Effects of water-stress on growth and physiological changes in Pterocarya stenoptera seedlings

This study investigated the effects of water stress on the morphology and physiological responses in Pterocarya stenoptera seedlings originating from five provenances. Plants were subjected to water stress treatments for a period of up to 30 days. Under waterlogging stress, root morphology changed and increased numbers of adventitious roots were produced, resulting in enhanced growth. However, under drought stress, seedlings wilted more severely which resulted in plant death after day 9–15 of stress. Observations of external morphological changes revealed that seedlings from the HF (Hefeng) exhibited the least resistance to water stress. All of the other physiological indices, such as root vigor, MDA, soluble nutrition, proline, SOD, and POD, among others, were also affected. The rank of waterlogging-tolerance of plants originating from different provenances, which was evaluated synthetically by employing mathematical models, was: HS(Huoshan) > JN(Jiangning) > JJ(Jiujiang) > XN(Xiuning) > HF. With respect to drought-tolerance, the rank was: JJ > HS > XN > JN > HF.