Photosynthesis, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, and nitrogen metabolism of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.), subjected to exogenous L-glutamic acid (GLA) (200 mg l-1, 400 mg l-1, and 800 mg l-1) that possibly affect secondary metabolic regulation, were measured. The results indicated that photosynthetic and fluorescence characteristics of hawthorn exhibited positive responses to the application of GLA. Different concentrations of GLA caused an increase in Chl content, net photosynthetic rate
(PN) and stomatal conductance (g s) as well as transpiration rate (E), and improved the carboxylation efficiency (CE), apparent quantum yield (AQY) and maximum carboxylation velocity of Rubisco (Vcmax). Application of GLA could also enhance the maximum ratio of quantum yields of photochemical and concurrent non-photochemical processes in PSII (Fv/F0), the maximal quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), the probability that an absorbed photon will move an electron into the electron transport chain beyond QA (ΦEo) as well as the performance index on absorption basis (PIABS), but decreased the intercellular CO2 concentration
(Ci) and the minimal fluorescence (F0). Application of GLA also induced an increase in nitrate reductase (NR; EC 1.6.6.1) and glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) activities, and increased the soluble protein content, leaf nitrogen (N) content and N accumulation in leaves as well as the plant biomass. However, the effects were different among different concentrations of GLA, and 800 mg l-1 GLA was better. This finding suggested that application of GLA is recommended to improve the photosynthetic capacity by increasing the light energy conversion and CO2 transfer as well as the photochemical efficiency of PSII, and enhanced the nitrogen metabolism and growth and development of plants. and C. YU ... [et al.].
The leaf water potential, gas-exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated in five common oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) tenera hybrids 913X1988, 1425X2277, 748X1988, 7418X1988, and 690X1988 under water deficit with an aim to identify hybrids which can cope up better under such conditions and understand possible differences among hybrids in relation to the physiological mechanisms triggered by water deficit. Our findings indicate oil palm hybrids 913X1988, 1425X2277, and 7418X1988 maintained higher leaf water potentials than the other hybrids. Hybrids 7418X1988 and 1425X2277 recorded lower stomatal conductance after water deficit, which resulted in higher intrinsic water-use efficiency. The excess light energy produced due to decreased photosynthesis in 7418X1988 and 690X1988 hybrids under water deficit was dissipated as heat by higher nonphotochemical quenching. The maximum efficiency of photosystem II was not affected, even after withholding water for 24 days, suggesting an increased efficiency of photoprotection mechanisms in all these oil palm hybrids., K. Suresh ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Differences in structural, physiological, and biochemical features between C3 and C4 species resulted in different wateruse efficiencies and different adaptations to climate. This paper aimed at investigating, at a late successional stage, the water-use efficiency of two forage species, Dichanthium ischaemum and Dasypyrum villosum, which exhibit different growth forms (perenial, annual) and photosynthetic mechanisms (C4 and C3, respectively). The annual C3 species Avena fatua, at an early successional stage, was included in our experiments to contrast its behaviour against D. villosum. The experiment was conducted during the growing season in low-elevation grasslands of North Greece. Midday leaf water potential, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were measured. Instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE) and intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) were calculated in D. ischaemum, D. villosum, and A. fatua. The results suggest that, under natural rainfall conditions, the annual C3 grass species D. villosum exhibits a similar WUE with higher values of WUEi than the perennial C4 species
D. ischaemum at late stage of succession on the low elevation Mediterranean grasslands. Moreover, A. fatua at an early successional stage, exhibited different photosynthetic behaviour than D. villosum at a late successional stage. These findings indicate that the annual C3 species D. villosum under drought and at a late successional stage seems to modify the WUE obtaining values similar to those of C4 species. The extent to which the ecophysiological characteristics of D. villosum are environmentally or intrinsically determined remains to be answered. and M. Karatassiou, B. Noitsakis.
The effects of potassium (K) deficiency on chlorophyll (Chl) content, photosynthetic gas exchange, and photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry during the seedling stage were investigated in two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars, low-K sensitive Tiefeng31 and low-K tolerant Shennong6. The cultivars were grown hydroponically in K-sufficient (KS) and K-deficient (KD) solutions. Photosynthetic gas exchange and Chl content in Tiefeng31 were severely affected by the low K condition, but were almost unaffected in Shennong6. This difference is in accordance with the PSII photochemistry in the plants, indicating that the photosynthetic apparatus of Shennong6 is more tolerant to low-K stress than that of Tiefeng31. and X.-T. Li ... [et al.].
Photosynthetic parameters and leaf carbon isotope composition (δ13C) in contrasting rice genotypes in relation to supplemental nitrogen (N) application and water management during the grain-filling period were compared. The changes in stomatal conductance (gs) and ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 mole fraction (Ci/Ca) depended on the leaf nitrogen concentration (leaf N) in both ‘Hinohikari’ (temperate japonica genotype) and ‘IR36’ (indica genotype). In ‘Hinohikari’, δ13C reflects photosynthetic gas exchange during the grain-filling period, which is indicated by the significant response of δ13C to leaf N. In contrast, in ‘IR36’ δ13C did not depend on leaf N. This varietal difference in δ13C to leaf N can be attributed to a difference in the timing of leaf senescence. In ‘IR36’, leaf N and photosynthetic parameters decreased more rapidly, indicating earlier senescence and a shorter grain-filling period in comparison with ‘Hinohikari’. The significant increase in shoot dry mass in ‘Hinohikari’ resulting from supplemental N application, compared with nonsignificant effect observed in ‘IR36’, suggests that the timing of senescence in relation to the grainfilling period has a preponderant influence on productivity., S. Shimoda., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The impact of grazing by domestic goats, Capra hircus, on the photochemical apparatus of three co-ocurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica scoparia, Halimium halimifolium, and Myrtus communis was evaluated. Seasonal course of gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment concentrations were measured in the field in grazed and ungrazed plants. Net photosynthetic rate was higher in grazed plants of E. scoparia and H. halimifolium in May, while there were not significant differences in M. communis. Photosynthetic enhancement in grazed plants of E. scoparia could be explained largely by higher stomatal conductance. On the other hand, the lack of differences in stomatal conductance between grazed and ungrazed plants of
H. halimifolium could indicate that carboxylation efficiency, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration may have been enhanced by grazing. Overall grazing has little effect on the photochemical (PSII) apparatus, however grazed plants of M. communis showed chronic photoinhibition in the short term. Finally, seasonal variations recorded on photosynthesis, photochemical efficiency and pigment concentrations may be a physiological consequence of environmental factors, such as summer drought and competition for light, rather than an adaptation to grazing. and S. Redondo-Gómez ... [et al.].
Leaf stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), and light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) at three developmental stages (tillering stage, jointing-booting stage, and milking stage) and leaf total nitrogen concentration (LTNC) and δ13C value at milking stage were measured for a conventional rice line (Minghui 63) and its corresponding Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-gene [cry1A
(b and c)] introduced line (Bt line) under three fertilizer levels. Compared to conventional line, Bt line showed lower gs, which was associated with lower P Nmax and E, but instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE), measured as the ratio of PNmax to E, was higher in the Bt line than in the conventional line, particularly in the jointing-booting stage. However, δ13C values were not significantly different across treatments, suggesting that intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEin) might be indistinguishable between Bt and conventional lines. LTNC was higher but PNmax was lower in Bt line compared to conventional line, resulting in significantly lower photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE). This might result from the additional cost of producing Bt protein in the Bt line due to the effect of competing nitrogen with photosynthetic machinery. Bt-gene introduction and expression does not significantly change WUEin but may significantly decrease leaf PNUE. Thus we suggest that Bt rice should be carefully examined in relation to environmental risks (e.g. water-body pollution) before planting commercially. and R. Q. Guo ... [et al.].
The Amazonian peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) has been grown for heart-of-palm production under subtropical conditions. As we did not see any substantial study on its photosynthesis under Amazonian or subtropical conditions, we carried out an investigation on the diurnal and seasonal variations in photosynthesis of peach palms until the first heart-of-palm harvest, considering their relationship with key environmental factors. Spineless peach palms were grown in 80-L plastic pots, under irrigation. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence emission measurements were taken in late winter, mid spring, mid summer and early autumn, from 7:00 to 18:00 h, with an additional chlorophyll fluorescence measurement at 6:00 h. The highest net CO2 assimilation (PN), observed in mid summer, reached about 15 μmol m-2 s-1, which was about 20% higher than the maximum values found in autumn and spring, and 60% higher than that in winter The same pattern of diurnal course for PN was observed in all seasons, showing higher values from 8:00 to 9:00 h and declining gradually from 11:00 h toward late afternoon. The diurnal course of stomatal conductance (gs) followed the same pattern of
PN, with the highest value of 0.6 mol m-2 s-1 being observed in February and the lowest one (0.23 mol m-2 s-1) in September. The maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was above 0.75 in the early morning in all the months. The reversible decrease was observed around midday in September and October, suggesting the occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition. A significant negative correlation between the leaf-air vapour pressure difference (VPDleaf-air) and PN and a positive correlation between PN and gs were observed. The photosynthesis of peach palm was likely modulated mainly by the stomatal control that was quite sensible to atmospheric environmental conditions. Under subtropical conditions, air temperature (Tair) and VPDleaf-air impose more significant effects over PN of peach palm than an excessive photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). The occurrence of dynamic photoinhibition indicates that under irrigation, peach palms appeared to be acclimated to the full-sunlight conditions under which they have been grown. and M. L. S. Tucci ... [et al.].
The aim of the study was to the assess the influence of Ca/Mg ions ratio on the photosynthetic activity of Salix viminalis L. ‘Cannabina’ plants cultivated in medium enriched with Cu(NO3)2. The experiment was conducted in controlled conditions in a phytotron for 21 days; hence the early plant response was tested. Plants were cultivated with different Ca/Mg ions ratios, i.e. (4:1)l, (4:1)h, and 1:10. Plants were additionally treated with Cu(NO3)2 at 1, 2, and 3 mM concentration in cultivation medium. Net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration were measured after the first, second and third week of cultivation. Additionally, chlorophyll content, leaf morphology, root biomass and copper accumulation in leaves and roots were investigated. The investigations revealed differences in plant response to particular treatments - differences in Cu accumulation for particular Ca/Mg ions ratios were detected. It seems that plants are adapted to high Cu2+ concentrations, when 1:10 Ca/Mg ions ratio is applied. The highest Cu accumulation in roots was noted for plants fertilized with 1:10 Ca/Mg ions ratio, together with high Cu translocation to above-ground plant organs, which suggests its higher potential in phytoremediation., K. Borowiak ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The current concentrations of O3 have been shown to cause significant negative effects on crop yield. The present levels of ozone may not induce visible symptoms in most of plants, but can result in substantial losses in reproductive output. This paper considers the impact of ambient O3 on gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence and carbohydrate levels in the flag leaf of wheat plants during various stages of reproductive development using open-top chambers. Mean O3 concentration was 45.7 ppb during wheat growth and 50.2 ppb after flag leaf development. Reproductive stage showed higher exceedence of O3 above 40 ppb compared to the vegetative stage. Diurnal variations in net photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), Fv/Fm ratio, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, and starch were measured at 10, 30, and 50 days after flag leaf expansion (DAFE). The results showed reductions in PN, gs, Fv/Fm ratio, photosynthetic pigments and starch, and increases in Ci, F0, and soluble sugars in nonfiltered chambers (NFCs) compared to filtered chambers (FCs). Maximum changes in measured parameters were observed at 50 DAFE (i.e. grain filling and setting phase). Diurnal variation in PN showed double peaked curve in both FCs and NFCs, but delayed peak and early depression in NFCs. Stomatal conductance was significantly lower in NFCs. The study suggests that higher prevalence of ambient O3 during reproductive development led to significant alteration in physiological vitality of wheat having potential negative influence on yield. and R. Rai, M. Agrawal, S. B. Agrawal.