Growth and Physiological Responses of Quercus acutissima Seedling under Drought Stress

In this study, Quercus acutissima seedlings were subjected to drought for 30 days then analyzed to determine their response to water deficit. The growth phenotype, chlorophyll fluorescence response, fresh weight, dry weight, photosynthetic pigment levels, soluble sugar content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to evaluate the effects of drought on plant growth and physiology. The growth phenotype was observed by infrared (IR) digital thermal imaging after 30 days of drought treatment. The maximum, average, and minimum temperatures of drought-treated plant leaves were $1-2^{\circ}C$ higher than those of the control. In contrast, the fresh and dry weights of the dehydrated leaves were generally lower than those of the control. There were no significant differences between treatments in terms of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid levels. Nevertheless, for the drought treatment, the $F_v/F_m$ and $F_v/F_o$ ratios (chlorophyll fluorescence response) were lower than those for the control. Therefore, photosynthetic activity was lower in the dehydrated plants than the control. The drought-stressed Q. acutissima S0536 had lower soluble sugar (glucose and fructose) and higher MDA levels than the controls. These findings may explain the early growth and physiological responses of Q. acutissima to dehydration and facilitate the selection of drought-resistant tree families.