Study on effect of drought stress on physiological adaptation of seedlings of Atractylodes lancea / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of drought stress on the changes of physiological adaptation of Atractylodes lancea seedlings.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Investigation was carried out on content changes of MDA, soluble protein, and activities of SOD, POD, CAT, APX in A. lancea seedlings under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-simulated drought stress.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In A. lancea seedlings treated with 15% and 25% PEG, the content of MDA increased significantly with the stress time, and increased more significantly at a higher concentration of PEG. The content of soluble protein increased significantly after treatment on the day one and day three; activities of SOD, POD, CAT and APX increased at first and decreased later, increasing rates rose at high concentration of PEG moreover, activities of POD, APX reached the maximum after three days, and the time of maximum activities changed with concentration of PEG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A. lancea seedlings adapted to drought stress by increasing the content of soluble protein to decrease water potential, and by improving activities of protective enzymes to enhance anti-oxidative ability under drought stress.</p>