Cuttings of Populus cathayana Rehd, originating from three triploid and one diploid populations with the same parents but different gamete origins, were used to examine physiological responses to drought stress and rewatering by exposure to three progressive water regimes. Progressive drought stress significantly decreased the leaf relative water content (RWC), photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and increased the relative electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), free proline (Pro), and antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, in the four populations evaluated. However, compared to the diploid population, triploid populations showed lower relative electrolyte leakage and MDA, higher RWC and Pro content, and more efficient photosynthesis and antioxidant systems under the same water regime. Our data indicated that triploid populations possessed more efficient protective mechanisms than that of diploid population with gradually increasing drought stress. Moreover, some triploid genotypes were less tolerant to water stress than that of diploids due to large intrapopulation overlap., T. Liao, Y. Wang, C. P. Xu, Y. Li, X. Y. Kang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of the giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to drought stress at early stages, as well as to determine the effects of limited soil water availability on plant growth, gas exchange, and water-use efficiency. Plantlets of a commercial clone were grown in a greenhouse under two water treatments: at 100% of field capacity and progressive drought for 66 days (until 20% of field capacity). Soil water content, leaf elongation rate, plant water consumption, and gas-exchange parameters were measured throughout the experiment. Total plant biomass, leaf water, and osmotic potential were determined at the end of the experiment. Plant growth and leaf gas-exchange parameters were significantly affected by soil water availability, but only when it was below 40% of field capacity. At early stages, Arundo donax showed drought stress acclimation due to leaf plasticity, stomatal regulation, and osmotic adjustment., A. Romero-Munar, E. Baraza, J. Cifre, C. Achir, J. Gulías., and Obsahuje bibliografii