Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2008, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (03): 284-291.

• 实验简报 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth and Physiological Responses of Picea asperata Seedlings to Long-term Abscisic Acid Application

Chunzhang Zhao1, 3, Qing Liu1*, Xiaoqin Yao1, 3, Ming Wang2, Liangchun Gong2   

  1. 1Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; 2 Li County Forestry Bureau, Abaprefecture 623100, China; 3 Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2007-06-20 Revised:2007-09-25 Online:2008-05-01 Published:2008-05-01
  • Contact: Liu Qing

Abstract: The paper describes the effects of long-term application of abscisic acid (ABA) at different concentrations in Picea as perata at the Maoxian Ecological Experimental Station of Chinese Academy of Sciences during a 5-year pot experiment. Longterm exogenous ABA application significantly affected the height and biomass (root,stem, and leaf weight); chlorophyll, osmoprotectant (proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein), and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) content; and antioxidative enzyme activity. ABA treatments at 5 mg.L-1, 10 mg.L-1 and 15 mg.L-1 significantly improved root weight, stem weight and total biomass; increased the soluble protein and proline content; and reduced MDA content in needles. However, the highest application of ABA (20 mg.L-1) caused a significant reduction in accumulation of chlorophyll, free proline and soluble sugar and a significant increase in MDA content in needles. These results suggest that the effects of exogenous ABA application on Picea asperata is concentration dependent, and longterm high exogenous ABA (20 mg.L-1 ) is unfavorable for plant growth. Moreover, the height, chlorophyll content, and activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly reduced with application of exogenous ABA.