To identify superior poplar varieties adapted to different soil moisture conditions, this study evaluated nine major cultivated poplar varieties in Heilongjiang Province—namely, Populus cathayana (JDQY), Populus deltiodes×P.cathayana ZHF2, (Populus×euramericana)×(P.simonii×P.nigra)(2111), Populus euramericana ‘N3016’×P.ussuriensis ‘HQ-1’ (HQY), P.alba L×P.berolinensis Dippel (YZY), 1019, Populus ‘Heifang-3’ (QSY), 406, and Populus deltoides×Populus simonii ‘LongFeng-2’ (LF2). By applying two soil moisture gradients (mild drought, HL is 14%- 18%; moderate drought, HM is 6%-10%), we systematically measured 14 morphological and physiological-biochemical indicators, including apparent morphology, leaf water content, relative chlorophyll content, ion metabolism, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Based on principal component analysis and membership function evaluation, the drought resistance rankings were as follows: (1) under mild drought, JDQY, HQY, QSY, YZY, LF2, 2111, 406, ZHF2, 1019; (2) under moderate drought, JDQY, HQY, 2111, YZY, LF2, QSY, ZHF2, 406, 1019. Research indicated that, JDQY maintained osmotic balance by by significantly accumulating K⁺ and Ca²⁺, while HQY responded rapidly to oxidative stress via elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, both exhibited broad-spectrum drought resistance under two types of stress. This study reveals inter-varietal differences in drought resistance and underlying physiological mechanisms among the nine poplar varieties, identifying JDQY and HQY as drought-tolerant candidates. The findings provide a theoretical basis for stress-resilient afforestation and precision tree species selection in cold, drought-prone regions.
CHENH C, YUANS J, LIS F,et al.Analysis of winter temperature variation characteristics in Northeast China from 1961 to 2020[J].Meteorological Disaster Prevention,2025,32(1):26-31.
SUNF H, RENG Y, ZHAOC Y,et al.An analysis of temperature abnormal change in Northeast China and type underlying surface[J].Scientia Geographica Sinica,2005,25(2):167-171.
SUNF H, YANGS Y, CHENP S.Climatic warming-drying trend in Northeastern China during the last 44 years and its effects[J].Chinese Journal of Ecology,2005,24(7):751-755,762.
SUNF H, YANGX Q, LUS,et al.The contrast analysis on the average and extremum temperature trend in Northeast China[J].Scientia Meteorologica Sinica,2006,26(2):157-163.
SUNF H, YUANJ, LUS.The change and test of climate in Northeast China over the last 100 years[J].Climatic and Environmental Research,2006,11(1):101-108.
WUS T, WANGG B, YANGL Q,et al.Impacts of drought on forest ecosystem structure and function:A review of research progress[J].World Forestry Research,2024,37(4):37-45.
[13]
董世林,王战.中国杨树地理分布规律的研究[J].生态学杂志,1988,7(6):12-18.
[14]
DONGS L, WANGZ.Geographical distribution pattern of Populus in China[J].Chinese Journal of Ecology,1988,7(6):12-18.
FANR, SUNH Y, LIUY P,et al.A current research on the trees’s reponse mechanism to the water stress[J].Journal of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University (Natural Science Edition),2009,30(3):281-286.
HUL R, LANGN J, ZHENGK.Research progress on the drought resistance of plants and its development trend[J].Journal of Anhui Agricultural Sciences,2008,36(7):2652-2654.
YANGC B, YAOJ X, LIS W,et al.Growth and physiological responses to drought stress and comprehensive evaluation on drought tolerance in Leuce clones at nursery stage[J].Journal of Beijing Forestry University,2016,38(5):58-66.
WANGQ M.Effect of fertilization on the growth of Populus davidiana raw material forest[J].Journal of Heilongjiang Vocational Institute of Ecological Engineering,2013,26(2):18-20.
GUOY, ZHANGS H, LIY,et al.Studies on the leaf morphology,anatomical structure and drought resistance evaluation of 238 Chinese chestnut varieties (strains)[J].Acta Horticulturae Sinica,2020,47(6):1033-1046.
GAOL Y, DENGY S, WANGX G,et al.Evaluation on drought resistance of different cotton varieties at germination stage[J].Shandong Agricultural Sciences,2023,55(4):34-41.
TIANX X, WEIX F, WEIH,et al.Comprehensive evaluation of drought tolerance of six forage species at the seedling stage[J].Arid Zone Research,2022,39(3):978-985.
[35]
MAJ, DUG Y, LIX H,et al.A major locus controlling malondialdehyde content under water stress is associated with Fusarium crown rot resistance in wheat[J].Molecular Genetics and Genomics,2015,290(5):1955-1962.
[36]
GUOJ N, ZHAOY P, YANGY Z,et al.Roles of superoxide dismutase in plant response to drought,salinity and cold stress[J].Bulletin of Botanical Research,2024,44(4):481-490.
WANGX, YANGX L, YEZ P,et al.Stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis in Sorghum bicolor at diferent temperatures[J].Plant Physiology Journal,2022,58(7):1245-1253.
[43]
LAWSONT, BLATTM R.Stomatal size,speed,and responsiveness impact on photosynthesis and water use efficiency[J].Plant Physiology,2014,164(4):1556-1570.
QIM, WANGJ, ZHANGM,et al.Physiological response to drought stress and drought resistance evaluation of five Azalea varieties[J].Acta Agriculturae Jiangxi,2022,34(10):52-58.
ZHUT, JINH, ZOUJ X,et al.Changes of mineral ion content of different varieties of poplar under drought stress[J].Journal of Central South University of Forestry & Technology,2020,40(2):102-107.
[48]
SANDERSD, PELLOUXJ, BROWNLEEC,et al.Calcium at the crossroads of signaling[J].The Plant Cell,2002,14():S401-S417.
[49]
XIONGL, ZHUJ K.Molecular and genetic aspects of plant responses to osmotic stress[J].Plant,Cell & Environment,2002,25(2):131-139.
LIANGQ L, HANY J, QIAOY H,et al.Effects of drought stress on the growth and physiological characteristics of Sect.Aigeiros clones[J].Journal of Beijing Forestry University,2023,45(10):81-89.
JINGD W.Response of photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant enzyme activities in poplar seedlings to drought stress[J].Journal of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences,2014,28(3):532-539.
HANC L, WEIX, WEIQ Y,et al.Analysis of morphological structure and drought resistance of Fraxinus mandshurica seeds in different habitats[J].Forest Engineering,2024,40(3):88-100.