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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2010, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 22-30.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20100404

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Physiological Responses of Taxodium distichum (Baldcypress) and Taxodium ascendens (Pondcypress) Seedlings to Different Soil Water Regimes

Li Changxiao1,3,Ye Bing2,Geng Yanghui3, Schneider Rebcca4   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory for the Eco-Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Southwest University Chongqing 400715; 2. Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, CAF Beijing 100091;3. Chongqing Key Laboratory for the Protection and Restoration of Forest Ecology of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region Chongqing 400036; 4.Department of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University NY 14853
  • Received:2009-10-21 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2010-04-25 Published:2010-04-25

Abstract:

Physiological responses of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) and pondcypress (Taxodium ascendens) seedlings to a wide range of hydrological regimes were studied. These regimes included control ©, mild drought (MD), wet soil (WS) and flooding (FL). Both species showed a significant increase in leaf free water content and lower leaf bound water content under MD and FL conditions as compared to the control ©. The free or bound water content in WS was never lower than that in C in either species. No significant changes were demonstrated in electrolyte leakage and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in baldcypress or pondcypress seedlings under MD, WS and FL, except the MDA concentration in FL in pondcypress. Flooding significantly increased soluble sugar concentration and decreased proline content in both species. Moreover, proline content was enhanced in baldcypress seedlings, but reduced in pondcypress seedlings in MD and WS. Thus, despite a number of similar responses, the seedlings of these two congeneric species exhibited some different traits in responses to water stresses.

Key words: soil water change, physiological response, leaf water content, Taxodium distichum, T. ascendens, seedlings