Abstract
Leaf water relations obtained from P-V curves were compared among 3-year-old seedlings of six deciduous Quercus species (Q. mongolica, Q. dentata, Q. serrata, Q. crispula, Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis) distributed widely in eastern Asia, grown under different soil water conditions (control, pF2, pF3) for 2 weeks. Under well-waterd condition, Q. dentata showed the highest drought tolerance among the 6 species. In the condition of water deficiency, however, Q. variabillis showed the highest drought tolerance and Q. dentata followed. The drought tolerance of Q. serrata was the lowest under all three soil water conditions and Q. acutissima followed. That of Q. mongolica and Q. crispula was intermediate among the 6 species. As for the osmotic adjustment, Q. variabillis was supposed to have high ability but Q. dentata and Q. acutissima were supposed to have low ability.
