High abundance of cockspur (Echinochloa crus-galli) at the geothermal carbon dioxide spring area in Stavešinci indicates that this species is able to grow under widely varying CO2 concentrations. Living cockspur plants can even be found very close to gas-releasing vents where growth is significantly reduced. Plant height correlated well with CO2 exposure. The δ13C value of the CO2 spring air was -3.9 ‰ and δ13C values of high-, medium-, and low-CO2 plants were -10.14, -10.44, and -11.95 ‰, respectively. Stomatal response directly followed the prevailing CO2 concentrations, with the highest reduction of stomatal conductance in high CO2 concentration grown plants. Analysis of the curves relating net photosynthetic rate to intercellular CO2 concentration (PN-Ci curves) revealed higher CO2 compensation concentration in plants growing at higher CO2 concentration. This indicates adjustment of respiration and photosynthetic carbon assimilation according to the prevailing CO2 concentrations during germination and growth. There was no difference in other photosynthetic parameters measured. and D. Vodnik ... [et al.].
Physiological responses from sensitive (S156) and resistant (R123) genotypes of ozone bioindicator, snap bean, were investigated after exposing the plants to cumulative, phytotoxic ozone amounts. Daily course of gas-exchange parameters showed delayed stomatal response in S156 leaves to environmental changes comparing to the response of R123 leaves. Potential photosynthetic quantum conversion, Stern-Volmer nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), and maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) values changed differently in the two genotypes between the first and last measuring days. We concluded that the higher ozone sensitivity originated at least partly from inferior regenerating and/or antioxidant capacity. Experimental protocol proved to be determinant on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters: Fv/Fm and NPQ declined at midday, and only the sensitive leaves showed a slight increase in NPQ between 12 h and 16 h. We explained these results by moderately high temperatures and shade-adapted state of our experimental plants under substantial ozone stress. On the base of temperature dependence of minimal fluorescence yield (F0), critical temperature proved to be higher than 32.7°C for Phaseolus vulgaris under these conditions. We found a strong linear correlation between NPQ and nonphotochemical quenching of F0, indicating that NPQ was determined mostly by energy-dependent quenching (qE). The qE is the light-harvesting complex located component of NPQ and depends on the amount of zeaxanthin molecules bound in PSII proteins. Thus, difference between daily courses of NPQ in the two genotypes was probably due to different ways of utilization of the zeaxanthin pool under the interactive effect of ozone and moderate heat stress., V. Villányi, Z. Ürmös, B. Turk, F. Batič, Z. Csintalan., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Photosynthetic irradiance response of vegetative and reproductive structures of the green-flowered deciduous perennial green hellebore was studied by the comparative use of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence techniques and gas exchange measurements. All the Chl-containing organs (leaves, sepals, stalks, and fruits) examined were photosynthetically active showing high intrinsic efficiencies of photosystem 2 (Fv/Fm: 0.75-0.79) after dark adaptation. Even in the smaller fertile and sterile parts of the flower (nectaries and anthers) a remarkable photosynthetic competence was detected. With increasing photon flux densities (PFD) electron transport rates, actual quantum yields, and photochemical quenching coefficients of the main photosynthetic organs decreased in the order: leaf>sepal>fruit>stalk. At moderate to high PFDs the sepals achieved maximum electron transport rates corresponding to about 80 % of concomitant mature leaves. In contrast, maximum net photosynthetic rate of the sepals [2.3 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1] were less than one fourth of the leaves [10.6 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1]. This difference is explained by a 70-80 % lower stomatal density of sepals in comparison to leaves. As the basal leaves emerge late during fruit development, the photosynthetically active sepals are a major source of assimilates, contributing more than 60 % of whole-plant CO2 gain in early spring. The ripening dehiscent fruits are characterized by an effective internal re-fixation of the respirational carbon loss and thus additionally improve the overall carbon budget. and G. Aschan ... [et al.].