To investigate the effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on physiology and autumnal leaf phenology, we exposed 3-year-old sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedlings to 800 (A8), 600 (A6), and 400 μL(CO2) L-1 (AA) in nine continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) chambers during the growing season of 2014. Leaf abscission timing, abscised leaf area percentages, leaf number, light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax), leaf area, accumulative growth rates, and biomass were determined and assessed. The results suggested the following: (1) no significant differences were found in the timing of leaf abscission in the three CO2-concentration treatments; (2) PNmax was continuously stimulated to the greatest extent in A8 at 319% and 160% in A6 until the end of the growing season, respectively; and (3) leaf number, leaf area, and accumulative height growth all significantly increased by elevated CO2, which led to a 323% increase in A8 biomass and 235% in A6 biomass after 156-d fumigation. In summary, the results suggest, the timing of leaf abscission of sugar maple in fall was not modified by CO2 enrichment, the increased carbon gain by elevated CO2 was mainly due to increased leaf area, more leaves, and the continuously enhanced high photosynthesis throughout the growing season instead of the leaf life span., L. Li, W. J. Manning, X. K. Wang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
German cockroaches spend most of the day in aggregations within shelters, which they leave in nocturnal foraging trips; cockroaches are rarely seen outside shelters during daylight hours. However, when population density exceeds shelter availability, diurnal aggregations form in exposed, unsheltered locations. To determine if shelter availability affects fitness of B. germanica, we reared cohorts of nymphs in laboratory arenas with or without shelters, and measured reproduction and longevity of tagged adults. When shelters were available in arenas, nymphs developed faster, adults gained more body mass, and females produced more fertile oothecae than when arenas lacked shelters. Therefore, shelter alone has a significant positive effect on growth and reproduction of B. germanica, and reducing or eliminating shelters should affect population growth of B. germanica in residential and industrial settings. and César Gemeno, Gregory M. Williams, Coby Schal.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with many plants. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is an important energy tree species that can associate with AMF. We investigated the effects of AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis and Glomus versiforme) on the growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, carbon content, and calorific value of black locust seedlings in the greenhouse. The total biomass of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) seedlings was 4 times greater than that of the nonmycorrhizal (NM) seedlings. AMF greatly promoted the photosynthesis of black locust seedlings. AM seedlings had a significantly greater leaf area, higher carboxylation efficiency, Chl content, and net photosynthetic rate (PN) than NM seedlings. AMF also significantly increased the effective photochemical efficiency of PSII and significantly enhanced the carbon content and calorific value of black locust seedlings. Seedlings inoculated with G. versiforme had the largest leaf area and highest biomass, Chl content, PN, and calorific value., X. Q. Zhu, C. Y. Wang, H. Chen, M. Tang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In this study, effects of yellow (Y), purple (P), red (R), blue (B), green (G), and white (W) light on growth and development of tobacco plants were evaluated. We showed that monochromatic light reduced the growth, net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, and transpiration rate of tobacco. Such a reduction in PN occurred probably due to the stomatal limitation contrary to plants grown under W. Photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), maximal fluorescence of dark-adapted state, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), and maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) of plants decreased under all monochromatic illuminations. The decline in ΦPSII occurred mostly due to the reduction in qP. The increase in minimal fluorescence of dark-adapted state and the decrease in Fv/Fm indicated the damage or inactivation of the reaction center of PSII under monochromatic light. Plants under Y and G showed the maximal nonphotochemical quenching with minimum PN compared with the W plants. Morphogenesis of plants was also affected by light quality. Under B light, plants exhibited smaller angles between stem and petiole, and the whole plants showed a compact type, while the angles increased under Y, P, R, and G and the plants were of an unconsolidated style. The total soluble sugar content increased significantly under B. The reducing sugar content increased under B but decreased significantly under R and G compared with W. In conclusion, different monochromatic light quality inhibited plants growth by reducing the activity of photosynthetic apparatus in plants. R and B light were more effective to drive photosynthesis and promote the plant growth, while Y and G light showed an suppression effect on plants growth. LEDs could be used as optimal light resources for plant cultivation in a greenhouse., L. Y. Yang, L. T. Wang, J. H. Ma, E. D. Ma, J. Y. Li, M. Gong., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The effects of NaCl stress on the growth and photosynthetic characters of Ulmus pumila L. seedlings were investigated under sand culture condition. With increasing NaCl concentration, main stem height, branch number, leaf number, and leaf area declined, while Na+ content and the Na+/K+ ratio in both expanded and expanding leaves increased. Na+ content was significantly higher in expanded leaves than in those just expanding. Chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b contents declined as NaCl concentration increased. The net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate also declined, but stomatal limitation value increased as NaCl concentration increased. Both the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry and the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry declined as NaCl concentration rose. These results suggest that the accumulation of Na+ in already expanded leaves might reduce damage to the expanding leaves and help U. pumila endure high salinity. The reduced photosynthesis in response to salt stress was mainly caused by stomatal limitation., Z. T. Feng, Y. Q. Deng, H. Fan, Q. J. Sun, N. Sui, B. S. Wang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
To determine the effects of rootstock choice on the scion response to drought stress, we compared the vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, gas exchange, and water-use efficiency (WUE) of ‘Gale Gala’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees grafted onto nine wild Chinese Malus rootstocks. Compared with the well-watered control, drought treatment limited growth, as manifested by smaller increments in plant height (PH), trunk diameter (TD), total fresh biomass (TB), total dry biomass (TDB), total leaf area (LA), and relative growth rate (RGR). The extent of this effect differed among rootstocks. Stress conditions led to increases in the root/shoot ratio (RSR), leaf thickness (LT), water-holding capacity (WHC), carbon isotope composition (δ13C), and WUE. Decreases were noted in stomatal density (SD), leaf relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (Chl), net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs), again varying by rootstock. Those that are generally considered more drought-tolerant, e.g., M. sieversii, M. prunifolia, and M. toringoides, had smaller declines in PH, TD, TB, TDB, LA, RGR, SD, RWC, Chl, PN, E, and gs and proportionally greater increases in RSR, LT, WHC, δ13C, and WUE compared with the droughtsensitive M. hupehensis and
M. sieboldii. These results suggest that moisture stress has a significant dwarfing effect in the latter two species. Based on WUE calculations, trees on drought-tolerant rootstocks showed higher tolerance when stressed, whereas those on drought-sensitive rootstocks were less tolerant, as indicated by their lower WUE values., B. H. Liu ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Increasing human and industrial activities lead to heavy metal pollution. Heavy metal chromium (Cr) is considered to be a serious environmental contaminant for the biota. Phytotoxic effects of Cr were studied in wheat plants. Growth parameters were largely inhibited as a result of disturbances in the plant cell metabolism in response to Cr toxicity. Chromium toxicity led to decline in a number of active reaction centres of PSII, rate of electron transport, and change in PSII heterogeneity. Chromium did not cause any change in heterogeneity of the reducing side. A significant change in antenna size heterogeneity of PSII occurred in response to Cr toxicity. Chromium seems to have extensive effects on the light harvesting complex of PSII., S. Mathur, H. M. Kalaji, A. Jajoo., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Current research on the effect of increased UV-B radiation on crop production has been limited to exposing plants to improbable UV-B dose or growth condition. The objective of this study was to test the effects of short-term modulated increased UV-B radiation on maize (Zea mays L.) growth, grain yield, and quality under field conditions for three years. A modulated irradiance system was used to maintain UV-B radiation at 30% above the ambient level and was applied daily between the elongation and silking stages of maize. The result indicated that increased UV-B radiation adversely affected maize growth and yield, especially on plant height when UV-B was enhanced at the elongation stage and on yield when UV-B was enhanced near the silking stage. Yield reduction that induced by enhanced UV-B radiation was associated with reductions in number of kernels per row and kernel mass. Protein content of grains was increased with enhanced UV-B radiation, but oil and starch contents were not affected. This study confirmed the sensitivity of maize to increased UV-B radiation under the field condition, and contributed to understand the full negative and positive effects of increased UV-B radiation on crop production., L. N. Yin, S. W. Wang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Light is a limiting factor in plant establishment and growth in the understory of forests. In this paper, we assessed acclimation capacity of Siparuna guianensis, an early secondary successional species. We used seedlings and saplings in three regeneration areas with different irradiance regimes to determine the traits that confer photoplasticity. We examined whether these traits differ at different developmental stages. Anatomical characteristics, photochemical efficiency, photosynthetic capacity, and growth were analyzed. Multivariate component analysis revealed the formation of six clusters: three for seedlings (one for each regeneration area) and three for saplings (following the same pattern of seedlings, considering the area). Increased irradiance favored photosynthetic performance, independently of the developmental stage. The same trend was observed for most data on chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence and the ratios of net photosynthetic rate/intercellular CO2 concentration (PN/Ci) and PN/PPFD. No parameter indicated photoinhibition stress. The CO2- and light-response curve data indicated that seedlings were already acclimated to tolerate variation in irradiance. Anatomical adaptations, such as thickness of leaf blade and of adaxial cuticle, were observed in individuals growing in areas with higher irradiation. Thinning of spongy parenchyma and higher investment into a plant height were observed in seedlings, possibly due to the vertical stratification of CO2 and light in the understory; because light is a more limiting resource than CO2 in the lower stratum of the forest. Photoplasticity in S. guianensis is associated with a set of morphological, anatomical, photochemical, and biochemical traits, whereas biochemical performance is best acclimated to variation in irradiance. These traits differed in seedlings and saplings but they were modulated mainly by irradiance in both developmental stages., T. O. Vieira, M. S. O. Degli-Esposti, G. M. Souza, G. R. Rabelo, M. Da Cunha, A. P. Vitória., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In order to evaluate the combined effects of simulated acid rain (SAR) and salinity on the physiological responses of macroalgae, Ulva prolifera was cultured under three salinity treatments (5, 10,
25‰) and at different pH, i.e., at pH 4.4 (C), pH 4.4(F), where the pH of the culture increased from 4.4 to approximately 7.8 during the cultivation period, or in absence of SAR at pH 8.2(C), at 100 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1 and 20°C. Compared to 25‰ salinity, Relative growth rate (RGR) of U. prolifera was enhanced by 10‰ salinity, but decreased by 5‰ salinity. No significant differences in RGR were observed between the pH 8.2(C) and pH 4.4(F) treatments, but the chlorophyll a content was reduced by SAR. Negative effects of SAR on the photosynthesis were observed, especially under low salinity treatments. Based on the results, we suggested that the U. prolifera showed a tolerance to a wide range of salinity in contrast to the low pH induced by acid rain., Y. H. Li, D. Wang, X. T. Xu, X. X. Gao, X. Sun, N. J. Xu., and Obsahuje použitou literaturu