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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2020, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (5): 176-183.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20200520

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Effects of High Temperature and Drought Stresses on the Growth and Ultrastructure of Populus×euramericana 'Nanlin-895' Cutting Seedlings

Jiajun Yang,Yongbo Wu*,Yanhong Zhang   

  1. Collaborative Innovation Center ofSustainable Forestry in Southern China of Jiangsu Province College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037
  • Received:2019-03-25 Online:2020-05-01 Published:2020-06-13
  • Contact: Yongbo Wu

Abstract:

Objective: In this study,we investigated the response of the growth and cell ultrastructure of poplar cutting seedlings to high temperature,drought and their combined stresses,in order to explore the relationship between leaf morphology,growth and ultrastructure damage under stress and thereby reveal the differences of the response mechanism of poplar to different stresses from morphological and cytological perspectives. Methods: Cuttings of Populus×euramericana 'Nanlin-895' poplar were used as the experimental material. Different temperature and moisture gradients were set to study the growth and morphological indexes of poplar under single factor stress and combined stress of high temperature and drought,and the effects of different treatments on cell ultrastructure were investigated under TEM. Results: 1) Compared to the control,the basal diameter,seedling height,biomass and partitioning index of leaves decreased while leaf perimeter to area ratio,the ratio of root to shoot,partitioning indices of root increased under single or combined stress of high temperature and drought. The effects of combined stress on growth morphological index were greater than those of the single stress. 2)Ultrastructure of leaves was damaged to different degrees under single or combined stress of high temperature and drought. Chloroplast swelled,and lamella structure expanded or even melt,osmiophilic granules content increased and starch granule content decreased,and even the arrangement of mesophyll cells was disorganized with damaged membrane structure under severe stress. The damage intensity of leaf ultrastructure was consistent with the stress level. Severe high temperature stress produced more obvious impact on ultrastructure than drought stress. The effects of combined stress on ultrastructure were greater than those of single stress. Conclusion: Under high temperature and drought stress,the damage of ultrastructure of leaves affects the photosynthesis and the stability of the intracellular environment. Normal physiological processes are affected,and eventually results in the changes of seedling growth morphology.In this study,destruction of cell ultrastructure was consistent with the performances of growth morphology,which indicates the feasibility of revealing the response mechanism of plants to stress by cytology and morphology indicator analysis.

Key words: elevated temperature, drought, Populus×euramericana 'Nanlin-895' seedlings, growth morphology, leaf ultrastructure

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