Exogenous phosphatidylcholine treatment alleviates drought stress and maintains the integrity of root cell membranes in peach

•Confirmed the alleviation of exogenous phosphatidylcholine on peach tree under drought stress.•Prove that exogenous phosphatidylcholine reduces root cell damage under drought stress.•Prove the positive effect of phosphatidylcholine on signal transduction under abiotic stress.•The first one used exogenous phosphatidylcholine to study on deciduous fruit trees.