Effect of drought stress on physiological characteristics of three plants of Aceraceae

Abstract

The effect of drought stress on physiological characteristics of three Aceraceae species, namely, Acer palmatum, Acer negundo, Acer palmatum Dissectum were studied, an experiment was conducted using 2-year-old seedlings with polyethylene glycol （PEG 6000） simulated drought stress. Results showed that with the enhancement of drought stress intensity, the total biomass, above ground biomass, and root biomass of three plants of Aceraceae plants tend to decrease, while root-shoot ratio, malondialdehyde （MDA） content, and proline content increased gradually; the peroxidase activity in Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum Dissectum increased first and then decreased, but continuously elevated in Acer negundo; the superoxide dismutase activity in Acer palmatum Dissectum increased first and then decreased, while the other two continuously elevated. Conclusions showed that three plants of Aceraceae seedlings adapt to mild and moderate drought stress through adjust its own biomass, MDA content, free proline content and improve protective enzyme activity; through membership function comprehensive evaluation and analysis, the drought tolerance of three plants of Aceraceae plants from high to low is: Acer negundo ＞ Acer palmatum ＞ Acer palmatum Dissectum.［Ch, 4 fig. 2 tab. 11 ref.］