Sex-specific responses to winter flooding, spring waterlogging and post-flooding recovery in Populus deltoides

Abstract

Winter flooding events are common in some rivers and streams due to dam constructions, and flooding and waterlogging inhibit the growth of trees in riparian zones. This study investigated sex-specific morphological, physiological and ultrastructural responses to various durations of winter flooding and spring waterlogging stresses, and post-flooding recovery characteristics in Populus deltoides. There were no significant differences in the morphological, ultrastructural and the majority of physiological traits in trees subjected to medium and severe winter flooding stresses, suggesting that males and females of P. deltoides were winter flooding tolerant, and insensitive to winter flooding duration. Males were more tolerant to winter flooding stress in terms of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence than females. Females displayed greater oxidative damage due to flooding stress than males. Males developed more efficient antioxidant enzymatic systems to control reactive oxygen species. Both sexes had similarly strong post-flooding recovery capabilities in terms of plant growth, and physiological and ultrastructural parameters. However, Males had better recovery capabilities in terms of pigment content. These results increase the understanding of poplars’s adaptation to winter flooding stress. They also elucidate sex-specific differences in response to flooding stress during the dormant season, and during post-flooding recovery periods.

Gas Exchanges and Antioxidant Activity in <i>Copaifera langsdorffii</i> Desf. Seedlings after Flooding

“…On the other hand, much lower values, such as those observed for C. langsdorffii seedlings flooded for a longer period of time ( Figure 5(a)), are suggestive of the occurrence of photoinhibitory damage to the reaction centers of photosystem II, which implies, as previously observed, in sharp decreases in photosynthesis. Similar results were observed in Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall, with significant decreases in F V /F M and photosynthetic rate in severe flooding conditions (140 days) during winter time [28].…”

Phytohormone-Mediated Stomatal Response, Escape and Quiescence Strategies in Plants under Flooding Stress

“…Unwilted younger pea leaves might result from the ABA transportation from older to younger leaves or de novo biosynthesis of ABA in the younger leaves [70]. Though Populus deltoides is considered as a waterlogging tolerant plant species, it showed a significant reduction in stomatal conductance at both waterlogging and de-waterlogging stress, with an exception at recovery period after 90 days of waterlogging stress [71].…”

Sex-Specific Response to Stress in Populus

“…Apart from chilling, flooding is another winter stress for Populus trees. P. deltoides males were found to be more tolerant to winter flooding and demonstrated less oxidative damage than females ( Miao et al, 2017 ). In riparian woodland, the skewed male:female ratio (2:1) of a studied population of P. angustifolia was observed.…”