Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (12): 2007-2015.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.12.13

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differences in the response to soil drought in Atriplex canescens and Tamarix ramosissima

HU Huanqiong1,2(),LI Li3,YU Jun2,4,LIANG Hailian1,2,LYU Ruiheng2,4()   

  1. 1. College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Aral 843300, Xinjiang, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Aral 843300, Xinjiang, China
    3. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    4. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Tarim University, Arar 843300, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2023-05-15 Revised:2023-07-12 Online:2023-12-15 Published:2023-12-18

Abstract:

To construct shelter forests in arid areas, selecting plant species with strong stress tolerance and adaptability is key. By simulating a pot water control experiment with different drought gradients, the ecological adaptability of the introduced plant Atriplex canescens and the native plant Tamarix ramosissima willow to drought stress were compared. The results showed that (1) With an increase in drought degree, the water content in the A. canescens and T. ramosissima leaves reduced gradually, and the water retention capacity, proline content, and relative conductivity gradually increased. The soluble sugar and malondialdehyde contents of A. canescens and T. ramosissima were the maximum in mild and severe drought, respectively, and the increase rate was greater in T. ramosissima. (2) The POD activity of A. canescens and T. ramosissima increased gradually, and under severe drought, the percentage increase of T. ramosissima compared with the control was approximatelythree times that of A. canescens; SOD activity was greatest under moderate drought, and the percentage increase in T. ramosissima compared with the control was approximatelyfive times that of A. canescens. The changes in the activity of both enzymes of T. ramosissima were greater than those of A. canescens. (3) The chlorophyll content of A. canescens and T. ramosissima were mildly dry > control > moderate drought > severe drought, the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration of T. ramosissima gradually decreased, and mild drought slightly promoted chlorophyll and photosynthetic capacity of A. canescens. (4) The correlation and principal component analysis results indicated that the relationship between the T. ramosissima traits was closer under drought stress, and the relationship between traits and traits was difficult to change in A. canescens, which was relatively conservative. Conclusion: A. canescens is less affected by drought stress, and its drought adaptability is slightly stronger than that of T. ramosissima.

Key words: Atriplex canescens, Tamarix ramosissima, physiological characteristics, drought adaptability