We investigated the effect of enhanced atmospheric ammonia (NH3) in combination with low and high nitrogen (LN and HN, respectively) growth medium on photosynthetic characteristics of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (NE5 with high- and SD19 with low N-use efficiency) across long-term growth period and their diurnal change patterns exposed to 10 nl l-1 and 1,000 nl l-1 NH3 fumigation in open-top chambers (OTCs). Regardless of the level of N in medium, increased NH3 concentration promoted maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and apparent quantum yield (AQY) of both cultivars at earlier growth stages, but inhibited Pmax of NE5 from silking to maturity stage and that of SD19 at maturity stage only above the ambient concentration. Greater positive/less negative responses were predominant in the LN than in the HN treatment, especially for SD19. Dark respiration rate (RD) remained more enhanced in the LN than in the HN treatment for SD19 as well as increased in the LN while decreased in the HN treatment for NE5 at their silking stage, following exposure to elevated NH3 concentration. Additionally, enhanced atmospheric NH3 increased net photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs) but reduced intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of both cultivars with either the LN or HN treatment during the diurnal period at tasseling stage. The diurnal change patterns of PN and gs showed bimodal curve type and those of Ci presented single W-curve type for NE5, when NH3 concentration was enhanced. As for SD19, single-peak curve type was showed for both PN and gs while single V-curve type for Ci. All results supported the hypothesis that appropriately enhanced atmospheric NH3 can increase assimilation of CO2 by improving photosynthesis of maize plant, especially at earlier growth stages and after photosynthetic "noon-break" point. These impacts of elevated NH3 concentration were more beneficial for SD19 as compared to those for NE5, especially in the LN supply environment. and L. X. Zhang ... [et al.].
The effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on growth and photosynthetic activities were investigated in fronds of the aquatic fern Azolla microphylla Kaulf. The fronds were exposed to UV-B radiation intermittently once in 3 d during 12 d. Biomass and relative growth rate of UV-B treated Azolla plants and the heterocyst frequency of the UV-B treated symbiont decreased resulting in an increase in doubling time over the control. The doubling time was 3.08 d for control and 3.35 d for UV-B irradiated plants. Chl and carotenoid contents per unit fresh mass and photosystem 2 (PS2) activity also decreased under UV-B treatment. Measurements of photosynthetic activity in terms of fluorescence kinetics and PS2 mediated O2 evolution showed that the aquatic fern Azolla is sensitive to UV-B damage. and M. Jayakumar ... [et al.].
To examine the hypothesis that stomatal behavior of plants in dry soil is influenced by a slow recovery from daytime water deficit, we studied the effect of repeated wetting of leaves during evening and night in Cryptomeria japonica seedlings grown in dry soil. After 7 and 10 days of leaf wetting treatment the midday leaf water potential decreased and the transpiration rate increased, respectively. Therefore, we suggest that rapid recovery from daytime water deficit could weaken the water conserving stomatal behavior that adapts to drought conditions in the roots. and T. Tange ... [et al.].
Excessive cadmium (Cd) content in soil leads to a number of phytotoxic effects and challenges agricultural production. Aim of this study was to investigate different responses of two maize inbreds and their hybrid to an elevated Cd content in soil by measuring photosynthetic and biochemical activity and to identify a Cd tolerance mechanism. Antioxidant statusrelated parameters varied significantly between inbreds and treatments. Dry mass increased in both inbreds, but remained unchanged in hybrid. After the Cd treatment, parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence varied between inbreds and hybrid performance was similar to inbred B84. We concluded that inbred B84 is Cd-sensitive compared to Os6-2, which did not appear to be negatively affected by Cd treatment at this growth stage studied. We suspect that due to a dilution effect in the hybrid, there was no or very weak Cd stress detected by biochemical parameters, although stress was detected by chlorophyll a fluorescence., M. Franić, V. Galić, M. Mazur, D. Šimić., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The effects of calcium chloride solution (10 mmol L-1) on mesophyll cell ultrastructure, gas exchange, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and PSII in tobacco leaf were studied by simulating water deficit conditions via treatment with 25% PEG-6000 for 24 h. The results showed that under drought stress, the mesophyll cell structure and morphology were destroyed, photosynthesis and gas-exchange processes changed, photosynthetic pigment content decreased, and the electron transfer efficiency in PSII reduced. However, compared with the control treatment, under drought conditions, the addition of exogenous calcium could stabilize the structure and function of the chloroplasts, mitochondria, and endomembrane system in the mesophyll cells, maintain normal leaf net photosynthetic rate and gas exchange, alleviate the degree of photosynthetic pigment degradation, and increase the electron transfer energy in the leaves in PSII. As a means of ensuring normal photosynthesis under drought stress, we discovered that the application of exogenous calcium was more important for stabilization of the structure of the organelles, regulation of the osmotic balance, and increase of the photosynthetic pigment content, and proved to be less important for regulation of stomatal opening and closing., W. Hu, S. B. Tian, Q. Di, S. H. Duan, K. Dai., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a typical perennial shade plant. Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous hormones on photosynthesis of P. ginseng. At different growth stages, the aerial parts of P. ginseng plants were cut at the stem base and they were inserted into the nutrient solutions containing different exogenous hormones. Then the leaf photosynthesis and water absorbing capacity (absorbing water mass) of the excised plants were measured. The results showed that exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) decreased significantly net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and absorbed water mass of excised P. ginseng at all growth stages, while both cytokinin (CTK) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) enhanced those parameters. Comparing different growth stages, ABA caused more severe inhibition of leaf photosynthesis at the early growth stage, while CTK and IAA showed significant enhancement of leaf photosynthesis at later growth stage. ABA reduced highly intercellular CO2 concentration of P. ginseng at the flowering and green fruit stages, but it had only a small effect at red fruit early and red fruit stages. During the early growth stage, the inhibitory effect of ABA on leaf PN might be caused mainly due to the stomatal limitation. However, the reason for this reduction was complex at the later growth stage and it included stomatal and other factors., X. Li, K. Xu., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule with diverse physiological functions in plants. In plant cell, it is synthesised in several metabolic ways either enzymatically or nonenzymatically. Due to its high reactivity, it could be also cytotoxic in dependence on concentration. Such effects could be also mediated by NO-derived compounds. However, the role of NO in photosynthetic apparatus arrangement and in photosynthetic performance is poorly understood as indicated by a number of studies in this field with often conflicting results. This review brings a short survey of the role of exogenous NO in photosynthesis under physiological and stressful conditions, particularly of its effect on parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence. and D. Procházková ... [et al.].
Our study investigated the physiological and biochemical basis for the effects of exogenous phenolic acids on the function of the photosynthetic apparatus and photosynthetic electron transport rate in strawberry seedlings. Potted seedlings of the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were used. Syringic acid inhibited net photosynthetic rate and water-use efficiency decreased. Additionally, primary quinone electron acceptor of the PSII reaction centre, the PSII reaction centre and the oxygen evolving complex were also impaired. Both the maximum quantum yield of the PSII primary photochemistry and the performance index on absorption basis were depressed, resulting in reduced function of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Otherwise, low phthalic acid concentrations enhanced photosynthetic capacity, while high concentrations showed opposite effects. Syringic acid exhibited a higher toxic effect than that of phthalic acid which was more evident at higher concentrations., X. F. Lu, H. Zhang, S. S. Lyu, G. D. Du, X. Q. Wang, C. H. Wu, D. G. Lyu., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Tomato seeds exposed to space conditions for nearly six years on board the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite were subsequently germinated and the resultant seedlings grown on earth under controlled conditions for analysis. Photosynthesis, biomass, and water relations were compared between mature plants grown from earth-based control seeds and space-exposed seeds under both well-watered and drought-stressed conditions. No consistent significant differences in photosynthesis and water relations were observed in the two sets of plants at any level of drought stress. Fruit production, however, though limited and variable, was significantly greater in plants grown from space-exposed seeds than in plants grown from earth-based seeds. Overall, exposure of seeds to space had only minor effects on the physiology and growth of plants grown from such seed. and M. S. Marmor, C. E. Martin.
The frequent occurrence of monsoon winds usually leads to the formation of inverted soybean leaves. However, the effect of leaf inversion on photosynthetic capacity remains unclear. The responses of leaf anatomical traits, chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics parameters, photosynthetic capacity, and nonstructural carbohydrates of fully expanded leaves to inversion of leaves in two soybean cultivars were studied. Leaf inversion decreased the stomatal size and thickness of developed leaves. The net photosynthetic rate was significantly reduced under leaf inversion, which resulted from reduced excitation energy trapping and electron transport of PSII reaction center. Leaf inversion increased leaf temperature 10 d after leaf inversion but reduced the instantaneous water-use efficiency compared to normally oriented leaves. Due to the decreased light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, the soluble sugars of light-sensitive cultivar decreased significantly. In summary, leaf inversion deactivated the PSⅡ reaction centers, reduced photosynthesis and nonstructural carbohydrates in upper canopy soybean leaves.