Effects of water stress on quality and sugar metabolism in'Gala'apple fruit

Sugar plays an important role in apple fruit development,appearance and quality as well as contributing to a plant’s water stress response.Trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic metabolic pathways are part of the sugar signaling system in plants,which are important regulator of water stress response in apple.The effect of water stress treatments applied to apple trees and the corresponding effects of ABA on developmental fruit quality were examined for indicators of fruit quality during fruit development.The results indicated that the severe water stress treatment(W2)occurring after the last stage of fruit cell division caused a decrease in the color and size of fruit.The moderate water stress(W1)occurring after the last stage of fruit cell enlargement(S2)caused an increase in the content of fructose and sorbitol while the apple fruit shape was not affected.These changes in sugar are related to the activity of sugar metabolic enzymes.While the enzymatic activity of vacuolar acid invertase(vAINV)was higher,that of sucrose-phosphate synthase(SPS)was lower in water stress treated fruit throughout the developmental period.This indicates that enhanced sucrose degradation and reduced sucrose synthesis leads to an overall reduced sucrose content during times of drought.Thus,water stress reduced sucrose content.Whereas the content of endogenous trehalose and ABA were the highest in water stress treated fruit.A moderate water stress(W1)imposed on apple trees via water restriction(60%–65%of field capacity)after the fruit cell enlargement phase of fruit development yielded sweeter fruit of higher economic value.

An Automatic Classification Grading of Spinach Seedlings Water Stress Based on N-MobileNetXt

To solve inefficient water stress classification of spinach seedlings under complex background,this study proposed an automatic classification method for the water stress level of spinach seedlings based on the N-MobileNetXt(NCAM+MobileNetXt)network.Firstly,this study recon-structed the Sandglass Block to effectively increase the model accuracy;secondly,this study introduced the group convolution module and a two-dimensional adaptive average pool,which can significantly compress the model parameters and enhance the model robustness separately;finally,this study innovatively proposed the Normalization-based Channel Attention Module(NCAM)to enhance the image features obviously.The experimental results showed that the classification accuracy of N-MobileNetXt model for spinach seedlings under the natural environment reached 90.35%,and the number of parameters was decreased by 66%compared with the original MobileNetXt model.The N-MobileNetXt model was superior to other net-work models such as ShuffleNet and GhostNet in terms of parameters and accuracy of identification.It can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for automatic irrigation.

Water Stress Early Detection of Eggplant Plants by Hyperspectral Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Water stress early detection is essential for precision farming to improve crop productivity and product quality. The methods usually used are destructive, long and expensive. In this work, we used hyperspectral chlorophyll fluorescence technology as a rapid, non-destructive approach to detect the water deficiency of eggplant plants using their spectral footprint. So, an experiment was made on 54 eggplant plants subjected to three water treatments: normal irrigation (T100), intermediate irrigation (T50) and no irrigation (T0). The fluorescence spectra were acquired in vivo and in situ using a USB4000 spectrometer from Ocean optics. For the classification of the plants subjected to three water treatments, we used three pretreatments of the raw hyperspectral data in order to suppress the non-informative variability present in these spectra and to obtain robust models. These are the Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG), the standard normal variable (SNV) and the first derivative of Savitzky-Golay (SG-D1). The preprocessed data were then subjected to two partial least squares discriminant analyses (PLS-DA): Hard PLS-DA and Soft PLS-DA. These statistical approaches are suitable for large samples as it reduces the dimensionality of the data but improves the accuracy of the prediction. The SG-D1 combined with the Soft PLS-DA gave the best discrimination of plants with scores of sensitivity, specificity and total efficiency respectively of 97.33%, 94% and 95% for calibration, 6 days after hydric stress induction. For the plants used for the prediction, the scores are 86%, 91% and 90% respectively. This study shows that hyperspectral chlorophyll fluorescence spectroscopy is a fast and non-destructive technology allowing early detection of water stress in eggplant plants.

Effects of Piriformospora indica on the Respiration of Taxus chinensis var.mairei under Water Stress

Seedlings of Taxus chinensis var.mairei were used as experimental materials to study the adaptation of Piriformospora indica to this plant under water stress.The materials were divided into two groups,namely,with or without inoculation with P.indica.Each group was subjected to four different levels of water stress.Vitality and physiological and biochemical indexes of the roots of T.chinensis var.mairei were regularly measured.Under water stress,T.chinensis var.mairei had significantly decreased root vitality;root vitality was higher in inoculated roots than in uninoculated roots.Under intense water stress,the inoculated roots had a higher soluble sugar content than the uninoculated roots.Under water stress,T.chinensis var.mairei experienced decreased activity of aerobic respiratory metabolic enzymes.The activity of anaerobic respiratory metabolic enzymes and alcohol dehydrogenase initially increased and then decreased,whereas that of lactate dehydrogenase increased.The inoculated roots had a higher activity of respiratory metabolic enzymes than the uninoculated roots.As water stress was further intensified,the roots had significantly decreased activity of aerobic respiratory metabolic enzymes and significantly increased activity of anaerobic respiratory metabolic enzymes.The activity of respiratory metabolic enzymes decreased faster in the uninoculated roots than in the inoculated roots.This study demonstrated that Piriformospora indica plays a positive role in enhancing the antihypoxic ability of T.chinensis var.mairei,thereby alleviating plant damage due to water stress.

<i>In Vitro</i>Germination and Early Vegetative Growth of Five Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>L.) Varieties under Water Stress Conditions

Water is the main limiting factor in the cultivation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Senegal. Thus, the selection of varieties tolerant to water stress would be an alternative solution for their production. In vitro germination, growth, total chlorophyll and proline levels were studied in five varieties of tomato subjected to increasing osmotic pressures (0, 5, 10 and 15 kPa) thanks to the PEG-8000 incorporated in an MS/2 medium for 30 days. A strong sensitivity to water stress for in vitro seed germination in the Rodeo variety (41%) is recorded at 5 kPa and maintained at 15 kPa (20.83%) while it was only noticed at 15 kPa in the other tomato varieties. The Xewel and Lady Nema varieties obtained the smallest reductions in the number of leaves of vitroplants, with 30.79% and 27.97% at 15 kPa, respectively, and the Rodeo variety recorded a reduction of 35.97%. From 5 kPa, the varieties record reductions in the number of secondary roots of more than 15%. The effect of osmotic pressures on decreasing the taproot height and length is not significant. The Xewel variety had the highest average fresh (0.483 g) and dry (0.082 g) weights of the aerial part at 15 kPa and the Rodeo variety had the lowest ones (0.308 g and 0.0501 g). The Lady Nema variety had the highest average fresh (0.171 g) and dry (0.039 g) root weights and the Rodeo variety had the lowest ones (0.086 and 0.020 g). The vitroplants of Rodeo variety recorded the highest decreases in total chlorophyll contents at all osmotic pressures and the lowest increase in proline content (53.37%) at 15 kPa. A contrario, the Xewel variety recorded the greatest increase in proline content (116.26%). Ultimately, the vitroplants of Lady Nema and Xewel varieties were more tolerant to water stress, the Ganila and Mongal varieties were moderately tolerant and the Rodeo variety was the most sensitive.

Osmoregulators in Hymenaea courbaril and Hymenaea stigonocarpa under water stress and rehydration

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different water deficiency and rehydration levels on the concentrations of osmoregulators in two plant species(Hymenaea courbaril and H. Stigonocarpa) in the Amazon. We adopted a 2×5×5 factorial system,referring to 2 species(H. courbaril and H. stigonocarpa)and 5 stages of hydration and rehydration. The five hydration and rehydration stages were established in:(1)Control treatment E0;(2) Plants with 13 days of stress after incubation—E13;(3) Plants with 26 days of stress E26;(4)The plants that were established after 26 days after incubation and rehydrated for two days(RD2);(5) rehydrated for two days(RD4). The plants that were established after 26 days after incubation and rehydrated for four days. The experiment totaled fifty young plants with five replicates.Biochemical measurements were performed at the beginning of the experiment(E0) at 13(E13) and 26(E26) days after the water stress, in which the plants were rehydrated,repeating the analyses after two(RD2) and four(RD4)days. Both species increased the sucrose concentration by18%, with a decrease of 52% in starch content. The RD4 time presented the highest mean starch concentration(0.19 mmol g-1 of the residue for H. courbaril and0.27 mmol g^(-1) of residue for H. stigonocarpa). Increased proline concentrations were recorded for controls until RD2 for both species. For glycine betaine, the highest increases in treatments E26 and RD2 were observed for the H. courbaril species. Our rehydration period was not sufficient for total recovery of pre-stress concentrations of all studied solutes.

Expression Analysis of Two Genes Coding for Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase(TPS),in Sugarcane(Saccharum spp.)under Water Stress

The accumulation of trehalose (α-D-glucopyranosyl-[1,1]-α-D-glucopyranoside), a sugar with osmoprotectant properties, is very common in microorganisms, invertebrates and in resurrection plants. However, in the majority of higher plants, it is found in trace amounts. Trehalose is synthesized from the UDP-glucose and glucose-6-phosphate in a two-step process with two enzymes, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase or TPS (EC 2.4.1.15 and EC 2.4.1.36) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase or TPP (EC 3.1.3.12). The trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and its product of the trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) are probable signaling molecules in the carbohydrate metabolism, contributing to enhancing the plants tolerance to water stress. Water scarcity is one of the most important factors that influence productivity in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and it activates a cascade of metabolic events and necessary morphologic changes for the survival of the plant under stress. Here we show the in silico expression study of TPS in different libraries from the SUCEST project. Our results showed that the TPS genes are present in all tissues and that they are divided into two subfamilies (class I and II). It is shown that STPS1 belongs to the class I, therefore, it does not have an active phosphatase (TPP) domain, whereas, the STPS2 has an active TPP domain (class II) determined by the presence of phosphatase boxes. Expression analyses based on the semi-quantitative method of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) show that the STPS1 gene is up-regulated in the tolerant cultivar under stress and down-regulated in susceptible plants. The STPS2 gene does not show considerable variations in the expression levels under the same treatments. The discovery of active genes such as STPS1 and STPS2 in plants under water stress, contributes for the concerning about the cascade of responses in plants under water deficit and points out to target genes for plant breeding.

Physiological traits and anatomic structures of the seed for two short cotton season genotypes(Gossypium hirsutum L.) under water stress

Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.) is utilized commercially in the production of textile, clothing, and household goods. Its growth is affected by various environmental conditions such as soil, climate, and water supply. Irrigation is one of the most important factors for crop management. This research was designed with the aim of studying the biochemical and anatomical features of two genotypes of cottonseed(Latif and Golestan) in order to determine optimum irrigation. Protein, starch, gossypol gland, total soluble protein, starch content, and the anatomical structure of the cotton seeds were investigated. The data were analyzed using the SAS Software. The results showed that when rainfed, Golestan genotype seeds had a larger number of secretory cavities, soluble protein, and starch compared to Latif seeds. There was also a noticeable difference in the size of the seeds. Cellulosic cell walls and protein particles were also observed in the seed structure under induced water stress conditions. It can therefore be concluded that in response to water shortage, there was a noticeable change in the morphometric, anatomic, and biochemical features of the cottonseeds. It can be concluded that when rainfed, the Golestan genotype of cottonseed has more compatibility than the Latif genotype. In general, the application of different levels of irrigation showed that at moderate levels of irrigation, anatomical features appeared more normal. The observations indicate that at high levels of irrigation, some cells begin to dehisce due to osmotic stress, which results in a lack of accurate formation of tissue structures. The Golestan genotype is therefore the best suited for dryland farming.

In silico Analysis of the Entire P. glaucum Genome Identifies Regulatory Genes of the bZIP Family Modulated in Response Pathways to Water Stress

The literature reviewed places P. glaucum as a cereal characterized by its nutritional quality and high tolerance to drought stress. However, very little is known about the fine mechanism it uses in response to water stress. To try to clarify this point, we carried out an analysis of the modulation of the expression of regulatory genes of the FT bZIP family. A full genome screening of P. glaucum identified 52 putative FT bZIPs, identifying 9 FT PgbZIP differentially expressed under water stress conditions filtered from RNA-seq data from a Transcriptome deposited at the NCBI. The promoter regions of these genes presented multiple elements or cis ABREs and DRE motifs, thus suggesting their double modulated participation in the slow or adaptive response and in the rapid response of this cereal to water stress. The findings of this study provide complementary data for the understanding of the mechanism behind the adaptation of P. glaucum under water stress, and may be relevant for molecular applications of potential crops.

Water Stress Effect on Biochemical Processes of Aus Rice Genotypes

An experiment was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from March to July 2014. Plants were grown in the rain-protected polyethylene shelter or shed to avoid rain under natural conditions. The experiment was conducted on biochemical characters of aus rice varieties in various soil moisture levels in three rice genotypes as BRRI dhan55 (V1), BR6976-2B-15 (V2), and tolerant check Hashikalmi (V3), and seven water stress were imposed as treatments. Treatments were 0 days of water stress (control) irrigated continuously throughout the experimental period (T0). From twenty days onwards water stress was imposed for seven days when the age of the seedling was 20 days (T1), 35 days (T2), 55 days (T3), 75 days (T4), 95 days (T5), and 115 days (T6). Our findings suggest that the proline, starch, and sugar content were also found comparatively higher in BRRI dhan55 and Hashikalmi among the genotypes under water stress conditions. Under water stress conditions, proline was accumulated, sugar, and starch were decreased. The soluble sugar content was much lower under water stress conditions due to lower RWC, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and higher leaf rolling. Leaf accumulates anthocyanins under drought conditions and the red color increased as the intensity of water stress increased.

Response to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi of Two Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Varieties Subjected to Water Stress under Semi-Controlled Conditions

In arid and semi-arid regions, the growth and development of cultivated plants, especially tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), are severely limited by water deficit. Thus, to cope with this constraint, the plant establishes symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil whose extension of the hyphae allows a better and deeper exploration;this notably improves the hydromineral nutrition of the plant. Therefore, the choice of fungal partner becomes crucial for the establishment of a crop in water-deficient soil. In this context, the contribution of AMF to the water stress tolerance of two varieties of tomato plants was assessed under semi-controlled conditions. Parameters, such as the mycorrhizal frequency, intensity of mycorrhization, relative mycorrhizal dependency, growth, and biochemical parameters (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and proline contents) of plants subjected to three levels of water stress (T100, T70, and T30), were evaluated. The highest frequencies and intensities of mycorrhization and relative mycorrhizal dependencies were obtained with plants of the Xewel variety inoculated with Rhizophagus fasciculatus (F: 95.24%, 88.35%, and 13.64%;M: 40.52%, 37.52%, and 11.22%;D: 23.7%, 54.4%, and 78.82%) and in those of the Lady Nema variety inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum (F: 95.12%, 87.01%, and 15.25%;M: 40.66%, 37.99%, and 11.42%;D: 19.27%, 57.01%, and 70.98%), respectively at water regimes of T100, T70 and T30. These same symbiotic couples recorded, at T30, the best survival rates (+ 40%) and the higher aerial (77% and 74%) and root dry weights (80% and 59%). Plants of the Xewel variety inoculated with R. fasciculatus recorded the highest contents of carbon (T70: 30.59% and T30: 21.55%) and phosphorus (T70: 0.18% and T30: 0.17%). Plants of the Lady Nema variety recorded the highest nitrogen contents with 3.51% and 3.20%, respectively at T70 and T30. Plants of the Lady Nema variety, inoculated with C. etunicatum, also recorded the highest proline contents (572.25, 739.44, and 1165 nmoles•g−1 of fresh material), followed by those of the Xewel variety inoculated with R. fasciculatus (580.36, 763.65, and 1112.11 nmoles•g−1 of fresh matter), respectively at T100, T70, and T30. For the Lady Nema variety, the best fungal partner is C. etunicatum, followed by R. fasciculatus and, finally, Funneliformis mosseae. However, for the plants of the Xewel variety, R. fasciculatus is the most efficient, followed by F. mosseae and C. etunicatum. This suggests that, in tomatoes, the efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis under water stress conditions is not only dependent on the host plant but on both associated symbiotic partners. Hence, it is a need for screening to identify the best symbiotic couples in a stressful environment.

Involvement of triadimefon induced early ABA-dependent H2O2 accumulation in soybean against water stress

The present study showed that pretreatment of triadimefon(TDM),a triazole compound,could improve tolerance of soybean seedlings to subsequent water stress.TDM pretreatment resulted in early and late rise in superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)activities,and upregulation of ascorbate(As A)content in non-stressed and water-stressed seedlings,leading to late increase in net photosynthetic rate(Pn),late decrease in hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)and electrolyte leakage in stressed ones.These TDM-induced changes were blocked by application of abscisic acid(ABA)biosynthesis inhibitor tungstate,which inhibited early rise of ABA and H2O2contents in non-stressed and stressed seedlings.However,ABA pretreatment overcomed the effects of this inhibitor.Application of NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium(DPI),polyamine oxidase(PAO)inhibitor 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine(2-HEH)and H2O2scavenger dimethylthiourea(DMTU)prevented early TDM-induced rise of H2O2content.DPI,2-HEH and DMTU also decreased SOD,CAT and As A levels,but did not affect ABA content during early and late phases in both seedlings pretreated with TDM.In addition,these chemicals decreased Pn,and increased H2O2content and electrolyte leakage during late phase in TDM-pretreated stressed seedlings.Overall,these results indicated that TDM pretreatment alleviated adverse effects of water stress on soybean seedlings,which was at least in part,due to increase of antioxidant capacity and decrease of oxidative damage induced by early ABA-dependent H2O2generation.

Beneficial effects of silicon on photosynthesis of tomato seedlings under water stress

Silicon can improve drought tolerance of plants,but the mechanism still remains unclear.Previous studies have mainly concentrated on silicon-accumulating plants,whereas less work has been conducted in silicon-excluding plants,such as tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.).In this study,we investigated the effects of exogenous silicon(2.5 mmol L^(–1))on the chlorophyll fluorescence and expression of photosynthesis-related genes in tomato seedlings(Zhongza 9)under water stress induced by 10%(w/v)polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000).The results showed that under water stress,the growth of shoot and root was inhibited,and the chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations were decreased,while silicon addition improved the plant growth and increased the concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoid.Under water sterss,chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as PSII maximum photochemical efficiency(F_v/F_m),effective quantum efficiency,actual photochemical quantum efficiency(Ф_(PSII)),photosynthetic electron transport rate(ETR),and photochemical quenching coefficient(q_P)were decreased;while these changes were reversed in the presence of added silicon.The expressions of some photosynthesis-related genes including PetE,PetF,PsbP,PsbQ,PsbW,and Psb28 were down-regulated under water stress,and exogenous Si could partially up-regulate their expressions.These results suggest that silicon plays a role in the alleviation of water stress by modulating some photosynthesis-related genes and regulating the photochemical process,and thus promoting photosynthesis.

Quantifying Responses of Winter Wheat Physiological Processes to Soil Water Stress for Use in Growth Simulation Modeling

A deep understanding of crop-water eco-physiological relations is the basis for quantifying plant physiological responses to soil water stress. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the winter wheat crop-water relations under both drought and waterlogging conditions in two sequential growing seasons from 2000 to 2002, and then the data were used to develop and validate models simulating the responses of winter wheat growth to drought and waterlogging stress. The experiment consisted of four treatments, waterlogging (keep 1 to 2 cm water layer depth above soil surface), control (70%-80% field capacity), light drought (40%-50% field capacity) and severe drought (30%-40% field capacity) with six replicates at five stages in the 2000-2001 growth season. Three soil water content treatments (waterlogging, control and drought) with two replicates were designed in the 2001-2002 growth season. Waterlogging and control treatments are the same as in the 2000-2001 growth season. For the drought treatment, no water was supplied and the soil moisture decreased from field capacity to wilting point. Leaf net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, predawn leaf water potential, soil water potential, soil water content and dry matter weight of individual organs were measured. Based on crop-water eco-physiological relations, drought and waterlogging stress factors for winter wheat growth simulation model were put forward. Drought stress factors integrated soil water availability, the sensitivity of different development stages and the difference between physiological processes (such as photosynthesis, transpiration and partitioning). The quantification of waterlogging stress factor considered different crop species, soil water status, waterlogging days and sensitivity at different growth stages. Data sets from the pot experiments revealed favorable performance reliability for the simulation sub-models with the drought and waterlogging stress factors.

Effects of Water Stress on the Protective Enzyme Activities and Lipid Peroxidation in Roots and Leaves of Summer Maize

A systematic study was conducted to determine the effects of water stress on the activities of protective enzymes and lipid peroxidation in maize. The results showed that, under water stress, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) in leaves and roots increased sharply at prophase and metaphase growth stages, such as, male tetrad stage, but then declined towards the physiological maturity. The protective enzyme activities in roots were lower than those in leaves. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased according to the severity of water stress. The content of MDA in roots was lower than that in leaves. The activities of protective enzymes and lipid peroxidation in roots were positively related to that in leaves with most of the correlation coefficients being significant. The content of soluble proteins in roots and leaves decreased with increasing drought stress. The ear characteristics deteriorated and the economic yields of maize decreased significantly under water stress. The main factors that caused reduction of yields were the decrease in the number of ear kernels and 100-kernel weight.

Relationship Between Changes of Endogenous Hormone in Sweet Potato Under Water Stress and Variety Drought-resistance

The IAA, GA3, iPA, ZR and ABA contents in sweet potato leaves under drought conditions were determined by the method of ELISA, and the relationship between these endogenous hormones and drought resistance of different sweet potato varieties were studied. The results showed the IAA, GA3, iPA and ZR contents in sweet potato leaves decreased, but ABA contents increased obviously. The stronger the drought resistance of the variety was, the more IAA, GA3, iPA and ZR contents decreased and the less ABA contents increased. Their relative contents correlated significantly negatively(r were - 0.9070, - 0.9493, - 0.9509,- 0.8674 and - 0.9117 respectively) to drought-resistability.

Effects of Water Stress on Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Protection System in Rice During Grain-Filling Stage

Rice is one of the main staple food crops in the world, but it may suffer serious water stress during growth period. Water stress during grain filling results in decreased grain yeild, but its mechanism generating and scavenging the active oxygen is unclear under continuance of the water stress. The experiment was carried out in growth chamber to investigate the effects of water stress on the production of superoxide free radical ( ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AsA), and antioxidative enzyme activities in three rice hybrids with differing drought resistant under both normal and drought conditions during grain-filling stage. The results showed that water stress aggravated the membrane lipid peroxidation in rice leaves, which was more severe in less drought resistant hybrids than that in more tolerant ones. Also and H2O2 accumulated more rapidly in less drought resistant hybrids than that in more tolerant ones. During water stress, decreases of GSH, AsA, chlorophyll, and relative water contents in more drought resistant hybrids were obvious less than those in less tolerant ones. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in leaves increased obviously in 0-14 d after heading and subsequently decreased rapidly, and those in more drought resistant hybrids were more than those in less tolerant ones. The results showed that changes of , H2O2, MDA, GSH, and AsA contents and antioxidative enzyme activities correlated significantly to drought resistance of rice hybrids, and more drought resistant hybrids possessed high ant oxidation capacity.

Effects of Rare Earth on Oxidative Damage and Redox System of Wheat Seedling Leaves under Water Stress

After treated with low concentration of La3+, the rate of producing active oxygen free radical, the relative permeability of cell membrane, the contents of bivalent iron ion in wheat seedling leaves under water stress were determined. The results show that in wheat seedling leaves, feasible concentrations of La3+ decreases the accumulation of active oxygen free radical, inhibits the increase of the relative permeability of cell membrane, reduces the content of peroxidation product MDA of membrane lipid, and prevents the plant cell producing more bivalent iron ion which can catalyzed the reaction of Haber-weiss and Fenton to produce more superoxide anion. In addition, purified plasma membrane was isolated by aqueous two-phase partitioning from wheat seedling leaves. The reduction rate of Fe（CN）63- by purified plasma membrane in La3+-treated wheat seedling leaves is different from those in the absence of La3+ under water stress. The changing trend of the redox activity to La3+ is similar to that of the content of Fe2+. The results reveal that extraneous La3+ can alleviate the damages of cell membrane caused by water stress via promoting the activity of redox system and the ability of eliminating ROS in wheat seedling leaves.

Relationship Between Soluble Protein,Chlorophyll and ATP in Drought-Resistant Sweet Potato Under Water Stress

Some indices concerning the metabolism of substance and energy in sweet potato leaves underwater stress were studied. The results showed an obvious increase in soluble protein content. Compared withcontrol, Chl a, Chl b, total Chl contents and the ratio of Chl a to Chl b all decreased to some extent. ATPcontent increased in some varieties and decreased in others, but the stronger the drought resistance of the vari-ety, the higher the ATP content. The correlation coefficient(r)of the soluble protein content, ratio of Chl a toChl b and ATP content as a percentage of the drought-resistant sweet potato control variety are 0. 8968,- 0. 8509 and 0. 8200, respectively, P<0.01. So these indices can be used to evaluate the drought resistance ofdifferent sweet potato varieties.

Growth and Eco-Physiological Performance of Cotton Under Water Stress Conditions

A cotton cultivar Xinluzao 8 was grown under four levels of water stress treatments (normal irrigation, slight, mild and severe water stress) from the initial reproductive growth stage in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China, in 2002, to evaluate the growth and eco-physiological performances. Under water stress conditions, the transpiration ability decreased while the leaf temperature increased. Although the relative leaf water content decreased as water stress increased, the differences among the treatments were small, indicating that cotton has high ability in maintaining water in leaf. The stomatal density increased as water stress increased, while the maximum stomatal aperture reduced only in the severest stressed plants. The time of the maximum stomatal aperture was delayed in the mild and severe stressed plants. When severe stress occurred, the stomata were kept open until the transpiration decreased to nearly zero, suggesting that the stomata might not be the main factor in adjusting transpiration in cotton. Cotton plant has high adaptation ability to water stress conditions because of decrease in both stomatal conductance and hydraulic conductance from soil-to-leaf pathway. The actual quantum yield of photosystem Ⅱ(PS Ⅱ) decreased under water stress conditions, while the maximum quantum yield of PS Ⅱ did not vary among treatments, suggesting that PS Ⅱ would not be damaged by water stress. The total dry weight reduced as water stress increased.