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Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (4): 496-504.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2020.04.003

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Physiological Responses of Two Astragalus membranacus Seedlings to Sulfur Deficiency

ZHANG Ye1,2, YANG Nan1,2, LIU Yang1,2, TANG Zhong-Hua1,2, GUO Xiao-Rui1,2, WANG Hong-Zheng1,2   

  1. 1. College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040;
    2. The Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040
  • Received:2019-12-11 Online:2020-07-05 Published:2020-06-12
  • Supported by:
    Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572018BU01);National Natural Science Foundation of China(31400337)

Abstract: The responses of biomass accumulation, photosynthesis capacity and secondary metabolites accumulation to sulfur deficiency were investigated in the herbs of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge. (A.membranaceus) and its variety of mongholicus(A.membranaceus var. mongholicus) using a hydroponics culture system. Compared with the application of whole Hoagland solutions, the decreasing of sulfur concentration inhibited the elongation growth and biomass accumulation in the both plants, and led to the appearances of leaf chlorosis and root browning. Additionally, sulfur deficiency reduced the contents of chlorophylls and the photosynthesis capacity in leaves, as well as elevated the degree of membrane lipid peroxide in the whole plant. However, we found that the effect of sulfur deficiency on A.membranaceus var. mongholicus was lower than that on A.membranaceus. Under the condition of no sulfur application, the non-photochemical quenching in A.membranaceus var. mongholicus was significantly increased. More than that, more isoflavonoids(calycosin, formononetin, calycosin-7-O-β-flucoside and ononin) were induced by sulfur deficiency in var. monholicus than A.membranaceus. We concluded that sulfur deficiency affected the chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis, led to the membrane peroxide, and finally caused the inhibition of growth and development of A.membranaceus and its variety. However, the variety showed stronger adjustability to sulfur deficiency through the increasing of the light protection capability and synthesis of more isoflavones.

Key words: Astragalus membranacus, sulfur deficiency, physiological response, adjustability

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