Effects of Drought Stress on Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Three Island Vegetation Restoration Plants

Authors Tang Kunxian; Chen Huiying; Chen Yuzhen; Song Hui; Sun Yuanmin; Cai Luchun; Liu Minlu

Journal Journal of Xiamen University. Natural Science , 2017,6:56

Abstract To explore effects of drought stress on morphological and physiological characteristics of Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia confuse and Nerium indicum, which are common used in island vegetation restoration in the southern China,and to compare the drought-resistant capability of the three plants for providing guidance to determine water requirement of plants simply and quickly during island vegetation restoration, these three plants were investigated with 11-week natural drought stress and 6-week rewatering.The results showed that the response of the three plants to persistent drought stress first appeared near the root of the plants (the lower part of the plant or the old leaves) where several leaves withered,then spread to the newer leaves with the color of leaves beginning to fade and the leaves gradually curling,and till closing to death,the whole plant leaves became dry,yellow and withered. Besides, it was found that the growing status,leaf water content,cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content of the three plants were significantly correlated with the degree of drought stress,so that the drought stress situation of the plant could be easily and quickly determined according to the growing status of the plant under the field condition,and cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content can help to further determinate the water demand of the plant. In addition,the drought-resistant capability of these three species was N. indicum >A. confuse >C. equisetifolia, as according to the growing status,C. equisetifolia, A. con fuse and N. indicum can resist soil drought for 4,8 and 11 weeks, respectively,and the time between watering can be extended according to the drought-resistant capability of plants to improve the water use efficiency.

Species covered 木麻黄 Casuarina equisetifolia 夹竹桃 Nerium indicum 金合欢属 Acacia