干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The outstanding biological properties and affiliated ecological and economic benefits have made Giant Juncao (Pennisetum giganteum) an important vegetation for combating poverty and desertification. Because water shortage is an inevitable problem when cultivating crops in dry regions, we examined the tolerance of Giant Juncao to water stress with respect to several of it physiological and photosynthetic properties. Our results showed that the contents of malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase increased with drought intensity, whereas the rates of net photosynthesis and transpiration decreased. These physiological and photosynthetic processes were enhanced as the plant grew (matured). The membership degrees, calculated using a subordination-function method, revealed that the seedling stage had the lowest drought resistance, and the elongation stage the highest resistance. Because no significant differences were observed in net photosynthetic rates with drought intensity, mild drought management may be an acceptable management practise to cultivate Giant Juncao in a way that uses water efficiently and prevents a significant loss in biomass.