Paper Details

PJB-2024-272

Relationship between physiological variation and drought tolerance of Calligonum species in central Asia

Zhang Yue Ting, Cao Qiumei, Wang Xiyong and Feng Ying
Abstract

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Calligonum L. are typical desert plant species in the arid region of Central Asia, which has great significance to the ecological restoration and reconstruction in the desert area, and widely used for wind prevention and sand fixation, soil and water conservation, soil improvement, drought resistance. In this study, the physiological differences assimilation branches related to drought resistance of 16 Calligonum species were investigated under the same growth conditions growing in the desert botanical garden. Factor correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to compare the relationship between physiological differences and drought tolerance among Calligonum species. The results are as follows: ① This study confirms that the genus Calligonum exhibits typical C4 photosynthetic pathway characteristics. Under arid conditions, Calligonum plants with higher δ13C values optimize water use efficiency through stomatal regulation. ②in order to adapt to the extreme environment, Calligonum plants maintain the internal water balance by accumulating osmotic substances such as soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline, so as to ensure the normal physiological metabolism, growth and development of cells. ③ the Calligonum species enhance drought resistance by increasing and maintaining high activities of antioxidant enzymes (MDA, SOD, POD, H₂O₂) to reduce and eliminate oxygen stress and reduce plasma membrane damage. ④ the factors that have the greatest influence on drought resistance of 16 species of Calligonum are Soluble protein > Soluble sugar > Chlorophyll > Biomass > Transpiration intensity > Biomass > δ ¹³C. ⑤the ranking of Calligonum Species by drought resistance is as follows: C.roborowskii > C.junceum > C.cordatum > C. densum > C.gobicum > C.rubicundum > C.mongolicum > C.arborescens > C.aphyllum > C.ebinuricum > C. klementzii > C. leucocladum > C.colubrinum > C.caput-medusae > C.squarrosum > C. pumilum. Therefore, when Calligonum plants are under drought stress, they will increase the content of soluble protein and soluble sugar to provide energy and matter for plants, and help plants reduce water transpiration and maintain high water potential and photosynthetic capacity. The results revealed that Calligonum plants exhibit physiological resistance-type adaptations to arid environments. The remarkable drought adaptability of Calligonum species, enabling their widespread distribution and growth in arid regions, can be attributed to their distinctive physio-ecological characteristics.

To Cite this article: Ting, Z.Y., C. Qiumei, W. Xiyong and F. Ying. 2025. Relationship between physiological variation and drought tolerance of Calligonum species in central Asia. Pak. J. Bot., 58(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-3(10)  
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