Effects of Different Iron Concentrations on Physiology of Prunus davidiana Seedlings

Abstract

In order to study the changes of the photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity and osmotic adjuster content, the Prunus davidiana seedlings were cultured into Hoagland nutrient solution which added various concentrations of iron solution. Then the results showed that photosynthetic pigment content and antioxidant enzyme activity were all higher in iron-treated P. davidiana seedlings, compared with that in control seedlings. When increased iron concentration up to 10 mg/L, the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total chlorophyll content gradually rose, but decreased at iron concentrations of 20, 30, 40 and 60 mg/L. Irrigating iron concentration of 60 mg/L was the best way to increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. But for chlorophyll a/b ratio, it was the highest in no-iron seedlings. Moreover, the soluble protein content was the highest at iron concentration of 30 mg/L, but the lowest at 10 mg/L. Thus, the study concluded that irrigating iron solution could improve the growth and resistance to adverse circumstances of P. davidiana seedlings.