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Research Article

Physiological responses of Phragmites australis to the combined effects of water and salinity stress

  1. Zhifeng Yang1,2,
  2. Tao Xie1,
  3. Qiang Liu1,2,*

Article first published online: 7 JAN 2013

DOI: 10.1002/eco.1361

Additional Information

How to Cite

Yang, Z., Xie, T. and Liu, Q. (2013), Physiological responses of Phragmites australis to the combined effects of water and salinity stress. Ecohydrol.. doi: 10.1002/eco.1361

Author Information

  1. 1

    State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

  2. 2

    Key Laboratory for Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

* Qiang Liu, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
E-mail: liuqiang@bnu.edu.cn

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 7 JAN 2013
  2. Manuscript Accepted: 29 NOV 2012
  3. Manuscript Revised: 16 NOV 2012
  4. Manuscript Received: 18 APR 2011

Funded by

  • National Science Foundation for Innovative Research Group. Grant Number: No. 51121003
  • International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China. Grant Number: No. 2011DFA72420
  • National Science and Technology Special Project on Water Pollution Control and Management. Grant Number: 2008ZX07209-009

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Keywords:

  • Phragmites australis;
  • salinity stress;
  • water stress;
  • physiological response;
  • Yellow River Dleta, China

ABSTRACT

A pot culture experiment with four levels of soil water content (waterlogged condition, 90%, 75% and 60% of field capacity) and five levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 mM) was conducted to examine the physiological responses of salt meadows Phragmites australis to soil water content and NaCl salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China. Results indicated that (i) the combined effects of soil water and NaCl salinity had significant influences on the light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pn max, F = 7·19, P < 0·01), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci, F = 24·92, P < 0·01) and stomatal conductance (gs, F = 18·16, P < 0·01) at light saturation of this species. The light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pn max) was the largest at 90% of field capacity with 60 mM NaCl salinity treatment (13·10 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1, SD ± 0·46) and decreased with the increase of NaCl salinity and water deficit. Under severe water and salinity stress, Pn max decreased with Ci rising substantially, which means the non-stomatal limitations of P. australis occur; (ii) stress resistance in the salt meadow P. australis was closely related to the retention of a relatively higher water status and a higher content of potassium (K+) in leaves; and (iii) both content of sodium (Na+) and proline were significant increased by water stress and NaCl salinity stress, and the leaf proline content was positively correlated with the leaf Na+ content (r = 0·837, n = 60). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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