The irrigation method of partial root-zone drying (PRD) is based on drought stimulation without real water stress in order to induce xerophytophysiological signalling and regulations. In the present study, a series of measurements with potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) crops were conducted to understand the mechanisms underlying PRD. The results showed that PRD-induced osmotic adjustment shown by lower osmotic potential and higher turgor potential in fully turgid leaves and higher symplastic water fraction in cells. The PRD-induced osmotic adjustment was also confirmed by the active accumulation of osmolytes such as free proline, soluble sugars and soluble proteins. In PRD-treated potato plants, turgor maintenance by osmotic adjustment ensured improvements in photosynthetic activities, plant growth and final tuber yield. One of the signal substances, superoxide (O 2 − ), was increased by PRD but soon eliminated by superoxide dismutase (SOD), which was activated by PRD along with catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). As one of the stress-responsive genes, the aquaporin gene RD28 was upregulated by PRD and might explain the improved physiological activities associated with the abovementioned xerophytophysiological regulations.

中文翻译：

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干燥植物生理学和信号转导在植物生产中的应用：马铃薯作物的部分根区干燥

部分根区干燥 (PRD) 的灌溉方法基于干旱刺激，没有真正的水分胁迫，以诱导旱生生理信号和调节。在本研究中，对马铃薯 (Solanum tuberosum L.) 作物进行了一系列测量，以了解 PRD 的潜在机制。结果表明，PRD 诱导的渗透调节表现为完全膨胀的叶片中较低的渗透势和较高的膨压势以及细胞中较高的共生水分数。PRD 诱导的渗透调节也通过渗透物如游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质的活跃积累得到证实。在 PRD 处理的马铃薯植株中，通过渗透调节保持膨压确保了光合活性、植物生长和最终块茎产量的改善。信号物质之一，超氧化物 (O 2 - ) 被 PRD 增加，但很快被超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 消除，超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 与过氧化氢酶 (CAT) 和过氧化物酶 (POD) 一起被 PRD 激活。作为胁迫响应基因之一，水通道蛋白基因 RD28 被 PRD 上调，这可能解释了与上述旱生植物生理调节相关的生理活动的改善。