EffectsofsandburialonsurvivalandgrowthofArtemisia创新.docVIP

Effects of sand burial on survival and growth of Artemisia halodendron and its physiological response HaLin Zhao 1*, Hao Qu 1, RuiLian Zhou 2, (given name before family name) 1. Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China 2. Faculty of Life Sciences, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China *Correspondence to: HaLin Zhao, Professor of Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. No. 320, West Donggang Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China. E-mail: zhaohalin9988@ ABSTRACT There is a great deal of literature on the effects of sand burial upon the survival and growth of desert plants, but the physiological adaption mechanisms of desert plants to sand burial have as yet rarely been studied. Artemisia halodendron is widely distributed in the semi-arid deserts of China and is a dominant species in semi-moving dune vegetation. The growth and physiological properties of A. halodendron seedlings under different sand burial depths were studied in 2010 and 2011 in the Horqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, to better understand the ability and physiological mechanism by which desert plants withstand sand burial. The results showed that A. halodendron as a prammophyte species had a stronger ability to withstand sand burial compared to non-prammophytes, with some plants still surviving even if buried to a depth reaching 225% of seedling height. Although seedling growth was inhibited significantly once the depth of sand burial reached 50% of the seedling height, seedling survival did not decrease significantly until the burial depth exceeded 100% of the seedling height. Sand burial did not result in significant water stress or MDA (Malondialdehyde) accumulation in the seedlings, but membrane permeability increased significantly when the burial depth exceeded 100% of the seedling height. After being subjected to sand burial stress, POD (Pero