Comparative studies on physiological and biochemical adaptation of Taxodium distichum and Taxodium ascendens seedlings to different soil water regimes

Responses of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) and pondcypress (Taxodium ascendens) seedlings in leaf gas exchange and root metabolism to a wide range of hydrological regimes were studied. Four water treatments included control (C), mild drought (MD), wet soil (WS) and flooding (FL). Both species showed no significant change in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in response to flooding in contrast to significant reduction in Pn under mild drought conditions. In baldcypress, Pn was also maintained at control level compared to significant increase of Pn in pondcypress when subjected to the wet soil treatment. In flooding, both species showed significant increase in contents of malate and shikimate in their lateral roots and further in total roots, as compared to control. However, different adaptation to flooding was demonstrated in their taproots in contents of malate and shikimate. Furthermore, baldcypress seedlings showed significant reductions in lateral and total root biomass, in contrast with no significant change in that of pondcypress seedlings in response to flooding. In wet soil, no significant effects were revealed in contents of malate and shikimate in roots (including different root portions) of baldcypress seedlings in contrast to significant increase of their contents in lateral roots of pondcypress seedlings. No significant effects on root biomass were detected in either baldcypress or pondcypress seedlings in response to wet soil. When subjected to mild drought, baldcypress seedlings displayed no significant change in contents of malate and shikimate in roots, whereas pondcypress seedlings exhibited significant reduction in content of shikimate in lateral roots and total roots. In addition, root biomass of baldcypress seedlings showed no significant change, while lateral and total root biomass of pondcypress seedlings demonstrated significant increase when mild drought was imposed. These findings indicate that baldcypress and pondcypress appear to be promising candidates for reforestation in the Three Gorges Reservoir region due to their characteristics of water-tolerance and mild drought endurance. However, pondcypress is more resilient than baldcypress to the continuum of water availability conditions expected in the Three Gorges Reservoir region.