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Effects of brassinolide on the survival, growth and drought resistance of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under water-stress

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Abstract

We conducted field and pot experiments to investigate the effects of brassinolide on 1-year-old Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings. In the field experiment, seedling roots were soaked in brassinolide solutions containing 0–0.4 mg/l pure brassinolide before planting. Survival and growth of the seedlings were determined 8 months later. The results showed that soaking roots in brassinolide prior to planting significantly increased the survival and growth of seedlings. The best results were in the 0.2 mg/l brassinolide treatment. In the pot experiment, roots were soaked in 0–0.4 mg/l brassinolide before planting followed by a foliar application of brassinolide when the seedlings leafed out. After the seedlings were established, the soil water content in the pots was regulated to simulate drought conditions and various physiological parameters were measured. The results showed that treatment with 0.2 mg/l brassinolide decreased the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of seedlings growing under moderate or severe water stress compared to untreated seedlings. Leaf water content, predawn water potential, soluble sugar content, free proline content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities were all greater in water-stressed seedlings in the 0.2 mg/l brassinolide treatment compared to the control. The results indicate that the application of brassinolide can ameliorate the effects of water stress and enhance drought resistance of Robinia seedlings. Treatment of seedlings with brassinolide may be a useful management tool for afforestation projects in arid and semiarid areas.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by “One Hundred Elitist Plan” and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. J. Gale is thanked for help in revising the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

    K. R. Li, Q. J. Wang & J. Fan

  2. College of Environment and Resources, Northwest A & F University, Taicheng Road No.3, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

    K. R. Li, H. H. Wang & G. Han

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  1. K. R. Li
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  2. H. H. Wang
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Correspondence to K. R. Li.

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Li, K.R., Wang, H.H., Han, G. et al. Effects of brassinolide on the survival, growth and drought resistance of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under water-stress. New Forests 35, 255–266 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-007-9075-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-007-9075-2

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