Genetic variation of ecophysiological traits in red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.)

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 2150-2156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.L. Dang ◽  
C.Y. Xie ◽  
C. Ying ◽  
R.D. Guy

We examined the genetic variation of ecophysiological traits within and among 40 red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) provenances (two families per provenance) in a common-garden experiment in the summer of 1993. The provenances were representative of the entire species range in British Columbia, Canada. We found significant genetic variation among provenances (P < 0.001) in photosynthetic rate (A), mesophyll conductance (gm), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gsw), stomatal sensitivity to water vapour pressure deficit (SENSVPD), intercellular to ambient CO2 concentration ratio (Ci/Ca), and midday xylem water potential (ψ). Photosynthetic water-use efficiency, however, did not differ significantly among provenances. There were no significant differences between families within provenance for any of these variables. A weak but significant geographic trend was detected in ecophysiological traits: ψ, A, gm, and E increased, and SENSVPD decreased, from southeast to northwest. Photosynthetic rate, E, gm, gsw and ψ were positively related to each other, but negatively correlated with SENSVPD. Ci/Ca was negatively correlated with gsw. These correlations indicate that red alder might have undergone genetic differentiation in drought resistance.

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1930-1939 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Ager ◽  
P. E. Heilman ◽  
R. F. Stettler

Genetic variation was examined within and among populations of red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) from elevational gradients in four river drainages of the Pacific Northwest. Wind-pollinated progenies of 120 trees were grown for 3 years in a common garden environment and measured for growth and shoot phenology. Variation in top weight, bud flush, and leaf abscission was analyzed in relation to native climate and elevation and compared with sympatric species. Strong geographic patterns of variation were observed for all measured traits, apparently reflecting adaptations to highly variable climates within the region studied. Growth traits were correlated with temperature amplitude and length of growing season. Growth rhythm in bud flushing and growth cessation was related to two important environmental cues, spring thermal sums and fall frost dates. Overall levels of variation in red alder appeared to be similar to several sympatric conifers, although variation within populations of red alder was lower. The latter finding may be due to the demography of the riparian populations sampled, or perhaps a characteristic of the species and its colonizing life history.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Brodribb ◽  
RS Hill

Leaves and phyllodes of A. melanoxylon were compared in several aspects of their physiology. Changes in gas exchange and water use efficiency (WUE) under controlled conditions of vapour pressure deficit (vpd) and foliar water potential were examined. Water use efficiency in phyllodes remained constant under a wide range of evaporative demand due to high stomatal sensitivity to vpd. Leaf stomata were less sensitive to changes in vpd causing decreased WUE with increased vpd. Under water stress phyllodes survived longer and produced higher WUE than leaves. Maximum photosynthetic rates per unit foliar area were higher in phyllodes than leaves. Thus, phyllodes have a number of advantages over leaves under conditions of long and short term water stress and high irradiance. Leaves had a higher photosynthetic rate per unit of photosynthetic investment than phyllodes, suggesting that their function is to maximise growth during the seedling phase.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea C. Premoli ◽  
Carol A. Brewer

Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. et Endl.) Krasser is a broadleaved deciduous tree that dominates high-elevation forests in the southern Andes. We evaluated the degree to which differences in stomatal density and physiological traits (net assimilation, conductance and water use efficiency) were related to environmental and genetic influences with elevation by comparing plants growing under field and common garden conditions. Low-elevation leaves under field conditions had fewer stomata, although this pattern was not maintained in the common garden. Assimilation rates were >40% higher for high-elevation plants in the field, and 18% higher in the common garden, than those for low-elevation plants. In addition, under field conditions high-elevation plants tended to have higher stomatal conductance and lower instantaneous water use efficiency than did low-elevation plants; however, these differences were not significant in the common garden. Thus, assimilation seems to be under genetic control whereas ecophysiological traits related to the use of water appear to be more responsive to environmental cues. Our results suggest that plants growing along elevational gradients may show complex ecophysiological patterns. These patterns may be acquired by genetically driven responses to conditions that are fixed throughout the life span of individuals, such as soil nutrients. Also plastic adjustments may favour opportunistic use of available water during the dry season, particularly under Mediterranean-type climate regimes with summer drought.


2013 ◽  
Vol 119 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 119-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsien Ming Easlon ◽  
Krishna S. Nemali ◽  
James H. Richards ◽  
David T. Hanson ◽  
Thomas E. Juenger ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 425 ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Albaugh ◽  
Thomas R. Fox ◽  
Chris A. Maier ◽  
Otávio C. Campoe ◽  
Rafael A. Rubilar ◽  
...  

Botany ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-213
Author(s):  
Anselmo Nogueira ◽  
Pedro J. Rey ◽  
Julio M. Alcántara ◽  
Lúcia G. Lohmann

Extra-floral nectaries (EFNs) are thought to represent protective adaptations against herbivory, but studies on the evolutionary ecology of EFNs have seldom been conducted. Here we investigate the patterns of natural selection and genetic variation in EFN traits in two wild populations of Anemopaegma album Mart. ex DC. (Bignoniaceae) that have been previously described as contrasting EFN – ant adapted localities in the Neotropical savanna (Cristália and Grão Mogol). In each population, four EFN descriptors, foliar damage, and reproductive success variables were measured per plant (100–120 plants per population). To estimate the heritability of EFN traits, we crossed reproductive plants in the field, and grew offspring plants in a common garden. The results showed that ant assemblages differed between populations, as did the range of foliar herbivory. Genetic variation and positive phenotypic selection in EFN abundance were only detected in the Cristália population, in which plants with more EFNs were more likely to reproduce. An evaluation of putative causal links conducted by path analysis corroborated the existence of phenotypic selection on EFNs, which was mediated by the herbivory process in the Cristália population. While EFNs could be currently under selection in Cristália, it is possible that past selection may have driven EFN traits to become locally adapted to the local ant assemblage in the Grão Mogol population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Li ◽  
Lei Zhou ◽  
Shaoqiang Wang ◽  
Yonggang Chi ◽  
Jinghua Chen

Photosynthesis is arguably the most important biochemical process on Earth, which is dramatically influenced by environmental conditions. How environmental factors drive stomatal conductance and biochemical processes of leaf photosynthetic rate has not been sufficiently investigated in subtropical China. In this study, we analysed the effects of stomatal and biochemical parameters on the photosynthetic rate of native Masson’s pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) and exotic slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) in response to leaf temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in subtropical China, based on leaf gas exchange measurements in 2016. Our results showed that there was no significant difference in the light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Asat) between native Masson’s pine and exotic slash pine. The seasonal patterns of maximum rate of the carboxylation (Vcmax25) were basically consistent with seasonal patterns of Asat for both species. The positive effect of leaf temperature on Asat was mainly produced through its positive effect on Vcmax25. Leaf temperature had no significant effect on stomatal conductance. Vcmax25 and gs simultaneously affected Asat in response to VPD. Our results highlighted the importance of biochemical processes in limiting leaf photosynthetic rate in response to environmental conditions in subtropical evergreen coniferous plantations.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolin Wang ◽  
Huifeng Yan ◽  
Yuanzheng Li

Dorsoventral asymmetry of photosynthesis is important for light use patterns, but the asymmetry changes with environments. Photosynthetic asymmetry was have been intensively studied for their role in light use efficiency, but less is know about the impact of light properties on asymmetry. Aimed at the current changing fraction of diffuse light in sky radiation, this study investigated dorsoventral asymmetry of photosynthetic traits in direct, diffuse and self-transmitted light (residual light intercepted by one surface) respectively in an important food and energy crop, Sorghum bicolor L. An unique designed method was used to investigate the specific gas exchange of two surfaces in different light properties. We found that anatomical and morphological traits were obviously different in sorghum leaves, which might cause the photosynthetic asymmetry, the variation of photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance was significant between two surfaces in direct and self-transmitted light, but insignificant in diffuse light. The abaxial stomatal sensitivity of single stoma was lower, while the higher stomatal density in abaxial surface compensated the weakness in stomatal sensitivity. Comparing to direct and self-transmitted light, diffuse light reduced the stomatal sensitivity, while the degree of decline was higher in adaxial surface, which caused weak dorsoventral asymmetry in photosynthesis. Taken together, the finding of this study suggested that stomatal sensitivity determined the degree of dorsoventral asymmetry in the susceptibility to light properties. The different stomatal sensitivity regulated photosynthetic variation, which was benefit to remain high photosynthetic rate in high and changing light. The findings provided new insight in to dorsoventral asymmetry and impact of diffuse light on photosynthesis in isobilateral leaves.


CORD ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (02) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Gomes, F.P. ◽  
Mielke, M.S. ◽  
Almeida, A. F. ◽  
Muniz, W. S.

Net photosynthetic (A) and leaf transpiration (E) rates and stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs) of Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Brazilian Green Dwarf (BGD) coconut accessions (Cocos nucifera var. ‘nana’ L.) were studied and discussed in terms of the technical aspects related to light-response curves in field conditions. Measurements of gas exchange were performed during four days, in April and may 2000, at the Cocoa Research Center Experimental Station (Una - BA, Brazil). The A, gs and E parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) different between the two genotypes. The mean maximum values of A, gs and E were 10.4 and 12.0 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1, 0.21 and 0.35 mol H2O m-2 s-1 and 3.07 and 3.69 mmol m-2 s-1 for MYD and BGD, respectively. For both genotypes a good fitting of the light-response curve models were obtained, indicating that A and gs were dependent of the photosynthetically active radiation incident on leaf surface (Qi), in spite of high genotipic variation. Interesting results were achieved when an empirical multiplicative model was used. The model relating A or gs with Qi and with leaf-to-air water vapour pressure deficit inside the chamber (VPDL) was tested for both genotypes and showed a negative influence of the latter on the stomatal behavior and consequently on A. Such effect was more pronounced in BGD than in MYD. These and others relationships involving leaf gas exchange and microclimatic variables in coconut palm trees are discussed


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