انجمن علمی جنگلبانی ایران مجله جنگل ایران 2008-6113 13 5 (ویژه نامه به زبان انگلیسی) 2022 02 20 Effect of soil moisture content on survival, growth, and physiological characteristics of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) seedlings Effect of soil moisture content on survival, growth, and physiological characteristics of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) seedlings 57 69 150664 10.22034/ijf.2022.318436.1832 FA Eslam Shayesteh Pahangeh Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Alireza Aliarab Assistant Prof., Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran 0000-0002-6946-8926 Seyed-Ehsan Sadati Associated Research Prof., Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sari, Iran Kambiz Espahbodi Associated Research Prof., Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sari, Iran Zahra Karimian Dept. of Ornamental Plants, Research center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi of Mashhad. Mashhad, Iran Journal Article 2022 01 10 Wild cherry (<em>Prunus avium</em>) is one of the native and fast-growing broadleaves species of the Hyrcanian forests that can be used in mixed reforestations. Therefore, knowledge of the survival reaction and some morphological and physiological characteristics of seedlings of this species at different levels of soil moisture content (SMC) is crucial for the development of seedling production and afforestation programs, as well as habitat restoration. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with four irrigation levels (control or 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity) in 3 replications and 5 seedlings per replication as subsamples. Thus, the seedlings were examined for five months (May to September) and a total of 60 potted seedlings were tested and sampled. Morphological characteristics of seedlings such as survival, height growth, diameter growth, root dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight, and root to stem ratio and physiological characteristics  of plant pigment concentrations including chlorophyll (a, b and total), carotenoids, soluble sugars and proline were measured. The results showed that reducing SMC had different effects on morphological and physiological traits of wild cherry seedlings. With decreasing SMC, the amount of chlorophylls a and b, total chlorophyll, decreased. Proline levels were quadrupled and soluble sugars were doubled when extreme humidity decreased. An increase in the amount of proline and soluble sugars makes the plant more tolerant of drought. Therefore, at least 50% of the field moisture capacity in the rooting environment of seedlings is necessary. Wild cherry (<em>Prunus avium</em>) is one of the native and fast-growing broadleaves species of the Hyrcanian forests that can be used in mixed reforestations. Therefore, knowledge of the survival reaction and some morphological and physiological characteristics of seedlings of this species at different levels of soil moisture content (SMC) is crucial for the development of seedling production and afforestation programs, as well as habitat restoration. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with four irrigation levels (control or 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity) in 3 replications and 5 seedlings per replication as subsamples. Thus, the seedlings were examined for five months (May to September) and a total of 60 potted seedlings were tested and sampled. Morphological characteristics of seedlings such as survival, height growth, diameter growth, root dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight, and root to stem ratio and physiological characteristics  of plant pigment concentrations including chlorophyll (a, b and total), carotenoids, soluble sugars and proline were measured. The results showed that reducing SMC had different effects on morphological and physiological traits of wild cherry seedlings. With decreasing SMC, the amount of chlorophylls a and b, total chlorophyll, decreased. Proline levels were quadrupled and soluble sugars were doubled when extreme humidity decreased. An increase in the amount of proline and soluble sugars makes the plant more tolerant of drought. Therefore, at least 50% of the field moisture capacity in the rooting environment of seedlings is necessary. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_150664_1e02bb91e0460de555c06e083ab8a81a.pdf