Effects of drought on leaf growth and chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics parameters in Cyclobalanopsis glauca seedlings of Karst areas

Abstract

To uncover adaptation mechanism of Cyclobalanopsis glauca to the arid environment of Karst areas, current-year seedlings of C. glauca were potted and grown under four soil water conditions: Normal water supply (-0.1 MPa), light drought stress (-0.5 MPa), moderate drought stress (-0.9 MPa), and severe drought stress (-1.5 MPa). We measured leaf growth and parameters of fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction dynamics after treated by 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 days. With the increase of drought stress intensity, leaf area, number of green leaves, leaf water content, the contents of chlorophyll a+b and carotenoids, the maximum fluorescence, maximum photochemical quantum yield and potential photochemical efficiency significantly decreased, while the number of dead leaves and the initial fluorescence significantly increased. There was no significant difference in these parameters between light drought and normal water treatments. There were no significant difference in the absorption flux per reaction center (ABS/RC), captured light energy used to restore qA (TRo/RC), number of active reaction centers per unit area (RC/CS), light energy captured per unit area (TRo/CS) and light energy used for electron transfer per unit area (ETo/CS) between light drought and normal water treatments. Among these parameters, RC/CS was slightly higher under light drought treatment than that of normal water treatment. TRo/CS and ETo/CS reached peaks at the 45th day, being 606.12 and 440.78, respectively. Leaf ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC, DIRo/RC, RC/CS, TRo/CS and ETo/CS of C. glauca seedlings under mode-rate drought and severe drought treatment were lower than those of normal water treatment, and the parameters under severe drought stress decreased more significantly with the extension of drought stress time. With increasing intensity and duration of drought stress, the maximum quantum efficiency, probability of other electron acceptors, and quantum ratio of electron transfer decreased, but quantum yield for energy dissipation increased. These results demonstrated that C. glauca seedlings under light drought condition showed some degree of adaptability and resistance to drought. Mode-rate drought treatment caused a decline in chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigments, leading to slow growth of seedlings. Severe drought had a serious impact on growth of C. glauca seedlings, but did not lead to seedling death. Therefore, C. glauca seedlings showed strong drought tolerance, which were suitable for the application of vegetation restoration and reforestation projects in Karst areas.