Physiological responses of two Jerusalem artichoke
(Helianthus tuberosus L.) cultivars with different
drought sensitivity to drought stress induced by polyethylene
glycol (PEG) 6000 were investigated by characterizing
water status, membrane lipid peroxidation, key
antioxidant enzymes activity, and proline accumulation. It
was observed that the drought-tolerant Jerusalem artichoke
cv. Xiuyan maintained a relatively higher water status than
the drought-sensitive cv. Yulin upon drought treatments.
Meanwhile, lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as
well as higher levels of free proline occurred in cv. Xiuyan
after 36 h drought treatments. Moreover, the activities of
catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cv.
Xiuyan were higher than cv. Yulin after drought stress.
These results indicated that drought sensitivities actually
differ between Jerusalem artichoke cv. Xiuyan and cv.
Yulin, and the cv. Xiuyan was more tolerant to drought
stress caused by polyethylene glycol.