Limitations to photosynthetic carbon gain in timberline Abies lasiocarpa seedlings during prolonged drought

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Johnson ◽  
William K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Leaf Conductance ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Photosynthetic Carbon ◽  
Use Efficiency

Photosynthesis, water status, and associated physiological parameters were measured in chronically drought-stressed seedlings (5 years of below-average precipitation, 107 cm net deficit) of Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. above (treeline ecotone site, TS) and below (forest site, FS) a Rocky Mountain timberline. In contrast to normal seasonal patterns reported for timberline conifer trees, xylem water potentials were exceptionally low in early summer and remained low for the rest of the summer. Although photosynthesis was not significantly different between the two sites, early season photosynthesis was greater than late-season photosynthesis, especially at FS. Mean daily values of leaf conductance to water vapor (gwv) and transpiration (E) were also low at the beginning of summer (gwv from 0.01 mol·m–2·s–1 to 0.13 mol·m–2·s–1 and E from 0.4 μmol·m–2·s–1 to 2.9 μmol·m–2·s–1) and continued to decrease through summer (an approximate 10-fold decrease in gwv and a 2-fold to 3-fold decrease in E), which resulted in increasing water-use efficiency as summer progressed. Although the slope of instantaneous photosynthesis – intercellular CO2 concentration curves was reduced (lower carboxylation efficiency) from July to September, the relative stomatal limitation to carbon gain was less than 50% over the entire measurement period. Mean daily intercellular CO2 concentrations decreased from near ambient levels (approximately 350–360 ppm) to 290 ppm over the course of summer. Overall, nonstomatal limitations appeared to have the largest impact on photosynthetic carbon gain, although seasonal decreases in leaf conductance and a corresponding depletion of intercellular CO2 indicated that there were also significant stomatal limitations to carbon gain that resulted in a continued regulation of greater water use efficiency.

Microhabitat comparisons of transpiration and photosynthesis in three subalpine conifers

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 963-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A. Carter ◽  
William K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Photosynthetic Performance ◽  
Leaf Conductance ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Central Rocky Mountains

Differences in water and photosynthetic relations were compared for three codominant conifers (Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmaniï), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) at microhabitats within a subalpine forest (central Rocky Mountains, U.S.A.) that were considered representative of different successional stages. Diumal measurements of photosynthesis, leaf conductance, and transpiration were taken at microhabitats considered early-successional (open), intermediate (forest gap), and late-successional (forest understory) environments to evaluate possible influences of gas-exchange physiology in observed distributional and successional patterns. Pine had greater water-use efficiency (photosynthesis/transpiration) in early- versus late-successional environments, primarily as a result of a lower leaf conductance and transpiration. Photosynthetic performance was similar among all three species at each respective microhabitat and increased as the openness of the microhabitat increased. Greater water-use efficiency may significantly improve the growth of pine over spruce and fir on more open, drier sites at lower elevation. Higher transpiration in spruce and fir may limit these species to higher elevation sites, to understory sites at middle elevations, and to moister open sites at lower elevations (e.g., riparian sites).

scholarly journals Costs and benefits of photosynthetic stems in desert species from southern California

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleinis Ávila-Lovera ◽  
Roxana Haro ◽  
Exequiel Ezcurra ◽  
Louis S. Santiago
Keyword(s):  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Carbon Isotopic Composition ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency

Woody plants with green photosynthetic stems are common in dry woodlands with the possible advantages of extra carbon gain, re-assimilation of CO2, and high water-use efficiency. However, their green stem tissue may also incur greater costs of water loss when stomata are closed. Our study focussed on evaluating the costs and benefits of having green stems in desert plants, addressing the water-use efficiency hypothesis. We measured water status, carbon and water exchange, and carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of 15 species in a desert wash scrub in Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA. We found that all woody species that have green stems relied on their green stems as the sole organ for carbon assimilation for most of the study period. Green stems had similar photosynthetic rate (Amax), stomatal conductance (gs) and intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) to leaves of the same species. However, Amax, gs and cuticular conductance (gmin) were higher in green stems than in leaves of non-green stemmed species. Carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) was similar in both leaves and green stems, indicating no difference in integrated long-term WUE. Our results raise questions about the possible trade-off between carbon gain and water loss through the cuticle in green stems and how this may affect plant responses to current and future droughts.

Effect of drought stress on residual transpiration and its relationship with water use of wheat

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Clarke ◽  
R. A. Richards ◽  
A. G. Condon
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Transpiration Rate ◽  
Osmotic Potential ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Cuticular Transpiration ◽  
Stress Treatment ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Residual Transpiration

Increasing the water use efficiency (WUE) of wheat (Triticum spp.) has long been a goal in semiarid areas. Low rates of residual (cuticular) transpiration are thought to improve yield potential of wheat under dry conditions, although the linkage is tenuous. The objective of this work was to investigate the association of residual transpiration with water use, WUE, and leaf water status in hexaploid (T. aestivum L.) and tetraploid (T. turgidum L. var. durum) genotypes grown under two watering regimes in two glasshouse experiments. Single plants were grown in 0.1-m × 1-m (0.1-m × 0.5-m in exp. 2 low-stress treatment) PVC tubes filled with soil. The watering regimes consisted of weekly replenishment of water used (low stress), or addition of sufficient water to ensure plant survival (high stress). At anthesis, flag leaf residual transpiration (rate of water loss from excised leaves), stomatal conductance, relative water content (RWC), and osmotic potential (exp. 1 only) were measured. Water use was not correlated with residual transpiration rate in either experiment. Residual transpiration rate did not differ for the two stress treatments in exp. 1, but there were significant (P < 0.01) genotype by stress treatment interactions. Residual transpiration rate was not related to plant water status (leaf RWC or osmotic potential) as had been reported in other studies. Key words: Cuticular transpiration, water use efficiency, Triticum aestivum L., Triticum turgidum L. var. durum

Water Use Efficiency as a Constraint and Target for Improving the Resilience and Productivity of C3and C4Crops

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 781-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D.B. Leakey ◽  
John N. Ferguson ◽  
Charles P. Pignon ◽  
Alex Wu ◽  
Zhenong Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Complex Trait ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Crop Development ◽  
Component Traits ◽  
Use Efficiency

The ratio of plant carbon gain to water use, known as water use efficiency (WUE), has long been recognized as a key constraint on crop production and an important target for crop improvement. WUE is a physiologically and genetically complex trait that can be defined at a range of scales. Many component traits directly influence WUE, including photosynthesis, stomatal and mesophyll conductances, and canopy structure. Interactions of carbon and water relations with diverse aspects of the environment and crop development also modulate WUE. As a consequence, enhancing WUE by breeding or biotechnology has proven challenging but not impossible. This review aims to synthesize new knowledge of WUE arising from advances in phenotyping, modeling, physiology, genetics, and molecular biology in the context of classical theoretical principles. In addition, we discuss how rising atmospheric CO2concentration has created and will continue to create opportunities for enhancing WUE by modifying the trade-off between photosynthesis and transpiration.

Effect of irrigation and defoliation on the herbage production and water use efficiency of four temperate pasture species

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 797 ◽  
Author(s):  
GG Johns ◽  
A Lazenby
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Status ◽  
The Other ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use Efficiencies ◽  
Similar Quantity

Measurements were made over a 12-month period of the herbage production of both dryland and irrigated monoculture swards of four temperate pasture species under two defoliation regimes. By relating herbage production to the previously reported water use results for these swards, water use efficiencies (WUE) have been computed. Dryland clover produced 2000 kg/ha less herbage than did the dryland grasses, although it used a similar quantity of water. Consequently, the WUE of dryland clover was substantially less than that of the dryland grasses. Under dryland conditions, fescue not only produced more herbage, but also used water more efficiently than did the other species. Similar amounts of irrigation enabled the clover to yield an extra 6000 kg/ha of herbage compared with a mean grass response of 1760 kg/ha. The irrigated clover swards generally used water much more efficiently than the dryland clover swards. In contrast, the grasses generally used water with similar efficiency under both irrigated and dryland conditions. Under both irrigated and dryland conditions the frequently defoliated swards usually outyielded those cut infrequently as well as making more efficient use of water. The response of pastures to irrigation is discussed in terms of the effects of irrigation on the water status of the plants and the availability of nutrients in the rhizosphere.

Diurnal Time Course of Leaf Gas Exchange Rates and Related Characters in Drought-Acclimated and Irrigated Trifolium Subterraneum.

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Vadell ◽  
C Cabot ◽  
H Medrano
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Exchange Rates ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Co2 Assimilation ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Assimilation Rate ◽  
Use Efficiency

The effects of drought acclimation on the diurnal time courses of photosynthesis and related characters were studied in Trifolium subterraneum L. leaves during two consecutive late spring days. Leaf CO2 assimilation rate and transpiration rate followed irradiance variations in irrigated plants. Under drought, a bimodal pattern of leaf CO2 assimilation rate developed although stomatal conductance remained uniform and low. Instantaneous water-use efficiency was much higher in droughted plants during the early morning and late evening, while during the middle of the day it was close to the value of irrigated plants. Net carbon gain in plants under drought reached 40% of the carbon gain in irrigated plants with a significant saving of water (80%). Average data derived from midday values of leaf CO2 assimilation rates and instantaneous water-use efficiency did not provide good estimates of the daily carbon gain and water-use efficiency for droughted leaves. Coupled with the morphological changes as a result of acclimation to progressive drought, modifications of diurnal patterns of leaf gas exchange rates effectively contribute to a sustained carbon gain during drought. These modifications significantly improve water-use efficiency, mainly by enabling the plant to take advantage of morning and evening hours with high air humidity.

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