Effects of soil drought on root growth and physiological characteristics of winter wheat seedlings

Root growth and physiological characteristics of winter wheat under different drought conditions were studied in pot experiment.Results show that total root number,total root length,root volume,root dry weight,root water potential,root relative water content,root water loss velocity,and root activity decrease with decrease of soil water.On the other hand,root/shoot,root water saturate deficit,soluble sugar content,proline content,plasma membrane permeability,MDA content,SOD activity and POD activity increase with decrease of soil water.Thus drought-resistance of winter wheat seedlings increases by changing the biomass distribution,inner physiological characteristics,and increasing root weight ratio.