Factor Analysis of Differences in Biomass Accumulations between Male and Female Populus Cathayana Seedlings under Drought Stress
The main influential factor of biomass accumulations between male and female Populus cathayana seedlings was investigated from the point of factor analysis under drought stress. The results shows that biomass accumulations of seedlings under drought stress are mainly associated with stem dry mass (SDM), root dry mass (RDM), height growth (HG), basal diameter (BD), total leaf number (TLN) and other morphologic changes, and have little relation with intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE). There is sex differences in the mode of biomass accumulation between male and female plants. Biomass accumulation in female plants depends on morphologic changes, followed by hormonal regulation, and finally physiological progress. However, biomass accumulation in male plants depends on morphologic changes, followed by physiological progress, and finally hormonal regulation. Moreover, biomass accumulation in female plants on the morphologic aspects mainly depends on SDM, while is not relevant to TLN. However, male plants mainly depend on SDM, and have relationship with TLN. In sum, our study demonstrates that biomass accumulations in male and female P. cathayana seedlings under drought stress have different strategies.