Growth Responses and Adaptations of Populus alba L. Samplings to Flooding

Abstract

The relationship between water and plant productivity is extremely complex. Plants exhibit broad range of adaptations to either excesses or deficits of water. These adaptations permit life to continue in almost any type of water condition that can be found on the earth. However, for each species; there is a rather limited range of moisture conditions that can be tolerated, and water factor is a major determinant of plant distribution. Water excesses such as flooding has effects on survival and growth of plants. The social and economical losses caused by drought and flooding stress are appreciable. Flooding caused decreased in branch length increment and the number of leaves of P. alba saplings, however height and diameter increment were not reduced. Flooding induced significant decrease in gross photosynthetic rate (Pg,max) and chlorophyll fluorescence yield of P. alba saplings. The formations of adventitious roots were observed in P. alba saplings.