Drought tolerance in three hybrid poplar clones submitted to different watering regimes

Aims Poplars grown in North China may experience water-deficient periods in their life cycle. The aim of the present paper was to quantify the response of three clones to different watering regimes and to determine which clone among the three is the best adapted to drought conditions. Methods Three hybrid poplar clones (clone DN-34, R-247 and OP-367) were used in the present experiment. The seedlings of the three clones were grown under four watering regimes: control (well watered, 100% field water capacity (FC)) and three drought treatments (drought stress I, 50% FC; drought stress II, 40% EC; drought stress III, 30% FC). Changes in morphological, physical and biochemical indicators of the three hybrid poplar clones were investigated. Important Findings Drought treatment (50%, 40% and 30% FC) decreased net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomata I conductance (gs), shoot height, total biomass and chlorophyll (Chl) content in all the three clones and it increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and free pro-line content. The highest values of the above-mentioned morphological and physiological parameters were recorded in clone OP-367 under 30% FC, followed by clone DN-34 and R-247. Relative leaf water content (RWC) and stem diameter (sd) markedly declined in clone R-247 and DN-34 under drought stress I, II and III, whereas RWC and sd declined in clone OP-367 only under drought stress II and III. Clone OP-367 had more RWC and sd than DN-34 and R-247. Only the 30% PC induced an increase in the root-to-shoot ratio (rs) and water use efficiency (WUE) in all the three clones. OP-367 was the most efficient clone in water absorption and use, for plants of the clone had the highest values of rs and WUE. Our data demonstrate that among the three clones, OP-367 was better able to maintain photosynthesis and growth and lower the damage caused by drought.