Exogenous spermidine improved drought tolerance in Ilex verticillata seedlings

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1065208
• Publication Date: 2023-01-20T07:30:07Z
• Authors: Xiaoting Xie; Yujie Gu; Weili Wang; Farhat Abbas; Sini Qin; Siyi Fu; Jiaqi Mei; Jiayan Wang; Dexuan Ma; Guangchao Wen; Ying Yang; Anket Sharma; Xiaofei Wang; Daoliang Yan; Bingsong Zheng; Yi He; Huwei Yuan
• Keywords: Stomatal Conductance; Drought Tolerance

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata (L.) A. Gray) is a recently introduced ornamental tree species in China that has not been closely investigated for its drought resistance. In this study, we used two-year-old cuttings from I. Gray and two representative varieties derived it, 'Oosterwijk' 'Jim Dandy', as materials to investigate how plant responds stress whether exogenous spermidine (SPD) can alleviate the negative effects caused by stress. The results showed degree of increased, leaves winterberry seedlings became chlorotic, their edges dry. Similarly, relative water content, specific leaf weight, chlorophyll nitrogen net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance transpiration rate were significantly reduced, whereas content malondialdehyde continuously increased with activities superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase under moderate then decreased severe levels soluble sugar abscisic acid continued increase, while those auxin gibberellic decreased. When compared individual stress, an increase amount external SPD clearly alleviated effect on seedlings. combined phenotypes physiological indices conditions revealed resistance native was higher than varieties. This finding serves important theoretical foundation popularization application