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Responses of pigmentation and δ13C in Qilian juniper to cold and drought stresses under natural conditions in the Qilian Mountains, China

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Abstract

The seasonal changes of pigments and stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C values) were investigated in needles of Qilian juniper (Sabina przewalskii Kom.) from two typical sites, one drier and the other wetter, in the Qilian Mountains, China. The anthocyanins and rhodoxanthin content from both sites were much higher in winter than in summer. Plant needles contained more carotenoids and xanthophylls in winter at the wetter site, while no seasonal difference appeared at the drier site. However, lower chlorophyll content and higher proline and δ13C were observed at the drier site. Average tree height was shorter at the drier site trees than at the wetter site. Our results suggested that under natural conditions, pigmentation in S. przewalskii may serve to improve the energy balance of the photosynthetic apparatus under cold and drought stresses. Proline and δ13C could be used as drought indicators for S. przewalskii.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Fund of China (No.31372171), Department of Applied Basic Research of Sichuan Province (2013JY0073). We thank the Natural Reservation Bureau of Qilian Mountain for help collecting the needles material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Leshan Normal University, 614004, Leshan, Sichuan, China

    Longying Wen

  2. State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

    Longying Wen & Tuo Chen

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  1. Longying Wen
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  2. Tuo Chen
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Correspondence to Tuo Chen.

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Communicated by Z. Miszalski.

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Wen, L., Chen, T. Responses of pigmentation and δ13C in Qilian juniper to cold and drought stresses under natural conditions in the Qilian Mountains, China. Acta Physiol Plant 36, 2211–2218 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1598-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1598-5

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