Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2021, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (9): 1650-1659.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.2021.09.09

• Horticultural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of drought stress on photosynthetic characteristics and several physiological and biochemical indexes of Heimia myrtifolia Cham.et Schlechtend.

ZHENG Ganga,b,c(), GU Cuihuaa,b,c, WANG Jiea,b,c, LIN Lina,b,c,*()   

  1. a. School of Landscape and Architecture
    b. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants
    c. Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
  • Received:2020-11-13 Online:2021-09-25 Published:2021-10-09
  • Contact: LIN Lin

Abstract:

To explore the resistance of Heimia myrtifolia Cham.et Schlechtend. to drought stress, the one-year cutting seedlings of Heimia myrtifolia were used as the experimental materials with five treatments (namely, CK, T1, T2, T3, T4, and the soil water content was controled at 65%-75%, 45%-60%, 30%-45%, 15%-30%, 5%-15%, accordingly) for 20 d, to study responses of several physiological and biochemical indexes, and photosynthesis and stomatal characteristics of Heimia myrtifolia under drought stress. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance decreased significantly (P<0.05) with the elevated drought stress, while the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration decreased firstly then increased. The contents of carotenoids, chlorophyll and chlorophyll a, b all showed an upward trend with the elevated drought stress, while the inferior epidermal porosity of leaves closed with the loss of soil water, and the stomatal morphology and structure also changed adaptively. Malondialdehyde content kept on increasing, while the catalase activity and peroxidase activity first increased and then decreased with the elevated drought stress. The superoxide dismutase activity remained relatively active under T1 and T2 treatments, yet went down to CK level under T3 treatment. Proline content decreased first and then increased, while soluble sugar content increased significantly (P<0.05) with the elevated drought stress. To sum up, Heimia myrtifolia could resistant to mild and moderate drought, but it could not withstand prolonged, severe drought. The results could provide theoretical basis for the introduction, domestication and cultivation of Heimia myrtifolia in the future.

Key words: Heimia myrtifolia, drought stress, antioxidant enzymes, osmotic regulation substances, photosynthetic parameters, stomata

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