Effects of Drought Stress and Rehydration on Physiological and Biochemical Properties of Four Oak Species in China

Quercus fabri Hance, Quercus serrata Thunb, Quercus acutissima Carruth, and Quercus variabilis BL are four Chinese oak species commonly used for forestation. To ensure the survival of seedlings, we first need to understand the differences in drought resistance of the four oak species at the seedling stage, and comprehensively evaluate their drought resistance capabilities. The four oak seedlings were divided into drought-rewatering treatment group and well watered samples (control group). For the seedlings of the drought-rewatering treatment group, drought stress lasting 31 days was used, and then re-watering for 5 days. The water parameters, osmotic solutes content, antioxidant enzyme activity and photosynthesis parameters of the seedlings in the two groups were measured every 5 days. Compared with the control group, the relative water content, water potential, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance levels of the four oaks all showed a downward trend under continuous drought stress, and showed an upward trend after rehydration. The soluble protein, soluble sugar, proline, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase content of the four oaks increased first and then decreased under drought stress, and then increased after rehydration. The content of glycine betaine and malondialdehyde continued to increase, and gradually decreased after rehydration. The weight of each index was calculated by principal component analysis, and then the comprehensive evaluation of each index was carried out through the membership function method. The drought resistance levels of the four oak species were as follows: Q. serrata > Q. fabri > Q. variabilis > Q. acutissima.

Automated summary

This study compared and evaluated the drought resistance of four Chinese oak species, Q. fabri, Q. serrata, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis, at the seedling stage. The results showed that all four oak species exhibited a downward trend in physiological indicators under drought stress, followed by an upward trend after rehydration. The comprehensive evaluation indicated that Q. serrata had the highest drought resistance, while Q. acutissima had the lowest.