Responses of physiological parameters in plants on sub-alpine meadow to slope aspects.

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.201709.030

Abstract

Abstract: Variations of chlorophyll, free proline, soluble sugar content and stable carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of Kobresia humilis, Stelleracha maejasme and Oxytropis ochrocephala were studied on different slope aspects of sub-alpine meadow in Gannan, and the physiological mechanism of plant adaptation to drought stress was discussed as well. The results showed that soil water content (north slope 0.36 g·g^-1, south slope 0.15 g·g^-1) decreased, and soil temperature (north slope 14.76 ℃, south slope 24.85 ℃), light intensity (north slope 540.34 lx, south slope 744.12 lx) increased from north, west north slope, west slope, west south slope and south slope. Plant species composition also changed accordingly. Main species were shrub (Potentilla fruticosa) and forbs on north slope, and grass on south slope. The contents of proline, soluble sugar, chlorophyll and stable carbon isotope of three plant species changed from north to south slope, and the amplitude of variation of physiological parameters also differed among species. The contents of proline, soluble sugar and stable carbon isotope showed a significant negative correlation with soil water content, and correlated significantly positively with soil temperature and light intensity. The chlorophyll content was correlated significantly positively with soil water content, and significantly negatively with soil temperature and light intensity, and soil water content was the key factor influencing plant survival growth at aspect gradient. The results showed that the physiological parameters of plant leaf could be used as an index of plant stress resistance, and the resistance of 3 species was in order of Kobresia humilis > Stellera chamaejasme > Oxytropis ochrocephala.

LIU Min-xia, ZHAO Rui-dong, ZHANG Can, LI Rui, SHAO Peng. Responses of physiological parameters in plants on sub-alpine meadow to slope aspects.[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2017, 28(9): 2863-2869.

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