Effect of soil moisture content on survival, growth, and physiological characteristics of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) seedlings

Abstract

Wild cherry (Prunus avium) is one of the native and fast-growing broadleaves species of the Hyrcanian forests that can be used in mixed reforestations. Therefore, knowledge of the survival reaction and some morphological and physiological characteristics of seedlings of this species at different levels of soil moisture content (SMC) is crucial for the development of seedling production and afforestation programs, as well as habitat restoration. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with four irrigation levels (control or 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity) in 3 replications and 5 seedlings per replication as subsamples. Thus, the seedlings were examined for five months (May to September) and a total of 60 potted seedlings were tested and sampled. Morphological characteristics of seedlings such as survival, height growth, diameter growth, root dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight, and root to stem ratio and physiological characteristics of plant pigment concentrations including chlorophyll (a, b and total), carotenoids, soluble sugars and proline were measured. The results showed that reducing SMC had different effects on morphological and physiological traits of wild cherry seedlings. With decreasing SMC, the amount of chlorophylls a and b, total chlorophyll, decreased. Proline levels were quadrupled and soluble sugars were doubled when extreme humidity decreased. An increase in the amount of proline and soluble sugars makes the plant more tolerant of drought. Therefore, at least 50% of the field moisture capacity in the rooting environment of seedlings is necessary.

Keywords

• soil moisture
• survival
• seedling
• drought tolerance
• wild cherry