Effect of drought stress and rewatering on physiological characteristics of Pennisetum alopecuroides seedlings

To investigate the physiological mechanisms of drought adaptation and protective enzyme system of Pennisetum alopecuroides under drought stress, we took the new strain of P. alopecuroides, LS-1, as the test materials, and analysed the differences in the physiological characteristics, including relative water content in leaf, root/shoot ratios, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, peroxidase (POD) activities, free proline contents and soluble sugar contents under drought stress and rewatering conditions. The results showed that with increasing stress due to soil drought, the relative water content of leaf decreased, but the root/shoot ratios, SOD, and POD activities in 5% soil water content, free proline contents, and soluble sugar content all increased significantly (P<0.05). After rewatering, the physiological characteristics of P. alopecuroides leaf recovered to different levels. Physiological mechanisms and protective enzyme system of P. alopecuroides offers the plant protection when under increased stress from drought. This is beneficial for the development of this species in drought areas.