Physiological Acclimation of Dicranostigma henanensis to Soil Drought Stress and Rewatering

Ning Wang,Lei Wang,Hao Chen,Ewa Sobieszczuk-Nowicka

doi:10.5586/asbp.907

Ning Wang, Lei Wang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.907

Copy DOI

Abstract

Abstract The adaptability of plants to drought not only includes their ability to resist drought stress, but also their ability to recover after stress is relieved. In this study, a weighting method was used to control the soil water content to produce a soil water stress gradient. The effects of drought and rewatering on the changes in osmotic adjustment substance content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and photosynthetic characteristics of potted Dicranostigma henanensis seedlings were measured on Day 28 after the imposition of watering treatments and Day 7 after rewatering. During the drought stress process, the relative electrical conductivity, thiobarbituric acid, water use efficiency, and proline content displayed a continuously increasing trend. Further, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate constantly decreased, while the chlorophyll content first increased and then decreased. After rehydration, superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activity and photosynthetic parameters quickly recovered to the CK level (soil moisture is 75%–80% of the maximum water holding capacity in the field), indicating that D. henanensis plants have a strong ability to repair the damage caused by drought stress. In particular, the photosynthetic machinery may have sophisticated regulation and repair mechanisms, which may be associated with its stable photosystem. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the D. henanensis plant has a strong ability to adapt to arid environments, and therefore could be an excellent ornamental flower for landscaping in arid and semiarid areas.

Highlights

Soil moisture is an important limiting factor that affects plant growth and distribution (Deng et al, 2010)
Plants o en switch between dry and wet environments. eir growth in arid environments is determined by the resistance and tolerance to stress, and whether they can quickly compensate for the loss caused by stress during the rewatering process (Xu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2019)
A er 28 days of stress treatment, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased by 29.69% and 40.82%, respectively, compared with that at CK, for LD and moderate drought (MD)

Summary

Introduction

Soil moisture is an important limiting factor that affects plant growth and distribution (Deng et al, 2010). Erefore, strategies for tolerance, adaptation, and survival are essential for plants that grow under drought conditions. Fukai and Cooper (1995) postulated that during long-term adaptation to arid environments, plants have evolved four mechanisms, including drought escape, drought resistance, drought tolerance, and rehydration. Plants o en switch between dry and wet environments. Eir growth in arid environments is determined by the resistance and tolerance to stress, and whether they can quickly compensate for the loss caused by stress during the rewatering process (Xu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2019). Chen et al (2015) defined drought adaptability based on the overall performance of plants in the Plants o en switch between dry and wet environments. eir growth in arid environments is determined by the resistance and tolerance to stress, and whether they can quickly compensate for the loss caused by stress during the rewatering process (Xu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2019). Chen et al (2015) defined drought adaptability based on the overall performance of plants in the

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion