Cell wall-bound phenolics (CWP) play an important role in the mechanisms of plant acclimation to soil drought. The study involved CWP analyses in 50 strains and 50 doubled haploid (DH) lines of winter triticale exposed to drought at their vegetative and generative stages. CWP in the plants experiencing drought at the generative stage positively correlated with their leaf water contents. The strains and DH lines characterized by high content of CWP showed higher leaf water content and higher activity of photosynthetic apparatus when exposed to drought at the generative stage compared to the strains and DH lines with the low CWP content. Furthermore, when drought subsided at the generative stage, the strains and DH lines richer in CWP demonstrated higher regeneration potential and their grain yield loss was smaller., K. Hura, A. Ostrowska, K. Dziurka, T. Hura., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Elements not usually included in culture medium formulations, such as selenium (Se), may have beneficial effects on micropropagated plants. We evaluated the effects of Se on the physiological and anatomical responses of Alcantarea imperialis during in vitro culture. Plants were cultured in a medium containing a gradient of Se concentrations (0, 4, 8, 16, or 32 µM Se). After 56 d, the growth traits, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and root and leaf anatomy were analyzed. The fresh mass declined at the highest Se concentration. Higher Se concentrations induced bigger stomata, while the stomatal density decreased. Plants cultured with Se had improved PSII and PSI electron transport. This led to higher values of the total performance index. Thus, Se-induced plants showed a higher electron transport dynamics and energy conservation from water to PSI and developed anatomical traits that can favor tolerance to water deficit.
The long-term impact of elevated concentration of CO2 on assimilation activity of sun-exposed (E) versus shaded (S) foliage was investigated in a Norway spruce stand [Picea abies (L.) Karst, age 14 years] after three years of cultivation in two domes with adjustable windows (DAW). One DAW was supplied with ambient air [AC, ca. 350 µmol(CO2) mol-1) and the second with elevated CO2 concentration [EC = AC plus 350 µmol(CO2) mol-1]. The pronounced vertical profile of the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) led to the typical differentiation of the photosynthetic apparatus between the shaded and sun needles. Namely, photon-saturated values of maximal net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) and apparent quantum yield (α) were significantly higher/lower for E-needles as compared with the S-ones. The prolonged exposure to EC was responsible for the apparent assimilatory activity stimulation observed mainly in deeply shaded needles. The degree of this stimulation decreases in the order: S-needles dense part > S-needles sparse part > E-needles dense part > E-needles sparse part. In exposed needles some signals on a manifestation of the acclimation depression of the photosynthetic activity were found. The long-term effect of EC was responsible for the decrease of nitrogen content of needles and for its smoother gradient between E- and S-needles. The obtained results indicate that the E- and S-foliage respond differently to the long-term impact of EC. and M. V. Marek ... [et al.].
The study was carried out in a four-year-old super-high density olive grove in Central Italy to compare leaf gas exchanges of Spanish Arbequina and Italian Maurino olive cultivars. Overall, from mid July to mid November, Maurino had a slightly higher maximum
light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) than Arbequina. The lowest and the highest PNmax values were recorded at the end of July and in mid November, respectively. Current-season leaves showed similar or slightly higher PNmax values than one-year-old leaves. During the day Maurino always had slightly higher values or values similar to Arbequina, with the highest PNmax being in the morning. Maurino had similar or higher dark respiration rate (RD) values compared to Arbequina. During the day, in both cultivars the RD was lower at 9:00 than in the afternoon. The pattern of the photosynthetic irradiance-response curve was similar in the two genotypes, but the apparent quantum yield (YQ) was higher in Maurino. In both cultivars intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) tended to increase when PNmax decreased. The increase in Ci corresponded to a decrease in stomatal conductance (gs). The transpiration rate (E) increased from mid July to the beginning of August, then decreased in September and increased again in November. Particularly in the morning, the current-season leaves showed similar or slightly higher E values than the one-year-old leaves. During the day, in both cultivars and at both leaf ages, E was higher in the afternoon. No effects on leaf gas exchanges due to the presence or absence of fruit on the shoot were found. Overall, there was satisfactory physiological adaptation for Arbequina to the conditions of Central Italy and for Maurino to the superintensive grove conditions., P. Proietti, L. Nasini, and L. Ilarioni., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Under non-stressed conditions the net photosynthetic rate (PN) of the mutant plants cbp20 of Arabidopsis was similar to that of the wild type (WT). In response to water deprivation, however, PN started to decrease later in the mutants and remained substantially higher. Thermoluminescence measurements showed that the lipid peroxidation induced by severe water stress was also less pronounced in the mutant than in the WT. Both soil gravimetric and plant water potential data showed that cbp20 mutants lose water more slowly than the WT plants. The drought-induced decline in Fv/Fm, the quantum efficiency of photosystem 2, and photochemical quenching parameters also started later in the cbp20 mutants than in the WT plants. Thus the restricted gas exchange in the cbp20 mutants does not impair the photosynthetic performance of the plant; however, under drought improved water retention provides significant protection for the photosynthetic apparatus. and R. Bacsó ... [et al.].
During ontogeny of Gossypium hirsutum L. floral buds (squares), increases in area and dry mass (DM) of floral bracts and the subtending sympodial leaf followed a sigmoid growth curve with increasing square age. The maximum growth rates of the bract area and bract DM occurred between 15 and 20 d after square first appearance (3 mm in diameter). Net photosynthetic rate (PN) of the sympodial leaf at first fruiting branch position of main-stem node 10 reached a maximum when the subtended square developed into a white flower. Floral bracts had much lower PN and higher dark respiration than the subtending leaf. The amount of 14CO2 fixation by the bracts of a 20-d-old square was only 22 % of the subtending leaf, but 56 % of 14C-assimilate in the floral bud was accumulated from the bracts, 27 % from the subtending leaf, and only 17 % from the main-stem leaf at 6 h after 14C feeding these source s. Hence floral bracts play an important role in the carbon supply of developing cotton squares. and Duli Zhao, D. M. Oosterhuis.
The southernmost presence of Rhizophora mangle in the western Atlantic coast occurs in coastal wetlands between 27 and 28°S in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. We selected mangrove communities at the estuary of the River Tavares, Florianopolis, and the Sonho Beach, Palhosa, for measurement of photosynthetic performance and intrinsic water-use efficiency of R. mangle and coexisting individuals of Avicennia schaueriana and Laguncularia racemosa, during the spring season. We used gas-exchange techniques and isotopic signatures of C and N to estimate instantaneous water-use and carboxylation efficiency (CE), long-term water-use efficiency, and potential N limitation. Results showed that R. mangle had significantly lower photosynthetic rates but similar conductance values as the other two species resulting in lower intrinsic water use (WUEi) and CE. WUEi and CE were positively correlated in L. racemosa and A. schaueriana, but not in R. mangle. At each site, δ13C values of A. schaueriana were consistently higher than those for the other species, indicating that these species are subjected to contrasting water stress conditions. Leaf concentrations of C were lower, whilst those of N were always higher in A. schaueriana, indicating accumulation of salts and nonprotein N-compounds in leaves. Nitrogen concentrations and moderate positive δ15N values indicated that plant growth at the study sites was not inhibited by nutrient deficiency, and was not influenced by urban residual waters. Lower photosynthetic rates and values of CE of R. mangle compared to the other two species may constitute constraining factors preventing this species from establishing at higher latitudes., M. L. Gomes Soares, M. M. Pereira Tognella, E. Cuevas, E. Medina., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
2-years-old cypress needles (A2) were physiologically most active with regard to net photosynthetic (PN) and electron transport rates. Variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) ratios of dark-adapted needles were higher in A2 needles than in current year (A1) or senescent (A4) needles. Lower Fv/Fm values in these stages seemed to be caused not by photoinhibition but by a low photochemical capacity as suggested from the chlorophyll (Chl) a/b ratios. In isolated thylakoids, lower rates of whole chain and photosystem 2 (PS2) activities were observed in A4 needles, while higher rates were observed in A2 needles. A similar trend was noticed for contents of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC) and total soluble proteins. The artificial exogenous electron donor Mn2+ failed to restore the loss of PS2 activity in 3-year-old (A3) and A4 needles, while diphenylcarbazide and NH2OH significantly restored the loss of PS2 activity. The marked loss of PS2 activity in A4 needles was primarily the result of the loss of 33, 28-25, 23, and 17 kDa polypeptides. A marked loss of RuBPC activity in A4 needles is mainly due to the loss of 15 (SSU) and 55 (LSU) kDa polypeptides. and N. La Porta ... [et al.].
Sodium chloride (NaCl) concentratíons 200 to 900 mM enhanced the photosynthetic rate (Pn) both in whole leaves and in mechanically isolated, intact mesophyll cells of a salt marsh halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum wilh a maximum at 600 mM NaCl. These changes were in agreement with changes in chlorophyll concentration in leaves. Though the increasing salt concentratíons resulted in leaf succulence, no change in the photosynthetic carbon pathway was observed.
In the untransformed rice (WT) and transgenic rice with the PEPC and PPDK genes (CK) we determined activities of C4 photosynthetic enzymes, photosynthetic response to irradiance and temperature, the metabolic index of active oxygen, and the yield component factors. The activities of C4 photosynthetic enzymes in WT were very low, while those of corresponding enzymes in CK were highly observable. Moreover, after adenosine triphosphate (ATP) treatment, and under high irradiance and high temperature, the net photosynthetic rate of CK increased by 17 and 12 %, respectively, as compared to that achieved without ATP treatment. The resistance of CK against photo-oxidation was enhanced under these conditions, and CK yield increased by 15 %. ATP treatment enhanced the photosynthetic productivity of CK, thereby proving that ATP is the key factor in enhancing the photosynthetic capacity of transgenic rice with C4 gene. Our new technical approach can be used in breeding rice with high photosynthetic efficiency and high grain yield. and B. J. Zhang ... [et al.].