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Abstract

Pteroceltis tatarinowii Maxim, an important limestone canopy tree endemic to China, is the vital material for the famous “Xuan Paper”. However, knowledge of the water adaptation of this species is essential for its natural regeneration and its related economic utilization, but it is still limited. Here, two extreme water stresses, i.e., drought and waterlogging, were applied to the one-, two-, and three-year individuals of P. tatarinowii, and the leaf physiological indices, including related antioxidants osmoregulatory substances, and photosynthetic parameters, were investigated and compared on different days. The results indicated that at the 5th day of water stress, leaves of three ages of P. tatarinowii generally showed increased antioxidant enzyme contents, and osmoregulatory substances, yet decreased net photosynthesis rates in drought and waterlogging treatments, compared with the control group. These changes in physiological parameters intensified with the extension of stress duration. Overall, waterlogging induced more severe oxidative stress and photosynthetic inhibition than drought in P. tatarinowii individuals. Besides, the older individuals of P. tatarinowii showed a stronger tolerance but a slower response than the younger ones. These results are instructive and helpful for seedling regeneration in wild populations, forestation in limestone mountains, and water management in cultivated forests of P. tatarinowii

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