Abstract:To explore the response mechanism of Akebia trifoliata to acid rain stress and the effect of exogenous titanium [Ti(SO4)2] on its acid resistance, the changes in leaf anatomy and physiological characteristics were studied after simulated acid rain and exogenous titanium treatment, and the principal component analysis and correlation analysis were performed. The results showed that compared with the control, the lateral vein and epidermal structure of leaves were seriously damaged under simulated acid rain (T0) treatment, the main vein, main vein vascular bundle, leaf and palisade tissues were thickening, the chlorophyll content was significantly decreased, the oxygen free radical production rate, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased. Exogenous titanium treatments (T1-T3) effectively alleviated the damage of lateral vein and epidermal of leaves, significantly increased chlorophyll content, SOD, POD and CAT activities, and maintained a low rate of oxygen free radical production. Principal component analysis showed that main vein, vascular bundle and leaf thickness played a key role in response mechanism to acid rain stress. Correlation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlations among vascular bundle thickness, palisade tissue thickness, leaf tissue structure tightness, activities of SOD, POD and CAT. Therefore, the seedlings of A. trifoliata could adapt to acid rain stress by changing the leaf anatomical structure and increasing the activities of SOD, POD and CAT. Appropriate Ti could effectively alleviate the damage caused by acid rain stress, and 0.2 mmol/L Ti had the best effect.