Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of artificial defoliation on the growth and physiological response of Lycium chinense Mill. to salt stress. Our results show that partial defoliation increases the plant relative growth rate, leaf water content and dry weight-based leaf Na+ content, and reduces the fresh weight-based leaf Na+ content under salt stress. In response to defoliation, the leaf Na+/Ca2+ and Na+/Mg2+ ratios were decreased, but the K+ content remained unchanged. The contents of ROS and MDA were decreased in defoliated plants. Net The photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), electron transport rate (ETR), actual photochemical quenching (?PSII) and photochemical quenching (qp) were enhanced by defoliation. Together, these findings indicate that partial defoliation mitigates the salt-induced growth inhibition and physiological damage in L. chinense.
Highlights
Salt stress is one of the major environmental stresses affecting plant growth and productivity (Flowers, et al, 1977)
Defoliated plants had a higher relative growth rate (RGR) than non-defoliated plants under salt stress, there was no distinct difference between 50% defoliation and 75% defoliation (Fig. 1A)
Compared with non-defoliated plants under salt stress, leaf Na+ content was increased by 8.7% and 18.7% when calculated with dry weight, while it was decreased by 19.7% and 9.2% when calculated with fresh weight in 50% and 75% defoliated plants under salt stress, respectively (Table 1)
Summary
Salt stress is one of the major environmental stresses affecting plant growth and productivity (Flowers, et al, 1977). Leaf abscission is an essential morphological adaptation of plant in response to biotic or abiotic stresses. Some species such as Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo) in the deserts of North America produce and lose leaves as many as six times a year in response to water deficit (Lambers, et al, 2008). When the leaves of cottonwood species are subject to gall aphids, premature defoliation is induced to reduce aphid population, acting as an adaptive plant response to pest attack (Williams and Whitham, 1986)
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