Abstract

In order to select proper revetment plant to apply in the rock slope protection, we used Cynodon dactylon as control to investigate the effect of cold stress on two wild revetment plants (Pogonatherum paniceum and Eriophorum comosum) in current study. With the dropping of temperature (0°C, -5°C, -10°C, -15°C, -20°C), the content of soluble sugar, soluble protein, and free proline in these three plants rose first, and then decreased. Meanwhile, the chlorophyll content declined, but the electrolyte osmotic rate increased. Under the five different temperatures, the content of soluble sugar and soluble protein were highest (P < 0.05) in E. comosum, the lowest (P < 0.05) in C. dactylon, and P. paniceum in the middle. The free proline contents in E. comosum was similar to P. paniceum at -15°C, and -20°C, but both of them were significant greater than that in C. dactylon (P < 0.05). Additionally, C. dactylon had the highest electrolyte osmotic rate, and E. comosum was the lowest. Meanwhile, the semilethal low temperature was the lowest (-13.6°C) in E. comosum as compared to C. dactlylon (-6.86°C) and P. paniceum (-9.37°C). Both the contents of Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b were highest in P. paniceum, lowest in C. dactylon, and those in E. comosum were medium. These suggested that E. comosum may have the strongest cold resistance capacity, and that in C. dactylon was the weakest. The results showed that E. comosum was the best option to the rock slope protection due to their strongest anti-cold ability among these three grasses.

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