We compared chloroplast photochemical properties and activities of some chloroplast-localised enzymes in two ecotypes of Phragmites communis, swamp reed (SR, C3-like) and dune reed (DR, C4-like) plants growing in the desert region of north-west China. Electron transport rates of whole electron transport chain and photosystem (PS) 2 were remarkably lower in DR chloroplasts. However, the electron transport rate for PS1 in DR chloroplasts was more than 90 % of the activity similar in the SR chloroplasts. Activities of Mg2+-ATPase and cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylations were higher in DR chloroplasts than in the SR ones. The activities of chloroplast superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), both localised at or near the PS1 complex and serving to scavenge active oxygen around PS1, and the content of ascorbic acid, a special substrate of APX in chloroplast, were all higher in DR chloroplasts. Hence reed, a hydrophytic plant, when subjected to intense selection pressure in dune habitat, elevates its cyclic electron flow around PS1. In consequence, it provides extra ATP required by C4 photosynthesis. Combined high activities of active oxygen scavenging components in DR chloroplasts might improve protection of photosynthetic apparatus, especially PS1, from the damage of reactive oxygen species. This offers new explanation of photosynthetic performance of plant adaptation to long-term natural drought habitat, which is different from those, subjected to the short-term stress treatment or even to the artificial field drought. and X. Y. Zhu, G. C. Chen, C. L. Zhang.
We compared the photosynthetic traits in response to soil water availability in an endangered plant species Mosla hangchowensis Matsuda and in a weed Mosla dianthera (Buch.-Ham.) Maxim. The highest diurnal mean net photosynthetic rate (PNmean), stomatal conductance (gs), and water use efficiency (WUE) of both species occurred at 60 % soil water holding capacity (WHC), while the lowest values occurred at 20 % WHC. The PNmean, gs, and chlorophyll (Chl) a and b contents of M. hangchowensis were lower than those of M. dianthera, while the physiological plasticity indices were higher than those of M. dianthera. M. hangchowensis had strong adaptability to the changing soil water status but weak extending population ability in its habitats because of the low PNmean, which may be one of the causes of its endangerment. and Y. Ge ... [et al.].
Diurnal variation in net photosynthetic rate (PN) of three-year-old plants of Ginkgo biloba was studied under open, O (receiving full sunlight), net-shade, NS (40 % of photosynthetically active radiation, PAR), or greenhouse, G (25 % PAR) conditions. In all three conditions, PN was higher in morning along with stomatal conductance (gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), while leaf temperature and vapour pressure deficit were low. The O-plants exhibited a typical decline in PN during midday, which was not observed in NS-plants. This indicated a possible photoinhibition in O-plants as the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and photosystem 2 (PS2) yield (ΦPS2) values were higher in the NS- and G-plants. On the contrary, stomatal density and index, chlorophyll a/b ratio, leaf thickness, and density of mesophyll cells were greater in O-plants. Further, higher PN throughout the day along with higher relative growth rate under NS as compared to O and G suggested the better efficiency of Ginkgo plants under NS conditions. Therefore, this plant species could be grown at 40 % irradiance to meet the ever-increasing demand of leaf and also to increase its export potential. and S. Pandey, S. Kumar, P. K. Nagar.
Independent short-term effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 50-400 µmol m-2 s-1, external CO2 concentration (C a) of 85-850 cm3 m-3, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of 0.9-2.2 kPa on net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf internal CO2 concentration (Ci), and transpiration rates (E) were investigated in three cacao genotypes. In all these genotypes, increasing PPFD from 50 to 400 µmol m-2 s-1 increased PN by about 50 %, but further increases in PPFD up to 1 500 µmol m-2 s-1 had no effect on PN. Increasing Ca significantly increased PN and Ci while gs and E decreased more strongly than in most trees that have been studied. In all genotypes, increasing VPD reduced PN, but the slight decrease in gs and the slight increase in Ci with increasing VPD were non-significant. Increasing VPD significantly increased E and this may have caused the reduction in PN. The unusually small response of gs to VPD could limit the ability of cacao to grow where VPD is high. There were no significant differences in gas exchange characteristics (gs, Ci, E) among the three cacao genotypes under any measurement conditions. and F. C. Baligar ... [et al.].
Response to irradiance of leaf net photosynthetic rates (PN) of four carrot cultivars: Cascade, Caro Choice (CC), Oranza, and Red Core Chantenay (RCC) were examined in a controlled environment. Gas exchange measurements were conducted at photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) from 100 to 1 000 μmol m-2 s-1 at 20 °C and 350 μmol (CO2) mol-1(air). The values of PN were fitted to a rectangular hyperbolic nonlinear regression model. PN for all cultivars increased similarly with increasing PAR but Cascade and Oranza generally had higher PN than CC. None of the cultivars reached saturation at 1 000 μmol m-2 s-1. The predicted PN at saturation
(PNmax) for Cascade, CC, Oranza, and RCC were 19.78, 16.40, 19.79, and 18.11 μmol (CO2) m-2 s-1, respectively. The compensation irradiance (I c) occurred at 54 μmol m-2 s-1 for Cascade, 36 μmol m-2 s-1 for CC, 45 μmol m-2 s-1 for Oranza, and 25 μmol m-2 s-1 for RCC. The quantum yield among the cultivars ranged between 0.057-0.033 mol(CO2) mol-1(PAR) and did not differ. Dark respiration varied from 2.66 μmol m-2 s-1 for Cascade to 0.85 μmol m-2 s-1 for RCC. As PN increased with PAR, intercellular CO2 decreased in a non-linear manner. Increasing PAR increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate to a peak between 600 and 800 μmol m-2 s-1 followed by a steep decline resulting in sharp increases in water use efficiency. and S. Kyei-Boahen ... [et al.].
We investigated the characteristics of gaseous exchanges and chlorophyll a fluorescence under different irradiances in two liana species Canavalia parviflora Benth. (Fabaceae) and Gouania virgata Reissk (Rhamnaceae), both of a semi-deciduous tropical forest of Southeast Brazil. We used cultivated plants growing under irradiances of 100, 40, 10, and 1.5 % of the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Higher net photosynthetic rates (PN) were observed during early morning under full sunlight. After this, reduced PN values were recorded due to pronounced stomatal closure. In Canavalia, the gas exchange responses diminished concomitant with reduced irradiance. Gouania exhibited a narrower range of response, with high PN values even at 10 % PPFD. Marked reduction of the effective photochemical yield (ΔF/Fm') near midday was observed, followed by increases in the non-photochemical quenching for both species under full sunlight. Despite the common occurrence of these species in open areas of the forest, both were able to maintain relatively high PN in shaded environments. We suggest that lianas present an intermediate physiological behaviour between shade and non-shade tolerant species. and M. C. Sanches, I. F. M. Válio.
Net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and leaf water potential (Ψl) of an annual pioneer C4 grass (Agriophyllum squarrosum) were compared under different simulated precipitation events in a field of Hunshandak Sandland, China. The increase of soil water content (SWC) had significant effect on these physiological traits (p<0.001). In the vegetative stage, the values of PN, E, and gs went up sharply when SWC increased at the beginning, while they went down with continuous increase of SWC. PN, E, and gs increased 1.4, 1.7, and 1.7 fold, respectively, with SWC range from 6.7 to 11.6 %. In the reproductive stage, similar trends were found, except for the climate with a higher SWC. This indicated that A. squarrosum was very sensitive to the small increment of SWC which might have a large photosynthetic potential. Ψl increased by about 8 % as the SWC changed from 6.7 to 8.8 %, and then maintained a steady level when the SWC was higher than 8.8 %, while the values of PN, E, and gs kept increasing even after this SWC. This might indicate that the adjustment of Ψl response to the changes of SWC lagged that of the photosynthetic parameters. and M. Z. Liu ... [et al.].
In mature and young leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Catissol-01) plants grown in the greenhouse, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate declined during water stress independently of leaf age and recovered after 24-h rehydration. The intercellular CO2 concentration, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and photochemical activity were not affected by water stress. However, non-photochemical quenching increased in mature stressed leaves. Rehydration recovered the levels of non-photochemical quenching and increased the Fv/Fm in young leaves. Drought did not alter the total Chl content. However, the accumulation of proline under drought was dependent on leaf age: higher content of proline was found in young leaves. After 24 h of rehydration the content of proline returned to the same contents as in control plants. and I. Cechin ... [et al.].
Two cultivars (Katy and Erhuacao) of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) were evaluated under open-field and solar-heated greenhouse conditions in northwest China, to determine the effect of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), leaf temperature, and CO2 concentration on the net photosynthetic rate (PN). In greenhouse, Katy registered 28.3 µmol m-2 s-1 for compensation irradiance and 823 µmol m-2 s-1 for saturation irradiance, which were 73 and 117 % of those required by Erhuacao, respectively. The optimum temperatures for cvs. Katy and Erhuacao were 25 and 35 °C in open-field and 22 and 30 °C in greenhouse, respectively. At optimal temperatures, PN of the field-grown Katy was 16.5 µmol m-2 s-1, 21 % less than for a greenhouse-grown apricot. Both cultivars responded positively to CO2 concentrations below the CO2 saturation concentration, whereas Katy exhibited greater PN (18 %) and higher carboxylation efficiency (91 %) than Erhuacao at optimal CO2 concentration. Both cultivars exhibited greater photosynthesis in solar-heated greenhouses than in open-field, but Katy performed better than Erhuacao under greenhouse conditions. and F. L. Wang, H. Wang, G. Wang.
Saplings of the tropical trees Tibouchina pulchra (Cham.) Cogn., Caesalpinia echinata Lam., and Psidium guajava L. cv. Paluma were exposed in open-top chambers with charcoal filtered air and measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were made before (t1) and after exposure to non-filtered air plus O3 (t2), simulating 6-h peaks of O3 similar to those observed in São Paulo city (SE Brazil, reaching an AOT40 of 641 nmol mol-1). After the fumigation, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and Fv/Fm were reduced (p<0.05) for the three species. C. echinata was the most sensitive species and P. guajava cv. Paluma the most resistant. and R. M. Moraes ... [et al.].