Drought Resistance Evaluation Of Six Ground Cover Plants

Because water resource is extremely scarce in Taiyuan, it is urgent to breed a strongly drought-resistant cover plant at present. In this study six kinds of garden plants with higher ornamental value was selected as the research materials and some physiological and biochemical indexes were measured after the drought stress treatment, and then their drought resistance was assessed to provide a theoretical basis for the application and production practices in future. Results were as follows.1. Under drought stress, the relative water content(RWC) of 6 ground cover plants showed varying degree of decline.The RWC of Prunella vulgaris was biggest decline,and S. pectabile Borea was smallest decline.Water loss rate(RWL) of S. pectabile Borea was lowest, its plant showed stronger drought resistance.2. Under drought stress, the root shoot(RSR)of S. spectabile Borea and S. Hybridam was increased, in decreased in other kinds by different degree. The chlorophyll (Chi) content of 6 ground cover plants had different change.3. Under drought stress, the soluble protein (SP) content of 6 ground cover plants showed rising trend, and the SP content of Iris plants was highest. Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents showed varying degrees of rise, MDA contents of Prunella vulgaris was highest. Peroxidase (POD) activity of S. hybridam was decreased, other species were increased and then decreased, Superoxide(SOD) activity of Iris.russet and Jinwawa were increased, other species were increased and then decreased.4.8 drought resistance physiological indexes were comprehensive evaluated and analyzed with subordinate function, results showed that the drought resistance of six ground cover plants from strong to weak were as follows:Iris Jinwawa> IrisL.russet> S. spectabile Borea> S. spectabile Brilliant> S. hybridam> Prunella vulgaris.