Plants are constantly subjected to variations in their surrounding environment, which affect their functioning in different ways. The influence of environmental factors on the physiology of plants depends on several factors including the intensity, duration and frequency of the variation of the external stimulus. Water deficit is one of the main limiting factors for agricultural production worldwide and affects many physiological processes in plants. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of different rates of induced water deficit on the leaf photosynthetic responses of soybean (Glycine max L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). The plants were subjected to two types of water deficit induction: a rapid induction (RD) by which detached leaves were dehydrated by the exposure to air under controlled conditions and a slow induction (SD) by suspending irrigation under greenhouse conditions. The leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, and relative water content (RWC) were analysed throughout the water-deficit induction. V. unguiculata and G. max demonstrated similar dehydration as the soil water percentage declined under SD, with V. unguiculata showing a greater stomatal sensitivity to reductions in the RWC. V. unguiculata plants were more sensitive to water deficit, as determined by all of the physiological parameters when subjected to RD, and the net photosynthetic rate (PN) was sharply reduced in the early stages of dehydration. After the plants exposed to the SD treatment were rehydrated, V. unguiculata recovered 65% of the PN in relation to the values measured under the control conditions (initial watering state), whereas G. max recovered only 10% of the PN. Thus, the better stomatal control of V. unguiculata could enable the maintenance of the RWC and a more efficient recovery of the PN than G. max., S. C. Bertolli, G. L. Rapchan, and G..M. Souza., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Primary leaves of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings cultivated for 14 days in a growth chamber on complete (control) and phosphate deficient (-P) Knop liquid medium were used for measurements. The -P leaves were smaller and showed an increased specific leaf area (SLA). Their inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration was considerably lowered. They did not show any significant changes in chlorophyll (Chl) (a + b) concentration and in their net CO2 assimilation rate when it was estimated under the conditions close to those of the seedlings growth. Light response curves of photosynthetic net O2 evolution (P NO2) of the leaves for the irradiation range up to 500 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1 were determined, using the leaf-disc Clark oxygen electrode. The measurements were taken under high CO2 concentration of about 1 % and O2 concentrations of 21 % or lowered to about 3 % at the beginning of measurement. The results obtained at 21 % O2 and the irradiations close to or higher than those used during the seedlings growth revealed the phosphorus stress suppressive effect on the leaf net O2 evolution, however, no such effect was observed at lower irradiations. Other estimated parameters of P NO2 such as: apparent quantum requirement (QRA) and light compensation point (LCP) for the control and -P leaves were similar. However, with a high irradiation and lowered O2 concentration the rate of P NO2 for the -P leaves was markedly higher than that for the control, in relation to both the leaf area and leaf fresh mass. This difference also disappeared at low irradiations, but the estimated reduced QRA values indicate, under those conditions, the increased yield of photosynthetic light reaction, especially in the -P leaves. The presented results confirm the suggestion that during the initial phase of insufficient phosphate feeding the acclimations in the light phase of photosynthesis, both structural and functional appear. They correspond, probably, to the increased energy costs of carbon assimilation under phosphorus stress, e.g. connected with raised difficulties in phosphate uptake and turnover and enhanced photorespiration. Under the experimental conditions especially advantageous for the dark phase of photosynthesis (saturating CO2 and PAR, low O2 concentration), those acclimations may be manifested as an enhancement of photosynthetic net O2 evolution. and B. Kozłowska-Szerenos, A. Jarosz, S. Maleszewski.
The ecophysiological traits of acacia and eucalypt are important in assessing their suitability for afforestation. We measured the
gas-exchange rate, the leaf dry mass per area (LMA) and the leaf nitrogen content of two acacia and four eucalypt species. Relative to the eucalypts, the acacias had lower leaf net photosynthetic rate
(PN), lower photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE), higher water-use efficiency (WUE), higher LMA and higher leaf nitrogen per unit area (N area). No clear differences were observed within or between genera in the maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) or the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax), although these parameters tended to be higher in eucalypts. PNUE and LMA were negatively correlated. We conclude that acacias with higher LMA do not allocate nitrogen efficiently to photosynthetic system, explaining why their PN and PNUE were lower than in eucalypts., E. Novriyanti ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Effect of temporary drought on the photosynthetic characteristics, the photosynthetic nutrient-use efficiency (PNUE, PPUE), the water-use efficiency (WUE), acetylene reduction nodule activity (ARA) and the solute accumulation has been examined in nodulated alfalfa plants. The plants were subjected to moderate or severe cycles of drought (drought-recovery). Growth decreased markedly imder the water deficit, but no significant differences were found between either level of drought. As stress progressed, the plants developed higher root/shoot ratios than Controls. ARA declined progressively during water deficit treatments and upon rewatering no recovery was observed. PNUE and PPUE markedly decreased, whereas WUE increaseď in drought treated plants. Proline and inorganic cations (K, Ca, Mg) concentrations were always higher in drought-stressed plants, but sugar (TSS) content increased only in roots and nodules. Hence, imder cyclic drought nodulated alfalfa plants adjusted osmotically and achieved an improved WUE, which suggested an enhanced drought tolerance.
When cells get metals in small excess, mechanisms of avoidance occur, such as exclusion, sequestration, or compartmentation. When the excess reaches sub-lethal concentrations, the oxidative stress, that toxic metals trigger, leads to persistent active oxygen species. Biomolecules are then destroyed and metabolism is highly disturbed. At the chloroplast level, changes in pigment content and lipid peroxidation are observed. The disorganized thylakoids impair the photosynthetic efficiency. The Calvin cycle is also less efficient and the photosynthetic organism grows slowly. When an essential metal is given together with a harmful one, the damages are less severe than with the toxic element alone. Combined metals and phytochelatins may act against metal toxicity. and M. Bertrand, I. Poirier.
The activity of photosystems (PS) 1 and 2, together with the content and ratio of photosynthetic pigments, were measured in three inbred lines and two F1 hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.), grown in either optimum or low temperature (LT) conditions. The ability of chilling-stressed plants to deal with the negative effects of long-term exposure to LT and to recover the efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus after their return to optimum temperatures was examined during spring and autumn seasons. The aim was to analyse the possible differences between the rapid and gradual onset of LT on the response of young maize plants to chilling stress. The distinctive superiority of hybrids over their parental lines, found during the exposure of maize plants to LT, was not always retained after the return of chilling-stressed plants to optimum growth conditions. The response of individual genotypes to chilling stress, as well as their ability to recover the photosynthetic efficiency from the cold-induced damage, strongly depended also on the duration and the rapidity of the onset of LT. and D. Holá ... [et al.].
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.].
a1_The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world with extremely high plant and animal diversity, but large areas have been invaded by Vochysia divergens Pohl (Vochysiaceae), a tree that is native to the Amazon Basin, and Curatella americana L. (Dilleniaceae), a tree that is native to the Brazilian savanna (cerrado). V. divergens is reportedly floodadapted, thus its ability to invade the Pantanal may not be surprising, but the invasion of C. americana is counterintuitive, because this species is adapted to the
well-drained soils of the cerrado. Thus, we were interested in comparing the photosynthetic capacity, in terms of CO2 conductance, carboxylation, and electron transport of these species over a seasonal flooding cycle. Given that V. divergens is reportedly flood-adapted, we predicted that this species would have a higher photosynthetic capacity than C. americana, especially under flooding. To test this hypothesis we measured the photosynthetic CO2 response (PN/Cc) of V. divergens and C. americana within 1 year to determine, if photosynthetic capacity varied systematically over time and between species. Contrary to our hypothesis, V. divergens did not always have a higher photosynthetic capacity than C. americana. Rather, species differences were influenced by temporal variations in flooding and the leaf age. Leaf CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic capacity of both species were lower during the flood period, but the differences were not statistically significant. The physiological performance of both species was strongly related to leaf N and P concentrations, but P limitation appeared to be more important than N limitation for these species and ecosystem. Photosynthetic capacity was higher and more stable for V. divergens, but such an advantage did not result in a statistically significant increase in PN., a2_Our results suggest that both species are tolerant to flooding even though they are adapted to very different hydrological conditions. Such physiological plasticity, especially for C. americana, might be a key feature for the ability to survive and persist in the seasonally flooded Pantanal., H. J. Dalmagro ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In an experimental site for reforestation of degraded area, three-year-old plants of Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl. were subjected to different fertilization treatments: T0 = unfertilized control, T1 = green fertilization (branches and leaves) and T2 = chemical fertilization. Higher net photosynthetic rates (PN) were observed in T1 [13.2±1.0 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1] compared to T2 [8.0±1.8 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1] and T0 [4.8±1.3 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1]. Stomatal conductance (g s), transpiration rate (E) and water use efficiency (WUE) of individuals of T1 and T2 did not differ significantly, however, they were by 88, 55 and 63%, respectively, higher in T1 than in the control. The mean values of variable fluorescence (Fv), performance index (P.I.) and total chlorophyll [Chl (a+b)] were higher in T1. Our results indicate that green fertilization improves photosynthetic structure and function in plants of B. excelsa in young phase. and M. J. Ferreira, J. F. C. Gonçalves, J. B. S. Ferraz.
Photosynthetic pathway (C3, C4, and CAM) and morphological functional types were identified for the forage species from steppe vegetation in Inner Mongolia, China, using the data from both field survey and references. Of the total 136 identified vascular species, in 29 families and 89 genera, 78 % were found with C3 photosynthesis, including dominant herbs, e.g. Stipa grandis P. Smirn., S. krylovii Roshev., and Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. These C3 species covered about 90 % of the total herbage production in the steppe. 20 % were found with C4 photosynthesis and 2 % with CAM photosynthesis. Photosynthetic pathway functional types were coarse and may not fit for the studies and land management in small scales, because of the high C3 photosynthesis composition and the few families in which C4 species occur. Morphological functional types (e.g. shrubs, high perennial grasses, short perennial graminaceous plants, annual grasses, annual forbs, perennial forbs, and succulents) may be practical for spatial and temporal descriptions of steppe ecosystems in local and region scales. Classification for plant functional types, especially morphological types, may contribute to studying the links between plant species and communities, ecosystems, and global changes, and for steppe management decisions in the region.