The differences in net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), and water use efficiency (WUE) between the vegetative and reproductive shoots of three native grass species from the grassland of northeastern China [grey-green and yellow green populations of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., Puccinellia tenuiflora (Griseb) Scrib & Merr, Puccinellia chinampoensis Ohwi] were compared. The two type shoots experienced similar habitats, but differed in leaf life-span and leaf area. The leaf PN and WUE for the vegetative shoots were significantly higher than those for the reproductive shoots in the grasses, while their E were remarked lower in the dry season. Relative lower leaf PN and WUE for the reproductive shoots of grassland grasses may explain the facts of lower seed production and the subordinate role of seed in the grassland renewal in north-eastern China.
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.
A field experiment involving two planting densities (83,333 and 166,666 plants per ha), two cropping systems (monoculture and mixed culture) and five cowpea [Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.)] genotypes was conducted at Nietvoorbij (33°54S, 18°14E), Stellenbosch, South Africa, to select cowpea material with superior growth and water-use efficiency (WUE). The results showed significantly higher photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration in leaves of plants at low density and in monoculture due to greater chlorophyll (Chl) levels relative to those at high density and in mixed culture. As a result, C concentration in leaves and the amount of C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B accumulated in shoots at low density and under monoculture were also much higher. Even though no marked differences in photosynthetic rates were found between and among the five cowpea genotypes, leaf C concentration and shoot C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B contents differed considerably, with Sanzie exhibiting the highest C concentration and C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B contents in shoots, followed by Bensogla and Omondaw, while ITH98-46 and TVu1509 had the lowest shoot concentration and contents of C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B. WUE (calculated as photosynthate produced per unit water molecule transpired) was significantly greater in plants at low density and monoculture relative to those at high density and in mixed culture. Isotopic analysis revealed significant differences in δ13C values of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench.)] and cowpea, with higher δ13C values being obtained for plants at low density and in monoculture relative to those at high density or in mixed culture. The five cowpea genotypes also showed significant differences in δ13C values, with Sanzie exhibiting the most negative value (i.e. low WUE) and ITH98-46, the least negative δ13C value (i.e. high WUE). Whether measured isotopically or from gas-exchange studies, sorghum (a C4 species) exhibited much higher WUE relative to cowpea (a C3 species). Both correlation and regression analyses revealed a positive relationship between WUE from gas-exchange studies and δ13C values from isotopic analysis of cowpea and sorghum shoots. and J. H. J. R. Makoi, S. B. M. Chimphango, F. D. Dakora
The relationship between light-saturated photosynthetic capacity
(Pmax) and leaf nitrogen (N) content was investigated for one year in a 15-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa canopy and was compared with a Cryptomeria japonica canopy previously described. The linear regression between P max and leaf N content tended to converge toward a single line segment from July to January and in May for C. obtusa. The slope of the linear regression between Pmax and leaf N content of C. obtusa was gentler than that of C. japonica. The smaller regression coefficient of C. obtusa may reflect species differences in nitrogen nutrition requirements between C. obtusa and C. japonica. A pronounced decrease in the slope of the linear regression lines due to low temperature was observed in February and March. During this period, P max of C. obtusa declined more than that of C. japonica suggesting that C. obtusa is less tolerant to low temperatures than C. japonica., H. Kobayashi, S. Inoue, and K. Gyokusen., and Obsahuje bibliografii
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.
Although plant performance under elevated CO2 (EC) and drought has been extensively studied, little is known about the leaf traits and photosynthetic performance of Stipa bungeana under EC and a water deficiency gradient. In order to investigate the effects of EC, watering, and their combination, S. bungeana seedlings were exposed to two CO2 regimes (ambient, CA: 390 ppm; elevated, EC: 550 ppm) and five levels of watering (-30%, -15%, control, +15%, +30%) from 1 June to 31 August in 2011, where the control water level was 240 mm. Gas exchange and leaf traits were measured after 90-d treatments. Gas-exchange characteristics, measured at the growth CA, indicated that EC significantly decreased the net photosynthetic rate (PN), water-use efficiency, nitrogen concentration based on mass, chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, while increased stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), dark respiration, photorespiration, carbon concentration based on mass, C/N ratio, and leaf water potential. Compared to the effect of EC, watering showed an opposite trend only in case of PN. The combination of both factors showed little influence on these physiological indicators, except for gs, Ci, and MDA content. Photosynthetic acclimation to EC was attributed to the N limitation, C sink/source imbalance, and the decline of photosynthetic activity. The watering regulated photosynthesis through both stomatal and nonstomatal mechanisms. Our study also revealed that the effects of EC on photosynthesis were larger than those on respiration and did not compensate for the adverse effects of drought, suggesting that a future warm and dry climate might be unfavorable to S. bungeana. However, the depression of the growth of S. bungeana caused by EC was time-dependent at a smaller temporal scale., H. Wang, G. S. Zhou, Y. L. Jiang, Y. H. Shi, Z. Z. Xu., and Obsahuje bibliografii
To analyze acclimation of Euterpe edulis seedlings to changes in light availability, we transferred three-year-old seedlings cultivated for six months under natural shade understory [= 1.3 mol(photon) m-2 d-1] to a forest gap [= 25.0 mol(photon) m-2 d-1]. After the transfer, changes in chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas-exchange parameters, as well as in the light-response curves of photosynthesis and photosynthetic induction parameters, were analyzed during the following 110 days. Simultaneously measured photosynthetic characteristics in the shaded seedlings grown in understory served as the control. Despite the fact that the understory seedlings were under suboptimal conditions to achieve their light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax), light-response curves and photosynthetic induction parameters indicated that the species had the low respiration rate and a fast opening of stomata in response to the intermittent occurrence of sunflecks, which exerted a feed-forward stimulation on PNmax. Sudden exposure to high light induced photoinhibition during the first week after the transfer of seedlings to gap, as it was shown by the abrupt decline of the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm). The photoinhibition showed the time-dependent dynamics, as the Fv/Fm of the seedlings transferred to the forest gap recovered completely after 110 days. Furthermore, the net photosynthetic rate increased 3.5-fold in relation to priorexposure values. In summary, these data indicated that more than 21 days was required for the shade-acclimated seedlings to recover from photoinhibition and to relax induction photosynthetic limitations following the sudden exposure to high light. Moreover, the species responded very quickly to light availability; it highlights the importance of sunflecks to understory seedlings., A. O. Lavinsky, F. P. Gomes, M. S. Mielke, S. França., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Net photosynthetic rate (PN) measured at the same CO2 concentration, the maximum in vivo carboxylation rate, and contents of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and RuBPCO activase were significantly decreased, but the maximum in vivo electron transport rate and RuBP content had no significant change in CO2-enriched [EC, about 200 µmol mol-1 above the ambient CO2 concentration (AC)] wheat leaves compared with those in AC grown wheat leaves. Hence photosynthetic acclimation in wheat leaves to EC is largely due to RuBP carboxylation limitation. and D.-Y. Zhang ... [et al.].
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.
Plants of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Linden were grown at the current (35 Pa) oř the sub-ambient (20 Pa) partial pressures of CO2 at 29 ± 3 in order to analy2« the photosynthetic acclimatíon to low ambient CO2. No difference was observed in the CO2 response of net photosynthetic rate or leaf conductance (gi) below the CO2 partial pressure measurement of 35 Pa. Above 35 Pa, was depressed in plants grown at 20 Pa CO2 when compared to those grown at 35 Pa CO2. In both treatments, became insensitíve to increasing CO2 above an intercellular partial pressure of 50 Pa, indicating that the capacity of starch and sucrose synthesis to metabolize triose phosphates limited at hi^ measurement CO2. No differences were observed in the ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate carboxylase content, actívity, or actívation statě in plants grown at either CO2 partial pressure. Chlorophyll contents were also equivalent between the treatments. Hence, Uttle modulatíon of enzyme or pigment level follows atmospheric CO2 depletíon, with the possible exception that the capacity of starch and sucrose synthesis may be reduced in plants grown at low CO2.