A differential response to long-term ozone exposures (50 and 100 mm3 m-3) was observed in the green and white areas of variegated leaves of Hedera canariensis var. azorica L. In green tissue the photosynthetic activity was depressed via a stomatal mechanism, and in white regions no effect was observed. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters remained unchanged in green portions, whereas in the white ones Fm and Fv/Fm significantly diminished following ozone fumigation. and G. F. Soldatini ... [et al.].
Three-month-old mulberry (Morus alba L.) cultivars (salt tolerant cv. S1 and salt sensitive cv. ATP) were subjected to different concentrations of NaCl for 12 d. Leaf area, dry mass accumulation, total chlorophyll (Chl) content, net CO2 assimilation rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E) declined, and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) increased. The changes in these parameters were dependent on stress severity and duration, and differed between the two cultivars. The tolerant cultivar showed a lesser reduction in PN and gs coupled with a better Ci and water use efficiency (WUE) than the sensitive cultivar. and S. Giridara Kumar ... [et al.].
Net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs) declined from upper leaves to the lower ones during dry and rainy seasons, indicating that long-term carbon budget should take into account PN variations for different leaf types. Relatively greater PN in the dry season suggested that this species is more able to maintain higher PN under drought, but the relatively higher E in the dry season might reduce water use efficiency (PN/E) for the species. Significant correlations between PN and gs indicated that gs may be the critical factor for PN variability in the desert region. and R. Z. Wang ... [et al.].
The effects of water deficit and re-irrigation were studied in glasshouse-grown rice plants (cvs. Cimarrón and Fonaiap 2000) which differ in their susceptibility to water deficit. Relative water content decreased from >90 to 67-69 % and recovered to pre-stress values within 24 h after re-irrigation. The irradiance-saturated rate of photosynthesis (Psat), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased with water deficit. E and gs decreased similarly in both cultivars, but Psat was more strongly inhibited in Cimarrón than in Fonaiap 2000. Water deficit increased water use efficiency (WUET) over 2-fold in Fonaiap 2000 and by 1.5-fold in Cimarrón. The ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca) decreased in Fonaiap 2000 during mild stress but increased at severe stress. Contrarily, Cimarrón did not change Ci/Ca with water deficit. After re-irrigation Fonaiap 2000 recovered Psat to ca. 80 % of control values 24 h after re-irrigation, whereas Cimarrón recovered to 60 % of control values 48 h after re-irrigation. E and gs recovered to a lesser extent (50 %) than
Psat, after 48 h of re-irrigation in both cultivars. Total aboveground and green (live) biomass were unaffected by water deficit in Fonaiap 2000 but were reduced by 21 and 40 % in Cimarrón, respectively. Dead biomass increased in stressed plants of both cultivars but to a larger extent in Cimarrón than in Fonaiap 2000. Water deficit increased δ13C in Fonaiap 2000, whereas Cimarrón was unaffected by water deficit showing lower values than those of Fonaiap 2000. δ13C was highly and linearly correlated to the ratio
Ci/Ca. WUET was also significantly correlated to δ13C. and A. J. Pieters, M. Núñez.
Tropical forest disturbances lead to the establishment of secondary successional plant communities constituted by light demanding species with high relative growth rate that conduct to rapid canopy closure. Two main strategies for N nutrition are: (a) mineral N acquisition in the form of NH4 and NO3, and (b) symbiotic atmospheric N2 fixation. Given the high N requirement for maximization of leaf area and radiant energy absorption, we hypothesize that contrasting strategies of N nutrition in these environments are reflected in leaf photosynthetic characteristics. We compared the N-photosynthesis relationships and carbon balance parameters per unit leaf area as they vary with age in two species with contrasting N acquisition strategies: a N2-fixer Crotalaria anagyroides HBK (Papilionoideae), and a mineral-N user Verbesina turbacensis HBK (Asteraceae). N2 fixation capacity was associated to higher specific leaf area (SLA), higher photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) per unit leaf area and leaf mass, and higher N content per unit leaf mass. The N2-fixer species showed higher slope in the relationship Pmax-N per unit leaf mass and area when compared to the leaves of non-fixer species. Moreover, the intrinsic photosynthetic N use efficiency (Pmax/N) was higher in the N2 fixer than in leaves of the non-fixer species. Changes in N due to leaf age resulted in larger changes in CO2 flux density at the leaf level in the N2-fixer species. The higher photosynthetic capacity of the N2-fixer species was mechanistically related to higher stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration (ci) values closer to atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca), and lower intrinsic water use efficiency than the mineral N-user species. Despite their higher Pmax per unit leaf area, total non-structural saccharides concentration was lower in mature leaves of the N2-fixer plant as compared to the non-fixer counterpart. This might be caused by the presence of a larger root sink (symbionts) stimulating saccharides export and higher diurnal respiration rates. and A. Quilici, E. Medina.
Wheat (T. durum cvs. HD 4502 and B 449, T. aestivum cvs. Kalyansona and Kundan) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Morden) were grown under atmospheric (360±10 cm3 m-3, AC) and elevated CO2 (650±50 cm3 m-3, EC) concentration in open top chambers for entire period of growth and development till maturity. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (PN) of EC-grown plants of wheat measured at EC was significantly decreased in comparison with AC-plants of wheat measured at EC. Sunflower, however, showed no significant depression in PN in EC-plants. There was a decrease in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) activity, its activation state and amount in EC-plants of wheat, whereas no significant decrease was observed in sunflower. The above different acclimation to EC in wheat and sunflower was related with saccharide constituents accumulated in the leaves. Under EC, sunflower accumulated in the leaves more starch, whereas wheat accumulated more sugars. and M. C. Ghildiyal, S. Rafique, P. Sharma-Natu.
Pachyrhizus ahipa (Wedd.) Parodi, originally from Latin America, is an agronomy interesting legume crop due to high seed protein content and saccharides-rich tuber root. Its capacity of adaptation to Mediterranean climate, where heat and water stress are frequently associated, is being tested. Two accessions of P. ahipa (AC 102 and AC 524) differing in field production were compared as concerns the effects of water stress and high temperature on photosynthetic performance. Membrane integrity was also evaluated through electrolyte leakage (injury index, I%), lipid composition, and ultrastructure observations. Short-term heat stress (40 °C) did not affect net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and most of fluorescence parameters in both accessions, what was consistent with low electrolyte leakage. However, photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) showed a significant reduction, AC 524 being more affected than AC 102. Relative water content (RWC) below 70 % caused a drastic decrease in PN and gs. Fluorescence parameters, Pmax, and I% were affected in the two accessions, which also presented a strong reduction (42 %) in total fatty acids (TFA). Contents of galactolipids were drastically reduced, and changes in their saturation also occurred, namely a decrease in linolenic acid (C18:3) percentage of monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol (MGDG) in both accessions. Thylakoid ultrastructure in AC 524 submitted to drought showed disorganisation of grana stacking. Mitochondria presented signs of injured cristae. When water-stressed plants were subjected to high temperature, photosynthesis and fluorescence parameters did not show significant additional changes in both accessions. The exposure of drought stressed plants to 40 °C further increased electrolyte leakage in AC 524, but not in AC 102. Chloroplasts, mitochondria, and plasmalemma showed an increased disorganisation. Vesicles appeared in the cytoplasm, which became electron-transparent, reflecting a strong reduction in the number of ribosomes. Hence AC 102 was less affected than AC 524 as regards some components of photosynthetic process, namely Pmax and membrane integrity. This could account for its better yield production previously observed in field grown plants. and M. C. Matos ... [et al.].
Diurnal patterns of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters of photosystem 2 (PS2) as well as Chl content were analyzed in Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim., a perennial semi-shrub during dehydration and rehydration. The net photosynthetic rate (PN), maximum photochemical efficiency of PS2 (variable to maximum fluorescence ratio, Fv/Fm), quantum efficiency of non-cyclic electron transport of PS2, and Chl content decreased, but non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence and carotenoid content increased in stems with the increasing of drought stress. 6 d after re-hydration, new leaves budded from stems. In the re-watered plants, the chloroplast function was restored and Chl a fluorescence returned to a similar level as in the control plants. This improved hydraulic adjustment in plant triggered a positive effect on ion flow in the tissues and increased shoot electrical admittance. Thus R. soongorica plants are able to sustain drought stress through leaf abscission and keep part of Chl content in stems. and D. H. Xu ... [et al.].
Cadmium (Cd) treatments caused an inhibition in the net photosynthetic rate (PN) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) plants, due to the reduction of stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic pigment contents, as well as the alteration in leaf structure. The decrease of the transpiration rate and gs might result from the Cd-induced xerophyte anatomic features of leaves (i.e. thick lamina, upper epidermis, palisade mesophyll, high palisade to spongy thickness ratio, as well as abundant and small stomata). The decline of PN was independent of the impairment in photosystem 2. and G. R. Shi, Q. S. Cai.
The diurnal variation of net photosynthetic (PN) and transpiration (E) rates in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Fukuyutaka] plants grown under 100, 50, or 25 % of full sun irradiance (I100, I50, I25 plants) were compared. In the morning, activities of the plants were measured at irradiances under which they grew. However, during the afternoon, all the plants were tested under full irradiance. The lower the growth irradiance, the lower PN, E, and mesophyll conductance values were found. Stomatal conductance was considerably lower in I25 plants only. Both the increase in specific leaf area (SLA) and the decrease in nitrogen content per leaf area unit contributed to the PN reduction of soybean plants grown under low irradiances. Though E of the plants grown under different irradiances differed less markedly than PN, the water use efficiency declined from I100 to I25. and Y. Koesmaryono ... [et al.].