predicted increases in atmospheric CO₂ and global mean temperature may alter important plant-insect associations due to the direct effects of temperature on insect development and the indirect effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ enrichment on phytochemicals important for insect success. We investigated the effects of CO₂ and temperature on the interaction between gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) saplings by bagging first instar larvae within open-top chambers at four CO₂/temperature treatments: (1) ambient temperature, ambient CO₂, (2) ambient temperature, elevated CO₂ (+300 l l^-1 CO₂), (3) elevated temperature (+3.5°C), ambient CO₂, and (4) elevated temperature, elevated CO₂. Larvae were reared to pupation and leaf samples taken biweekly to determine levels of total N, water, non-structural carbohydrates, and an estimate of defensive phenolic compounds in three age classes of foliage: (1) immature, (2) mid-mature and (3) mature. Elevated growth temperature marginally reduced (P <0.1) leaf N and significantly reduced (P <0.05) leaf water across CO₂ treatments in mature leaves, whereas leaves grown at elevated CO₂ concentration had a significant decrease in leaf N and a significant increase in the ratio of starch:N and total non-structural carbohydrates:N. Leaf N and water decreased and starch:N and total non-structural carbohydrates:N ratios increased as leaves aged. Phenolics were unaffected by CO₂ or temperature treatment. There were no interactive effects of CO₂ and temperature on any phytochemical measure. Gypsy moth larvae reached pupation earlier at the elevated temperature (female =8 days, P <0.07; male =7.5 days, P <0.03), whereas mortality and pupal fresh weight of insects were unrelated to either CO₂, temperature or their interaction. Our data show that CO₂ or temperature-induced alterations in leaf constituents had no effect on insect performance; instead, the long-term exposure to a 3.5°C increase in temperature shortened insect development but had no effect on pupal weight. It appears that in some tree-herbivorous insect systems the direct effects of an increased global mean temperature may have greater consequences for altering plant-insect interactions than the indirect effects of an increased temperature or CO₂ concentration on leaf constituents.     

Ozone and water deficit reduced growth of Aleppo pine seedlings

The effects of ambient and elevated ozone (O₃) levels on photosynthesis, growth, pigment, biomass and element contents of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) were studied for two growing seasons (1997, 1998). Two-year-old seedlings were exposed to elevated O₃ in open-top chambers. The treatments were charcoal-filtered air and non-filtered air + 50 nl l^–1 O₃ (24 h per day, 7 days per week). In summer 1998, half of the seedlings were drought-stressed (leaf water potential down to approximately –2 MPa), while the other half were kept well-watered. At the beginning of the season (1998), current (c) and previous-year (c + 1) needles under O₃ stress showed an increase in stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis. During the drought period, only stomatal conductance increased in both needle age-classes, whereas the net photosynthesis decreased. At the end of the measuring period, both parameters were reduced in the O₃ treatment. Both O₃ and drought decreased chlorophyll a and b concentrations, growth and biomass. A carry-over effect of O₃ on pigments was also observed. Needle K content was increased in the O₃ treatment. Drought protected Aleppo pine against O₃ (less chlorotic mottle and less decrease of stem and branch biomass).     

Construction cost of loblolly and ponderosa pine leaves grown with varying carbon and nitrogen availability

We grew loblolly and ponderosa pine seedlings in a factorial experiment with two CO₂ partial pressures (35 and 70 Pa), and two nitrogen treatments (1.0 and 3.5 mol m^?3 NH₄⁺), for one growing season to examine the effects of carbon and nitrogen availability on leaf construction cost. Growth in elevated CO₂ reduced leaf nitrogen concentrations by 17 to 40%, and increased C:N by 22 to 68%. Elevated N availability increased leaf N concentrations and decreased C:N. Non-structural carbohydrates increased in high-CO₂-grown loblolly seedlings, except in fascicles from low N, and in ponderosa primary and fascicle leaves grown in high N. In loblolly, increases in starch were nearly 2-fold greater than the increases in soluble sugars. In ponderosa, only the soluble sugars were affected by CO₂. Leaf construction cost (g glucose g^?1 dm) varied by 9.3% across all treatments. All of the variation in loblolly leaf construction cost could be explained by changes in non-structural carbohydrates. A model of the response of construction cost to changes in the mass of different biochemical fractions suggests that the remainder of the variation in ponderosa, not explained by non-structural carbohydrates, is probably attributable to changes in lignin, phenolic or protein concentrations.     

Photosynthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rehmannia glutinosa</Emphasis> subjected to drought stress is enhanced by choline chloride through alleviating lipid peroxidation and increasing proline accumulation

Rehmannia glutinosa seedlings were pretreated with choline chloride (CC) in concentrations of 0, 0.7, 2.1 and 3.5 mM, and then subjected to drought and rewatering treatment to study the effects of CC on the generation of reactive oxygen species (O₂⁻, H₂O₂), lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation, water status and photosynthesis. The results showed that pretreatment with CC alleviated the inhibition of SOD and APX activity caused by drought stress, and therefore, the rate of O₂⁻ production and H₂O₂ concentration were reduced and lipid peroxidation decreased in pretreated plants. CC pretreatment also accelerated accumulation of proline, maintained higher Ψw and RWC, deferred leaf water loss during drought stress and retarded the drop in proline concentration after rewatering. Consequently, drought-induced decreases in F_m/F₀, F_v/F_m, Φ_PS2, q_P, and A and increase in q_NP were inhibited and the recovery of photosynthesis after rewatering was quicker in pretreated plants. Although differences in F_v/F_m, Φ_PS2 and q_P between treatments were not significant, there was a general trend that the effects of CC increased with the rise of its concentrations. The data suggested that 2.1 mM of CC be suitable for alleviating lipid peroxidation, promoting proline accumulation, retarding leaf water loss and improving photosynthesis of R. glutinosa seedlings under drought stress.     

Effect of frost nights and day and night temperature during dormancy induction on frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage and bud burst in seedlings of Norway spruce

For trees, the ability to obtain and maintain sufficient levels of frost hardiness in late autumn, winter and spring is crucial. We report that temperatures during dormancy induction influence bud set, frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage, timing of bud burst and spring frost hardiness in seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Bud set occurred later in 12°C than in 21°C, and later in cool nights (7°C) than in constant temperature. One weekly frost night (−2.5°C) improved frost hardiness. Cool nights reduced frost hardiness early, but improved hardiness later during cold acclimation. Buds and stems were slightly hardier in 21°C than in 12°C, while needles were clearly hardier in 12°C. Cold daytime temperature, cool nights and one weekly frost night improved cold storability (0.7°C). Seedlings receiving high daytime temperatures burst buds later, and were less injured by light frost some days after bud burst.     

Interactive effects of elevated CO2 and drought stress on leaf water potential and growth in Caragana intermedia

We studied the responses of leaf water potential (Ψ_w), morphology, biomass accumulation and allocation, and canopy productivity index (CPI) to the combined effects of elevated CO₂ and drought stress in Caragana intermedia seedlings. Seedlings were grown at two CO₂ concentrations (350 and 700 μmol mol⁻¹) interacted with three water regimes (60–70%, 45–55%, and 30–40% of field capacity of soil). Elevated CO₂ significantly increased Ψ_w, decreased specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) of drought-stressed seedlings, and increased tree height, basal diameter, shoot biomass, root biomass as well as total biomass under the all the three water regimes. Growth responses to elevated CO₂ were greater in well-watered seedlings than in drought-stressed seedlings. CPI was significantly increased by elevated CO₂, and the increase in CPI became stronger as the level of drought stress increased. There were significant interactions between elevated CO₂ and drought stress on leaf water potential, basal diameter, leaf area, and biomass accumulation. Our results suggest that elevated CO₂ may enhance drought avoidance and improved water relations, thus weakening the effect of drought stress on growth of C. intermedia seedings.     

Quantitative and qualitative changes in carbohydrates associated with spring deacclimation in contrasting Hydrangea species

Cold deacclimation and associated changes in soluble carbohydrates and water status of two Hydrangea species differing in susceptibility to frost injuries was followed under natural conditions. In fully cold hardy plants of H. macrophylla stem freezing tolerance fluctuated in parallel with changes in air temperature, while in a seasonal perspective increased temperatures caused a sigmoid deacclimation pattern in both H. macrophylla and H. paniculata. Timing of deacclimation was approximately synchronized in the two species, but H. paniculata, the hardier species based on mid-winter hardiness, deacclimated faster than H. macrophylla, indicating that deacclimation kinetics were not correlated with mid-winter hardiness. In both species concentrations of soluble sugars decreased during deacclimation and were highly correlated with stem cold hardiness and air temperatures. This suggests that sugar hydrolysis may be an important temperature-driven mechanism of deacclimation in Hydrangea. Accumulation patterns of specific carbohydrates differed between the two species, suggesting that they utilize different strategies to overcome cold. In H. paniculata, deacclimation was associated with an increase in stem water content, which occurred shortly before bud burst and hence may be a prerequisite for leafing out.     

Growth and photosynthetic response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus crenata</Emphasis> seedlings to ozone and/or elevated carbon dioxide

We investigated the effects of ozone (O₃) and/or elevated CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) on growth and photosynthetic traits of Fagus crenata seedlings. Two-year-old seedlings were grown in four experimental treatments comprising two O₃ treatments (charcoal-filtered air and 100 nmol mol⁻¹ O₃; 6 h/day, 3 days/week) in combination with two CO₂ treatments (350 and 700 μmol mol⁻¹) for 18 weeks in environmental control growth chambers. The four treatments were designated as control, elevated O₃, elevated CO₂, and elevated CO₂ + O₃. Dry matter growth of the seedlings was greater in elevated CO₂ + O₃ than in elevated CO₂. In elevated CO₂ + O₃, a marked increase of second-flush leaves, considered a compensative response to O₃, was observed. The net photosynthetic rate of first-flush leaves in elevated CO₂ + O₃ increased earlier and was maintained for a longer period of time than that in elevated CO₂. Because emergence of second-flush leaves of F. crenata is greatly affected by the amount of assimilation products of first-flush leaves in current year, we consider that an early increase in the net photosynthetic rate of first-flush leaves contributed to the marked increase in second-flush leaf emergence under elevated CO₂ + O₃. These results imply that we must account for changes in compensative capacity with respect to not only morphological traits but also phenological traits and physiological functions such as photosynthesis when evaluating effects of O₃ on F. crenata under elevated [CO₂].     

Effect of CO2 enrichment on non-structural carbohydrates in leaves, stems and ears of spring wheat

Field-grown spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Dragon) was exposed to ambient and elevated CO₂ concentrations (1.5 and 2 times ambient) in open-top chambers. Contents of non-structural carbohydrates were analysed enzymatically in leaves, stems and ears six times during the growing season. The impact of elevated CO₂ on wheat carbohydrates was non-significant in most harvests. However, differences in the carbohydrate contents due to elevated CO₂ were found in all plant compartments. Before anthesis, at growth stage (GS) 30 (the stem is 1 cm to the shoot apex), the plants grown in elevated CO₂ contained significantly more water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), fructans, starch and total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) in the leaves in comparison with the plants grown in ambient CO₂. It is hypothesised that the plants from the treatments with elevated CO₂ were sink-limited at GS30. After anthesis, the leaf WSC and TNC contents of the plants from elevated CO₂ started to decline earlier than those of the plants from ambient CO₂. This may indicate that the leaves of plants grown in the chambers with elevated CO₂ senesced earlier. Elevated CO₂ accelerated grain development: 2 weeks after anthesis, the plants grown in elevated CO₂ contained significantly more starch and significantly less fructans in the ears compared to the plants grown in ambient CO₂. Elevated CO₂ had no effect on ear starch and TNC contents at the final harvest. Increasing the CO₂ concentration from 360 to 520 μmol mol^?1 had a larger effect on wheat non-structural carbohydrates than the further increase from 520 to 680 μmol mol^?1. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of elevated CO₂ on yield and yield components.     

Interactions of low temperature, water stress, and short days in the induction of stem frost hardiness in red osier dogwood

The induction of stem frost hardiness by low temperature, water stress, short days, and their combinations in 2- and 4-month-old growing dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera) were investigated. When plants were subjected to more than one factor, the increased hardiness was the sum of the effects of the individual factors involved. No interactions among these factors on hardiness were observed during a 3-week treatment. Results indicate that low temperature, water stress, and short days initially trigger independent frost-hardening mechanisms. Plant ages significantly influenced the change in low temperature-induced frost hardiness, but not the water stress or short day-induced frost hardiness.     

Changes in Leaf Morphology and Composition with Future Increases in CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Temperature Revisited: Wheat in Field Chambers

Whether leaf morphology is altered by future increases in atmospheric CO₂ and temperature has been reexamined over 3 years in wheat grown in field chambers at two levels of nitrogen supply. Flag leaf fresh and dry mass, area, volume, and ratios of these parameters, as well as the contents of water, chlorophyll, nonstructural carbohydrates, and nitrogen compounds have been determined at anthesis and 14 days later. High CO₂ decreased rather than increased, as reported in the literature, leaf mass per area and leaf density, and increased water content per area and per volume and water percentage. Warmer temperatures also decreased leaf mass per area, but did not affect density or water per area or per volume, whereas they increased water percentage. Nitrogen supply did not change CO₂ and temperature effects on leaf morphology. Nonstructural carbohydrates increased and nitrogen compounds decreased in elevated CO₂, and the sum of these compounds decreased with warmer temperatures. These changes in composition did not account for modifications of leaf morphology. We conclude that increases in atmospheric CO₂ and temperature after leaf initiation can decrease leaf mass per area, and elevated CO₂ can also decrease leaf density, due to decreases in leaf structural compounds. The functional significance of these changes is probably a decrease in photosynthetic capacity per unit leaf area.     

Physiological and biochemical mechanisms of silicon-induced copper stress tolerance in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.)

Accumulation of excess copper (Cu) in agricultural soils can decrease growth and quality of crops grown on these soils and a little information is available on the role of silicon (Si) in reducing Cu toxicity in plants. A hydroponic study was conducted to investigate the effects of Si (1.0 mM) on growth and physiology of cotton seedlings grown on different Cu (0, 25, and 50 µM) concentrations. Elevated levels of Cu decreased growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange characteristics, and increased the electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents in leaf, stem, and roots of cotton seedlings. Cu stress alone decreased the activities of key antioxidant enzymes in cotton seedlings. Exogenous application of Si alleviated the toxic effects of Cu on cotton seedlings by improving growth, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange characteristics under Cu stress. The Si application decreased Cu concentrations in leaves, stem, and roots as compared with the control plants. Furthermore, Si decreased oxidative stress as evidenced by decreased EL, H₂O₂, and TBARS contents, and increased the antioxidant enzyme activities in cotton seedlings. This study provides evidences of Si-mediated reduction of Cu toxicity in cotton seedlings at physiological and biochemical levels.     

Effects of soil water on photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of Cyclobalanopsis glauca seedlings growing under nutrient-rich and -poor soil

Cyclobalanopsis glauca is a dominant species in mid-subtropical forest, and usually plays an important role in forest ecosystems. However, it often suffers redundant precipitation or water stress, which often concurs with high temperature, nutrient depletion and strong irradiance. The study presented in the paper hypothesized that soil water exerted strong influence on leaf gas exchange and traits. The objective of this study was to clarify the effect of soil water changes on photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits and their relationships of C. glauca seedlings growing on nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soil at three water levels. The study measured the specific leaf area (SLA), nitrogen content, chlorophyll concentrations and photosynthetic light response curve. Its results showed that there were no differences in leaf size, leaf dry weight, SLA, leaf dry matter content, Leaf nitrogen concentration and Leaf chlorophyll between the two soil nutrient treatments, while these parameters differed significantly among different water levels for either of the treatments. There were large variations in leaf photosynthetic parameters and leaf traits among the different water treatments, indicating different response patterns of C. glauca seedling and its adaptation to the different soil water conditions. There were no significant differences in light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A_max) and apparent quantum yield (Ø) between the nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soils, which indicated that the C. glauca seedlings could maintain similar capacities in different soils that differed in nutrient condition. As to the relation between the photosynthesis and leaf traits, the A_max and PNUE were positively correlated with the SLA, respectively, but the SLA had significant negative relationship with the leaf N (P<0.01) in nutrient-rich soil. In contrast, both A_max and PNUE were significantly negatively correlated with the SLA, respectively (P<0.01); and the SLA was not significantly positively correlated with the leaf nitrogen concentration of the nutrient-poor soil (P>0.05). The specific leaf areas (SLA), nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations as well as other photosynthetic features were influenced in a coordinative manner by the soil water. The relation among the A_max, PNUE and the N_mass, SLA could be described as a binomial equation and a liner negative regression for the nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soil, respectively. In conclusion, soil water was more constraining factor than the soil nutrient to the photosynthesis of C. glauca seedlings, nutrient-rich soil could offset some negative influence resulting from soil water deficit on LSP and LCP. Factors affecting the variations of photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of C. glauca seedlings differed between the nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soils.     

Evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in osmotic stress tolerance of wheat seedlings: Inverse correlation between leaf abscisic acid accumulation and leaf water loss

Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in both abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and stress-induced ABA accumulation. However, little is known about their physiological roles in the whole plant. In this study, the effects of NO and ROS on leaf water control and the roles of ABA were determined using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. As compared with the control, osmotic stress reduced leaf water loss (LWL) while it increased leaf ABA content. The effects of osmotic stress on LWL and ABA contents were partially reversed by NO scavengers or NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors. Furthermore, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at concentrations between 0.01 and 10 mM all reduced LWL efficiently and induced ABA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. When ABA synthesis was inhibited by fluridone or actidione, the effects of SNP on LWL were partially reversed. These results suggest that NO is involved in leaf water maintenance of wheat seedlings under osmotic stress, and one of the possible mechanisms is by stimulating ABA synthesis. The ROS scavengers used in our experiments had no effects on either LWL or ABA accumulation induced by osmotic stress. However, all ROS induced LWL reduction and ABA accumulation significantly. Hydrogen peroxide had the same effects as SNP on LWL and induced ABA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner but had a maximal effect at 1 mM. Fluridone reversed the effects of H₂O₂ on both LWL reduction and ABA accumulation, while actidione had no effect. These results suggest that ROS are also involved in leaf water maintenance of wheat seedlings by stimulating ABA biosynthesis, but with a different mechanism to that of NO. The ABA-independent mechanism in NO/ROS regulation of leaf water balance is discussed, in relation to our results.     

Influences of nitrogen load on the growth and photosynthetic responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus serrata</Emphasis> seedlings to O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The objectives of this study were to clarify the influences of nitrogen (N) load on the growth and photosynthetic responses of Quercus serrata seedlings to O₃ and to obtain basic data for evaluating the critical levels of O₃ for protecting Q. serrata forests in Japan. The effects of O₃ and/or N load on growth and photosynthetic activity of Q. serrata seedlings were investigated during the two growing seasons. Two-year-old seedlings were assigned to 12 experimental treatments, which were comprised of the combination of four gas treatments (charcoal-filtered air and three levels of O₃ at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times ambient concentration) and three N treatments (0, 20 and 50 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). During the second growing season, no significant interactive effects of O₃ and N load on the growth and net photosynthetic rate of the seedlings were detected. Threrfore, we concluded that N supply to the soil at ≤50 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ does not significantly influence the growth and photosynthetic responses of Q. serrata seedlings to O₃. Based on the O₃ exposure-response relationships for the whole-plant growth of the seedlings, the critical level of O₃ for Q. serrata was estimated to be approximately 36 nmol mol⁻¹ as the average 15-h O₃ concentration during the one growing season.     

Effect of an organo - mercurial fungicide, chlormequat and decenylsuccinic acid on frost hardiness and seedling diseases of oats

Treating oat seeds of ten cultivars with an organo-mercurial fungicide (Ceresan) and a dust formulation of the growth regulator chlormequat (2% a.i.) increased survival of seedlings growing under natural and simulated winter conditions. Treatment increased frost hardiness in less-hardy cultivars, increased soluble sugars in stem base tissues and protected them from attack by soil fungi. It also increased root length in some cultivars but did not affect leaf area. Foliar applications of 10^-3 m decenylsuccinic acid did not increase frost hardiness and also increased disease on stem base tissues. The possibility that sugar concentration may influence frost- and disease-resistance of seedlings is discussed.     

干旱胁迫对降香黄檀幼苗光合生理特性的影响

采用温室盆栽方法,设置对照(CK)、轻度(LS)、中度(MS)和重度(HS)干旱胁迫4个水分条件,研究不同水分条件对降香黄檀幼苗光合和生理特性的影响。结果表明:(1)随着干旱胁迫程度增加,降香黄檀幼苗叶片叶绿素总含量总体呈现出下降趋势。(2)降香黄檀幼苗叶片净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和蒸腾速率随着干旱胁迫强度增加均呈现出先增加后降低趋势,且MS和HS处理下的气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度同时降低,此时幼苗光合能力的下降主要受气孔因素限制。(3)随着干旱胁迫强度的增加,降香黄檀幼苗叶片细胞膜相对透性、丙二醛含量、游离脯氨酸含量和POD活性均呈现出增加趋势,而同期SOD和CAT活性呈现出先升高后降低趋势。可见,降香黄檀幼苗在轻度干旱胁迫下可通过增加叶片保护酶活性来清除活性氧对其组织造成的伤害,但胁迫超过一定程度后保护酶活性下降,表明降香黄檀幼苗的耐旱能力有限。     

多效唑和干旱胁迫对毛竹实生苗活力、光合能力及非结构性碳水化合物的影响

以1年生毛竹实生苗为研究对象,研究多效唑对不同水分条件下毛竹实生苗的叶绿素含量、光合参数、非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量、碳氮比、根系活力的影响。设置3个水分梯度:W1(75%相对田间持水量,CK)、W2(50%相对田间持水量,中度干旱)和W3(35%相对田间持水量,重度干旱),以及2个多效唑浓度:P1(0mg/L)、P2(40mg/L)。结果表明:随干旱强度增加,P1W1、P1W2、P1W3处理叶色逐渐变淡。与对照P1W1相比,P1W2和P1W3处理下叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素、叶绿素a/b和叶绿素总含量显著下降(P0.05),Pn、Tr、WUE显著下降(P0.05),Ls显著上升(P0.05),毛竹叶片及根系中非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量显著上升(P0.05),毛竹根系活力显著下降。多效唑处理后,P2W2和P2W3的叶片色素含量相对于P2W1显著提高,但P2W2与P2W3无显著差异。同时,施加多效唑使Pn显著提高,P2W3较P1W3增加了146.9%。此外,P2W3处理使可溶性糖大量积累,达最大值3.41mg/g;毛竹叶片及根系淀粉含量显著上升,根系活力显著提高。试验揭示了多效唑通过提高干旱水平下毛竹实生苗的根系活力、光合速率,增加光合色素、非结构性碳水化合物含量,并将养分从地上转移到地下部分,进而抵御干旱胁迫带来的伤害。