Effects of Flooding Stress on Physiological Characteristics of Young Seedling Leaves of Four Tree Species

Young seedlings of Anthocephalus chinensis, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Cyclobalanopsis Gracilis and Machilus kwangtungensis were used as materials under artificial simulation of flooding stress for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 and 27 days. SOD enzymatic activity, MDA content and chlorophyll content of young leaves of four tree species were measured. The results showed that SOD enzymatic activity of Anthocephalus chinensis under flooding stress was lower than that of control and showed stable trend during the late flooding stress period. SOD enzymatic activity of Lagerstroemia specious was higher than that of control while that of Cyclobalanopsis Gracilis was lower than that of control except for 6 days under flooding stress. SOD enzymatic activity of Machilus kwangtungensis was lower than that of control except for 6 and 12 days under flooding stress. MDA content of Lagerstroemia specious was lower than that of control except for 24 days. MDA content of Cyclobalanopsis Gracilis and Machilus kwangtungensis were higher than that of control. Chlorophyll content of Anthocephalus chinensis and Lagerstroemia specious showed wave-typed changes but trended to stable in the late flooding stress period and were no different from that of control. Chlorophyll content of Cyclobalanopsis Gracilis was lower than that of control. Chlorophyll content of Machilus kwangtungensis was lower than that of control except 3 and 15 days. Based on growth under flooding stress and SOD enzymatic activity, MDA content and chlorophyll content of young leaves of four tree species, Anthocephalus chinensis and Lagerstroemia specious had high tolerance to flooding stress and adjust themselves to counter damage. Cyclobalanopsis Gracilis and Machilus kwangtungensis had low tolerance to flood.