Interaction Effects of Dust and Water Deficit Stresses on Growth and Physiology of Persian Oak (Quercus Brantii Lindl.)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Understanding the relationship between factors affecting the decline of Zagros forests can elucidate many challenges associated with sustainable and effective forest management. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the interaction effects of simulated dust (0, 20, 40 and 60 g/m2) using dust simulator at three times (April, July and October 2016) and irrigation regimes (−0.3 and −0.9 MPa of soil water potential as control and water deficit treatments) on morpho-physiological characteristics of one- and three-year-old seedlings of Persian Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl) in the Research Field of Isfahan University of Technology in Iran. Results showed that dust stress significantly increased physical damage at 15 and 30 days, proline content and concentration of soluble carbohydrates under both irrigation regimes. Dust stress at 60 g/m2 level significantly decreased relative water content, leaf area, membrane stability index, plant height and consequently shoot fresh and dry weights under both irrigation regime. Under water deficit stress, corresponding reduction in shoot dry weight was 37.9%, 51.6% and 67.2% in one-year-old seedlings and 38.3%, 53.2% and 63.3% in three-year-old seedlings at 20, 40, and 60 g/m2dust treatments, respectively. In general, the results revealed that water stress exacerbated the stress caused by dusting.