Growth and Photosynthetic Response to Light and Nutrients of Flindersia brayleyana F. Muell., A Rainforest Tree With Broad Tolerance to Sun and Shade

1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
WA Thompson ◽  
GC Stocker ◽  
PE Kriedemann

Seed from four species of rainforest trees with widely contrasting sunlight requirements for growth and development were sown within disturbance gaps amidst mature forest on the Herberton Range in North Queensland. Observations on seedling persistence plus comparative growth of young trees of Acacia aulacocarpa, Toona australis, Flindersia brayleyana and Darlingia darlingiana (species ranked according to adaptation from full sun to deep shade) confirmed a broad tolerance of Flindersia to sunlight under all conditions, from wide to narrow gaps (minimum 0.6% full sun equivalent). Photosynthetic attributes which underlie such broad tolerance were subsequently inferred from single leaf gas exchange, plus foliar analyses of nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll on tree seedlings held for 180 days under two nutrient × three irradiance levels adjusted to represent natural irradiance incident upon the forest floor (low), mid-canopy (medium) and emergent crowns (high irradiance treatment). Medium irradiance plus high nutrients proved optimal for leaf expansion, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis in air. Growth under low irradiance was characterised by thinner leaf palisade tissue, lower rates of dark respiration, increased leaf chlorophyll per unit nitrogen and lower light compensation point for photosynthesis. Such leaves retained a relatively high photosynthetic capacity despite these other shade-leaf attributes. High irradiance plus low nutrients proved supraoptimal for leaf expansion and expression of photosynthetic activity. Chronic photoinhibition appeared to prevail because apparent quantum yield was reduced, while photosynthetic processes on a nitrogen basis were substantially impaired. Nitrogen use efficiency, as inferred from leaf chlorophyll content, light saturated CO2 assimilation rate, electron transport rate and carboxylation rate on a nitrogen basis declined with increasing growth irradiance. Some ecological implications for the establishment and growth of these rainforest tree species in disturbance gaps are discussed.

1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 952-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moacyr Bernardino Dias-Filho

Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schultz (Convolvulaceae) and Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich) Vahl. (Verbenaceae), two weeds found in pastures and crop areas in the Brazilian Amazonia, Brazil, were grown in controlled environment cabinets under high (800-1000 µmol m-² s-¹) and low (200-350 µmol m-² s-¹) light regimes during a 40-day period. The objective was to determine the effect of shade on photosynthetic features and leaf nitrogen content of I. asarifolia and S. cayennensis. High-irradiance grown I. asarifolia leaves had significantly higher dark respiration and light saturated rates of photosynthesis than low-irradiance leaves. No significant differences for these traits, between treatments, were observed in S. cayennensis. Low-irradiance leaves of both species displayed higher CO2 assimilation rates under low irradiance. High-irradiance grown leaves of both species had less nitrogen per unit of weight. Low-irradiance S. cayennensis had more nitrogen per unit of leaf area than high-irradiance plants; however, I. asarifolia showed no consistent pattern for this variable through time. For S. cayennensis, leaf nitrogen content and CO2 assimilation were inversely correlated to the amount of biomass allocated to developing reproductive structures. These results are discussed in relation to their ecological and weed management implications.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Privé ◽  
J. A. Sullivan ◽  
J. T. A. Proctor

Seasonal changes in leaf net carbon exchange rate (NCER), stomatal conductance (gs), and intercellular CO2 (ci) were determined for 2-yr-old potted Autumn Bliss (Rubus idaeus L.) plants grown under field conditions. NCER varied inconsistently between leaves which subtended fruiting lateral branches (laterals) and those that did not. In leaves with fruiting laterals, it was lower on three dates, similar on three other dates and once greater than in leaves without fruiting laterals. Evidence of nonstomatal inhibition of photosynthesis was also apparent as leaf NCER and gs fluctuated during the season while ci remained relatively constant. The leaf chlorophyll content increased when fruiting laterals were present, but this did not produce a consistently higher leaf NCER. The SPAD-501 meter provided a rapid and accurate, nondestructive estimate of leaf chlorophyll content for Autumn Bliss red raspberry leaves. Under uniform environmental conditions, all healthy, fully expanded leaves along the primocane had the same photosynthetic potential. Also, leaf age did not influence leaf gas exchange until the leaves started to senesce. Therefore, good light interception throughout the canopy is needed to optimize dry matter production in primocane-fruiting red raspberries. Key words: Rubus idaeus L., primocane-fruiting, leaf gas exchange


1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 475-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Srivastava ◽  
P. A. Jolliffe ◽  
V. C. Runeckles

An open flow system was used to examine the uptake and effects of NO2 on gas exchange by primary leaves of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under a variety of conditions of irradiance, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric CO2 and O2 concentrations. At 3.0 ppm, NO2 inhibited apparent photosynthesis and dark respiration in all the conditions tested. Both 3.0 ppm and 7.0 ppm NO2 inhibited the evolution of CO2 into CO2-free air. The absolute magnitude of photosynthetic inhibition by NO2 was greatest at high irradiance, at the optimum temperature for apparent photosynthesis, and at high humidities. Changes in CO2 concentration from 100 to 600 ppm and in O2 concentration from 0 to 21% did not affect the percentage inhibition of apparent photosynthesis by NO2. High temperatures increased the inhibitory effects of NO2 on dark respiration.The effects of NO2 on apparent photosynthesis, dark respiration, and CO2 evolution into CO2-free air were based on inhibitory effects exerted within the leaves and not on CO2 diffusion into the leaf. Transpiration rate and stomatal diffusion resistance were only slightly affected by NO2. The uptake of NO2 was enhanced by high temperature, low CO2 concentration, and high humidity. The results of these studies support the view that NO2 uptake is subject to internal limitations ("mesophyll resistance") under many environmental conditions.The range and prevalence of NO2 effects suggest that NO2 may cause general detrimental changes in the physiology of leaf cells. Furthermore, the circumstances under which NO2 effects were found to occur indicate that such effects may be significant in natural ecosystems.


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Siebke ◽  
Oula Ghannoum ◽  
Jann P. Conroy ◽  
Susanne von Caemmerer

This study investigates the effect of elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2)-induced stomatal closure on leaf temperature and gas exchange of C4 grasses. Two native Australian C4 grasses, Astrebla lappacea (Lindl.) Domin and Bothriochloa bladhii Kuntze, were grown at three different pCO2 (35, 70 and 120 Pa) in three matched, temperature-controlled glasshouse compartments. The difference between leaf and air temperature (ΔT) was monitored diurnally with thermocouples. ΔT increased with both step-increases of ambient pCO2. Average noon leaf temperature increased by 0.4 and 0.3°C for A. lappacea with the 35–70 and 70–120 Pa steps of pCO2 elevation, respectively. For B. bladhii, the increases were 0.5°C for both pCO2 steps. ΔT was strongly dependent on irradiance, pCO2 and air humidity. Leaf gas exchange was measured at constant temperature and high irradiance at the three growth pCO2. Under these conditions, CO2 assimilation saturated at 70 Pa, while stomatal conductance decreased by the same extent (0.58-fold) with both step-increases in pCO2, suggesting that whole-plant water use efficiency of C4 grasses would increase beyond a doubling of ambient pCO2. The ratio of intercellular to ambient pCO2 was not affected by short- or long-term doubling or near-tripling of pCO2, in either C4 species when measured under standard conditions.


HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 748C-748
Author(s):  
Desmond R. Layne ◽  
J.A. Flore

A series of experiments were conducted with one-year-old potted sour cherry trees to evaluate the effects of source reduction (removal of 70% of the expanded leaves = Defol.) or source enhancement (continuous illumination = C.L.) on source leaf gas exchange. There was a significant increase in net CO2 assimilation (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) of Defol. within one day in contrast to the non-defoliated control (Cont.). Defol. had lower daily dark respiration rates (Rd) and higher A values throughout the 14 h diurnal photoperiod than Cont. Defol. had daily assimilation rates 50% higher than Cont. in as early as 3 days. One month later, specific leaf weight, leaf chlorophyll and A was higher in Defol. Non-defoliated plants were also placed under either a 14 h photoperiod (Cont.) or a 24 h photoperiod (24h). A of 24h was reduced from Cont. by 50% after one day. The diurnal response of A in Cont. was removed when plants were put in C.L. Following 7 days in C.L., 70% defoliation of 24h plants resulted in a complete recovery from photosynthetic inhibition within 48 hours. The short-term effects of source manipulation on photochemical and carboxylation efficiencies, photorespiration and stomatal limitations will also be addressed.


Revista CERES ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 614-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Cristina Santos Nascimento ◽  
Ricardo Antonio Marenco

The chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502) is widely used to estimate chlorophyll content, but non-uniform chloroplast distribution can affect its accuracy. This study aimed to assess the effect of photon fluence (F, irradiance x time of illumination) in leaves with different chlorophyll content and determine the effect of chlorophyll a/b on SPAD values of four tropical tree species (Croton draconoides Müll. Arg., Hevea guianensis Aubl., Hymenaea courbaril L. and Matisia cordata H.B.K.). There were also determined calibration equations for the chlorophyll meter and assessed the effect of F on SPAD values between 07:00 h and 17:00 h. Calibration equations were obtained after determining leaf chlorophyll content in the laboratory. Increases in F with time caused a reduction in SPAD values in species with a high chlorophyll content, with reductions of 20% in M. cordata and 10% in H. guianensis. Leaves of C. draconoides and H. courbaril had lower chlorophyll content and showed no changes in SPAD values with increase in F. The chlorophyll a/b ratio increased with SPAD values and the SPAD/chlorophyll relationship was best described by an exponential equation. It seems that F may affect SPAD values in leaves with high chlorophyll content, probably due to non-uniform chloroplast distribution at high irradiance. This indicates that SPAD values tend to be more accurate if recorded early in morning when irradiance is low.


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 476B-476
Author(s):  
John L. Jifon ◽  
Jim Syvertsen

Maximum CO2 assimilation rates (ACO2) in citrus are not realized in environments with high irradiance, high temperatures, and high leaf-to-air vapor pressure differences (D). We hypothesized that moderate shading would reduce leaf temperature and D, thereby increasing stomatal conductance (gs) and ACO2. A 61% reduction in irradiance under aluminum net shade screens reduced midday leaf temperatures by 8 °C and D by 62%. This effect was prominent on clear days when average midday air temperature and vapor pressure deficits exceeded 30 °C and 3 kPa. ACO2 and gs increased 42% and 104%, respectively, in response to shading. Although shaded leaves had higher gs, their transpiration rates were only 7% higher and not significantly different from sunlit leaves. Leaf water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly improved in shaded leaves (39%) compared to sunlit leaves due to the increase in ACO2. Early in the morning and late afternoon when irradiance and air temperatures were low, shading had no beneficial effect on ACO2 or other gas exchange characteristics. On cloudy days or when the maximum daytime temperature and atmospheric vapor pressure deficits were less than 30 °C and 2 kPa, respectively, shading had little effect on leaf gas exchange properties. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the beneficial effect of radiation load reduction on ACO2 is related to improved stomatal conductance in response to lowered D.


HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 685e-685
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Marler ◽  
Yasmina Zozor

Whole plant growth, foliage mineral content, and leaf gas exchange were measured on Mammea americana seedlings exposed to salinity ranging from 0 to 8 dS·m–1 to determine relative tolerance of this species. In one study, growth measured as leaf area, trunk cross-sectional area, and total dry mass was reduced by 23 weeks of exposure to salinity. Growth of plants exposed to 8 dS·m–1 was ≈30% below that of control plants. Leaf gas exchange was reduced by salinity to a greater degree than the growth variables. Stomatal conductance of plants exposed to 8 dS·m–1 was ≈70% below that of control plants. Plants exposed to 8 dS·m–1 exhibited a seven-fold increase in leaf chloride and 13-fold increase in leaf sodium compared to the control plants. In a second study, 8 weeks of exposure to 8 dS·m–1 reduced net CO2 assimilation and apparent quantum yield to ≈50% of the values for the control plants. Dark respiration was not influenced by salinity. The results indicate that Mammea americana is moderately sensitive to salinity stress.


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