Drought Stress Experiment on S. Miltiorrhiza Plants at Different Growth Stages

S. Miltiorrhiza seeds were carefully selected based on their integrity and uniform size. The seeds were then subjected to a 10-minute sterilization process using 10% sodium hypochlorite (v/v) followed by rinsing with distilled water. Subsequently, the seeds were planted in plastic pots (30 cm diameter ￗ 20 cm height) filled with 0.9 L of sterilized vermiculite. The experiment was divided into three groups, namely TF, TM, and TJ, with each group sown in February, May, and July, respectively. At the time of drought treatment in October, the three groups of S. miltiorrhiza plants were in the seedling, nutritional growth, and reproductive growth stages. To ensure uniformity, 42 pots with similar growth potential were selected for each group and divided into 7 treatments, with each treatment being repeated 6 times.