Welcome to Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin,

Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (33): 14-23.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2025-0033

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Response Characteristics of Drought Stress and Its Physiological Regulatory Mechanisms in Spring Wheat Developmental Stages

CHEN Fei1,2,3,4(), ZHAO Hong1,2,3,4, WANG Heling1,2,3,4, YANG Yang1,2,3,4, WANG Runyuan1,2,3,4, ZHANG Kai1,2,3,4(), ZHAO Funian1,2,3,4, QI Yue1,2,3,4, TANG Yurui1,2,3,4, WEI Xingxing1,2,3,4   

  1. 1 Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration/Key Open Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA/Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Changing and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730020
    2 Dingxi Drought Meteorology and Ecological Environment Field Scientific Experimental Station of CMA, Dingxi, Gansu 743000
    3 Wuwei National Climate Observatory of China Meteorological Administration, Wuwei, Gansu 733000
    4 Zhangye National Climate Observatory of China Meteorological Administration, Zhangye, Gansu 734000
  • Received:2025-01-17 Revised:2025-03-15 Online:2025-11-25 Published:2025-12-01

Abstract:

To explore the response characteristics of spring wheat developmental stages to drought stress and its physiological regulatory mechanisms, and to scientifically address the challenges posed by climate change, ‘Dingxi New 24’ was selected as experimental material, and methods such as curve fitting and correlation analysis were employed to analyze the change characteristics in soil moisture, crop developmental stages, and physio-ecological parameters under two drought stress conditions: field and pot experiments. The results showed that: (1) under continuous drought stress, the booting, heading, and flowering stages of field wheat were shortened by 1 day, 1 day, and 8 days, respectively, while the milk stage was extended by 5 days. The heading stage of potted wheat was delayed by 2 days, and the flowering stage was shortened by 6 days. (2) The soil moisture stress factor, constructed based on exponential and linear models, could effectively simulate the developmental stages changes caused by drought stress. (3) When the soil relative humidity was between 45% and 53%, the photosynthetic physiological parameters and leaf water status indicators exerted a reverse regulatory effect on the advancement of the jointing-to-flowering stages in field wheat. When the soil relative humidity dropped below 45%, both factors then synergistically promoted an earlier milk stage. For potted wheat subjected to drought starting from the booting stage, all leaf physiological indicators worked together to prolong the heading stage. These findings provide a scientific basis for the dynamic monitoring, prediction, and impact assessment of drought in spring wheat in semi-arid regions.

Key words: drought stress, developmental stages simulation, soil moisture stress factors, physiological regulation mechanism, spring wheat, phenology, photosynthetic parameters, leaf water potential