Physiological acclimation of Pinus flexilis to drought stress on contrasting slope aspects in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew G. Letts ◽  
Kevin N. Nakonechny ◽  
K. Eric Van Gaalen ◽  
Cyndi M. Smith

Photosynthetic gas-exchange characteristics were measured in Pinus flexilis James (limber pine) during two drought years in a xeric, subalpine ecosystem of the Rocky Mountains. Limber pine exhibited conservative water-use traits, including low specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen, stomatal conductance, transpiration (E), and light-saturated net photosynthesis (Amax), but exhibited high needle longevity, water-use efficiency (Amax/E), and stable carbon isotope composition. Net photosynthesis declined strongly with leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit, resulting in a bimodal seasonal pattern of Amax. Although very little gas exchange was observed in late summer, photosynthetic activity extended into October. The avoidance of gas exchange during high atmospheric demand maximized whole-season water-use efficiency. Leaf temperature and leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit were higher on south-facing slopes during both moderate (2006) and severe (2007) drought. Severe drought caused lower stomatal conductance and E on the southeast-facing slope, but neither Amax nor canopy reflectance indices differed among slope aspects. Although Amax was lower in 2007 than 2006, branch-length increment did not differ. Foliar stable carbon isotope composition was higher in needles produced in dry years but did not vary among slope aspects. These results indicate that physiological acclimation to water stress prevented among-aspect differences in Amax and that shoulder-season photosynthesis may become increasingly important in a warmer climate.

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-631
Author(s):  
Irena Januskaitiene

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of substrate acidity (pH 4.8; pH 3.8) and 1 kJm−2d−1 UV-B radiation on photosynthesis and growth of radishes (Raphanus sativus L.). Radishes were sown in a neutral pH 6.5 peat substrate. When the second true leaf unfolded, the growth substrate was acidified using different concentration of H2SO4 and exposed to UV-B radiation for a period of ten days. Gas exchange parameters were measured with the LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system. Content of chlorophyll was evaluated spectrophotometrically. The results showed that the greatest inhibition of net photosynthesis was observed when radishes were grown in an acidified pH 3.8 substrate. The decrease of the photosynthesis of radish plants treated with both investigated factors (substrate acidity and UV-B) were lower compared to the effect of substrate acidity alone. UV-B radiation stimulated both enzymatic reactions of photosynthesis and water use efficiency of radish plants grown in acidified peat substrates. Also, investigated factors had higher impact on biomass of tuber than biomass of foliage.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 3431-3444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Zhao ◽  
Ping Meng ◽  
Yabing He ◽  
Xinxiao Yu

Abstract. In the context of global warming attributable to the increasing levels of CO2, severe drought may be more frequent in areas that already experience chronic water shortages (semiarid areas). This necessitates research on the interactions between increased levels of CO2 and drought and their effect on plant photosynthesis. It is commonly reported that 13C fractionation occurs as CO2 gas diffuses from the atmosphere to the substomatal cavity. Few researchers have investigated 13C fractionation at the site of carboxylation to cytoplasm before sugars are exported outward from the leaf. This process typically progresses in response to variations in environmental conditions (i.e., CO2 concentrations and water stress), including in their interaction. Therefore, saplings of two typical plant species (Platycladus orientalis and Quercus variabilis) from semiarid areas of northern China were selected and cultivated in growth chambers with orthogonal treatments (four CO2 concentration ([CO2])  ×  five soil volumetric water content (SWC)). The δ13C of water-soluble compounds extracted from leaves of saplings was determined for an assessment of instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEcp) after cultivation. Instantaneous water use efficiency derived from gas-exchange measurements (WUEge) was integrated to estimate differences in δ13C signal variation before leaf-level translocation of primary assimilates. The WUEge values in P. orientalis and Q.  variabilis both decreased with increased soil moisture at 35–80 % of field capacity (FC) and increased with elevated [CO2] by increasing photosynthetic capacity and reducing transpiration. Instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) according to environmental changes differed between the two species. The WUEge in P. orientalis was significantly greater than that in Q. variabilis, while an opposite tendency was observed when comparing WUEcp between the two species. Total 13C fractionation at the site of carboxylation to cytoplasm before sugar export (total 13C fractionation) was species-specific, as demonstrated in the interaction of [CO2] and SWC. Rising [CO2] coupled with moistened soil generated increasing disparities in δ13C between water-soluble compounds (δ13CWSC) and estimates based on gas-exchange observations (δ13Cobs) in P. orientalis, ranging between 0.0328 and 0.0472 ‰. Differences between δ13CWSC and δ13Cobs in Q. variabilis increased as [CO2] and SWC increased (0.0384–0.0466 ‰). The 13C fractionation from mesophyll conductance (gm) and post-carboxylation both contributed to the total 13C fractionation that was determined by δ13C of water-soluble compounds and gas-exchange measurements. Total 13C fractionation was linearly dependent on stomatal conductance, indicating that post-carboxylation fractionation could be attributed to environmental variation. The magnitude and environmental dependence of apparent post-carboxylation fractionation is worth our attention when addressing photosynthetic fractionation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-352
Author(s):  
Álvaro Henrique Cândido de Souza ◽  
Roberto Rezende ◽  
Marcelo Zolin Lorenzoni ◽  
Fernando André Silva Santos ◽  
André Maller

ABSTRACT Adequate crop fertilization is one of the challenges for agriculture. Measuring gas exchange and biomass accumulation may be used to adjust crop management. The effect of fertigation with potassium (0 kg ha-1, 54 kg ha-1, 108 kg ha-1 and 216 kg ha-1) and nitrogen (0 kg ha-1, 67 kg ha-1, 134 kg ha-1 and 268 kg ha-1) on gas exchange and biomass accumulation in eggplant was assessed under greenhouse conditions. The net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal CO2 concentration, instantaneous carboxylation efficiency, water-use efficiency and total dry weight were evaluated. With the exception of K for water-use efficiency and N for internal CO2 concentration, all the other gas exchange parameters were significantly affected by the K and N doses. There was an interaction between N and K doses for net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. The highest values for net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, carboxylation instantaneous efficiency and total dry weight were found in the range of 125-185 kg ha-1 of K and 215-268 kg ha-1 of N.


1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Woodward ◽  
HM Rawson

The history of net photosynthesis and transpiration per unit leaf area was determined for intact soybean leaves from their unfolding to senescence during flowering and pod filling on untreated (podded) and partially depodded plants growing in a glasshouse. Leaf diffusive resistances to CO2 were calculated and a water use efficiency parameter was derived (net mass of carbon dioxide fixed per unit mass of water transpired per millibar vapour pressure deficit). Net photosynthesis and transpiration behaved similarly through all stages of leaf development. A number of peaks were evident in these parameters. The first was associated with leaf expansion and occurred when the leaf reached its maximum area. The second peak coincided with flowering of the plant and later peaks occurred during pod filling. Stomatal and mesophyll resistances also exhibited similar behaviour during the life of the leaf; the possible causes of this linkage are discussed. Water use efficiency increased rapidly up to the time of full lamina expansion. Thereafter, it rose slowly or remained stable until leaf senescence approached, when the efficiency declined. Net photosynthesis and transpiration of leaves were very similar in both podded and partially depodded plants. It appears that to prevent a shortage of assimilate during flowering and pod filling, photosynthesis may be maintained or increased in some leaves and the response is not related to the number of pods available for filling. The increases in photosynthesis were correlated with both higher stomatal and mesophyll conductances. Mechanisms by which the plant may control leaf photosynthesis are discussed.


Author(s):  
Hidelblandi F. de Melo ◽  
Edivan R. de Souza ◽  
Heitor H. F. Duarte ◽  
Jailson C. Cunha ◽  
Hugo R. B. Santos

ABSTRACT The tools that evaluate the salinity effects on plants have great relevance as they contribute to understanding of the mechanisms of tolerance. This study aimed to evaluate gas exchanges and the contents of photosynthetic pigments in bell peppers cultivated with saline solutions (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 dS m-1) prepared using two sources: NaCl and a mixture of Ca, Mg, K, Na and Cl salts, in randomized blocks with a 6 x 2 factorial scheme and 4 replicates, totaling 48 experimental plots. The net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (A/Ci) and water use efficiency (WUE), besides chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids were evaluated. The gas exchange parameters were efficient to indicate the effects of salinity. All photosynthetic pigments decreased with increased electrical conductivity, and the chlorophyll a is the most sensitive to salinity, while the water use efficiency increased with the increment of electrical conductivity.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 492d-492
Author(s):  
Jonathan N. Egilia ◽  
Fred T. Davies ◽  
Sharon Duray

Hibiscus plants, were irrigated with full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution containing either 0,2,5, or 10 mM potasium(K). After 72 days of K treatment, half of the plants at each K level were subjected to a 21-day slowly developing drought stress cycle and the other half were non-drought stressed (ND). Mid-day leaf water potentials at day 21 was-1.5 to-1.6 MPa (DS), and -0.5 MPa (ND). Leaf K concentration increased with increasing K in nutrient solution for both DS and ND plants, but K was higher in DS than ND plants at 2.5 and 10 mM K. Of the macronutrient cations, only (Ca) was inversely correlated with nutrient solution K, in both DS and ND plants. Leaf concentrations of all the micronutrient cations increased with increasing K supply, regardless of drought stress. Potassium hadt significant positive correlation with total plant and leaf dry weight of DS, but not ND plants. Leaf stable carbon isotope composition (δ13 C,an estimate of long term water-use efficiency), was positively correlated with N, Mg and Ca, and negatively correlated with K, iron (Fe), and K:total cation ratio regardless of drought stress. Both net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were negatively correlated with N and Ca, but positively correlated with K, Fe and manganese in ND plants.


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