How does drought tolerance compare between two improved hybrids of balsam poplar and an unimproved native species?

Poplars are one of the woody plants that are very sensitive to water stress, which may reduce the productivity of fast-growing plantations. Poplars can exhibit several drought tolerance strategies that may impact productivity differently. Trees from two improved hybrids, Populus balsamifera?×?Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray (clone B?×?T) and P. balsamifera?×?Populus maximowiczii A. Henry (clone B?×?M), having P. balsamifera L. as a parent and trees from native and unimproved P. balsamifera were subjected to a 1-month drying cycle in a growth chamber and then rewatered. The unimproved and native B clone maintained higher stomatal conductance (g(s)) than the hybrids, and high photosynthetic activity and transpiration, even when soil water content was nearly zero. As a result, both instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE(i)) and leaf carbon isotope composition (δ(13)C) indicated that this clone was less affected by drought than both hybrids at maximal drought stress. However, this clone shed its leaves when the drought threshold was exceeded, which implied a greater loss of productivity. The B?×?M hybrid showed a relatively conservative response to water stress, with the greatest decrease in transpiring versus absorbing surface (total leaf area to root biomass ratio). This clone was also the only one to develop new leaves after rewatering, and its total biomass production was not significantly decreased by drought. Among the two hybrids, clone B?×?T was the most vigorous, with the greatest transpiration (E(i)) and net CO(2) assimilation (A) rates, allowing for high biomass production. However, it had a more risky strategy under drought conditions by keeping its stomata open and high E(i) rates under moderate drought, resulting in a lower recovery rate after rewatering. The opposite drought response strategies of the two hybrids were reflected by clone B?×?T having lower WUE(i) values than clone B?×?M at maximal drought, with a very low Ψ(min) value of -3.2 MPa, despite closed stomata and stopped photosynthetic activity. Positive linear relationships between A and g(s) for the three hybrids indicated strong stomatal control of photosynthesis. Moreover, the three poplar clones showed anisohydric behaviour for stomatal control and their use under long-term drought should be of interest, especially the B?×?M clone.     

Comparison of photosynthetic induction and transient limitations during the induction phase in young and mature leaves from three poplar clones

We tested the hypothesis that leaf age affects photosynthetic induction, because conductance to CO2 diffusion usually decreases with increasing leaf age. Photosynthetic inductions, primarily determined by the light modulation of Rubisco activity and stomatal opening, were investigated in both young and mature leaves, as defined by leaf plastochron index (LPI), from three poplar clones: Populus alba L., P. nigra L. and P. x euramericana (Dode) Guinier. In all clones, maximum assimilation rates (A max), maximum stomatal conductance (G Smax) and dark respiration rates (RD) were higher in young leaves (LPI = 3-5) than in mature leaves (LPI = 10-14), and A max decreased from P. alba via P. x euramericana to P. nigra. The clones with high photosynthetic capacity had low induction states 60 s after leaf illumination (IS60; indicating a slow initial induction phase), and required less time to reach 90% photosynthetic induction (T90). In contrast, the clone with the lowest photosynthetic capacity (P. nigra) exhibited high IS60 (high initial induction state) but a long induction time (high T90). A comparison of mature leaves with young leaves revealed significantly (P < 0.01) lower IS60 values in mature leaves of P. nigra only, and significantly higher T90 values in mature leaves of P. alba only. In all clones, young leaves exhibited a lower percentage of maximum transient stomatal limitation during photosynthetic induction (4-9%) compared with mature leaves (16-30%). Transient biochemical limitation, assessed on the basis of the time constants of Rubisco activation (tau), was significantly higher in mature leaves than in young leaves of P. alba; whereas there were no significant differences in tau between young and mature leaves of the other poplar clones. Thus, our hypothesis that leaf age affects photosynthetic induction was confirmed at the level of transient stomatal limitation, which was significantly higher in mature leaves than in young leaves in all clones. For the induction parameters IS60, T90 and tau, photosynthetic induction was more clone-specific and was dependent on leaf age only in some cases, an observation that may apply to other tree species.     

不同藏川杨无性系1年生苗期生长差异比较

从西藏川藏公路沿线收集300个藏川杨优株的穗条,以黑杨为砧木进行嫁接,经扦插繁育后形成114个无性系,通过对1年生的藏川杨无性系生长性状和叶片性状的测定分析,结果表明,藏川杨无性系间苗高和地径差异极显著,无性系间生长差异大,选择潜力大。结合苗高和地径主要苗期生长性状,选择出11个生长快速的无性系,并发现藏川杨不同无性系间分枝习性、叶片性状存在丰富的遗传变异。以叶片、叶柄、分枝等性状为参数,当欧氏距离阈值为10时,可将藏川杨无性系分为6类。     

Diversity of leaf traits related to productivity in 31 Populus deltoides x Populus nigra clones

To test if some leaf parameters are predictors of productivity in a range of Populus deltoides (Bartr.) Marsh. x P. nigra L. clones, we assessed leaf traits and productivity in 2-month-old rooted cuttings from 31 clones growing in 4-l pots in a greenhouse, under conditions of controlled temperature and optimal irrigation. We evaluated four groups of variables describing (1) productivity (total biomass), (2) leaf growth (total leaf number increment and total leaf area increment rate), (3) leaf structure (specific leaf area and nitrogen and carbon contents) and (4) carbon isotope discrimination (delta), which is negatively correlated with time-integrated water-use efficiency. High-yielding clones did not necessarily display high leaf growth rates, but they displayed a larger total leaf area, lower specific leaf area and lower leaf nitrogen concentration than clones with low productivity. Total leaf area was mainly controlled by maximal individual leaf area and total leaf area increment rate (r = 0.51 and 0.56, respectively). Carbon isotope discrimination did not correlate with total biomass, but it was associated with total number of leaves and total leaf area increment rate (r = 0.39 and 0.45, respectively). Therefore, leaf area and specific leaf area were better indicators of productivity than leaf growth traits. The observed independence of delta from biomass production provides opportunities for selecting poplar clones combining high productivity and high water-use efficiency.     

Biomass production by two-year-old poplar clones on floodplain sites in the Lower Midwest, USA

Four Populus clones were grown for two years at 1×1 m spacing for study of total biomass production and carbon sequestration capacity on floodplain sites previously in forage grasses under climatic conditions of the lower Midwest, U.S.A. Total biomass (above-and below-ground) in the first year ranged from 3.9 Mg ha^–1 in a Populus deltoides x P. nigra clone (I45/51) to 1.9 Mg ha^–1 for a local-source Populus deltoides clone (2059). Second year total biomass production was substantially higher, ranging from 13.9 Mg ha^–1 in I45/51 to 7.4 Mg ha^–1 in P. deltoides clone 26C6R51. Second-year leaf area index (LAI) values for I45/51 plants reached 4 during mid-season, indicating essentially complete canopy closure in this clone by the second year after planting. In contrast, maximum mid-season, second-year LAI was significantly lower in P. deltoides clones ( 2.4). There was some evidence for differential allocation to roots and shoots among Populus clones, with 26C6R51 showing relatively more allocation to root biomass than other clones. Second-year growth in Populus deltoides clone 2059 accelerated substantially, and this genotype exhibited two-year biomass accumulation nearly equal to that of I45/51 despite having less leaf area. This result suggested a higher photosynthetic capacity or assimilation efficiency in the former. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同光强对6个欧美杨无性系苗期生长及光合特性的影响

[目的]研究6个欧美杨无性系生长及光合特性对不同光强的响应差异,为欧美杨苗期快速选育高光效优良品种提供一定的理论依据。[方法]在大田用遮阴网设置CK(100%自然光强)、L1(55%自然光强)和L2(20%自然光强),测定欧美杨的苗高增长量、叶片形态、光合速率、叶绿素荧光特性、叶绿素含量及矿质元素含量。[结果]除11-26-9外,无性系的苗高总生长量随着光强的降低呈下降趋势;随着光强的降低,不同无性系的叶片形态变化趋势不一致,3个光强下无性系间的单叶面积、叶形指数和比叶面积存在差异;无性系在L2处理下的净光合速率(Pn)最低,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)最高;3个处理下,11-26-8的气孔导度均最大;在L1与L2下,11-26-9的F1/F0值均最大;无性系的叶绿素b含量与叶绿素总含量呈现相同的变化趋势;11-26-4、11-26-8和11-36-26的钾、钙、镁元素含量随着光强的降低而增加。[结论]不同无性系对光强变化的适应策略不同,部分无性系的高生长和净光合速率随着光强的降低而减小,降低光强没有破坏无性系的PSⅡ结构。多数无性系的总叶绿素含量、矿质元素含量随着光强的降低而升高。11-36-26无性系的生长势及抗弱光能力较弱。     

Photosynthetic acclimation of overstory Populus tremuloides and understory Acer saccharum to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration: interactions with shade and soil nitrogen

We exposed Populus tremuloides Michx. and Acer saccharum Marsh. to a factorial combination of ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) and high-nitrogen (N) and low-N soil treatments in open-top chambers for 3 years. Our objective was to compare photosynthetic acclimation to elevated [CO2] between species of contrasting shade tolerance, and to determine if soil N or shading modify the acclimation response. Sun and shade leaf responses to elevated [CO2] and soil N were compared between upper and lower canopy leaves of P. tremuloides and between A. saccharum seedlings grown with and without shading by P. tremuloides. Both species had higher leaf N concentrations and photosynthetic rates in high-N soil than in low-N soil, and these characteristics were higher for P. tremuloides than for A. saccharum. Electron transport capacity (Jmax) and carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) generally decreased with atmospheric CO2 enrichment in all 3 years of the experiment, but there was no evidence that elevated [CO2] altered the relationship between them. On a leaf area basis, both Jmax and Vcmax acclimated to elevated [CO2] more strongly in shade leaves than in sun leaves of P. tremuloides. However, the apparent [CO2] x shade interaction was largely driven by differences in specific leaf area (m2 g-1) between sun and shade leaves. In A. saccharum, photosynthesis acclimated more strongly to elevated [CO2] in sun leaves than in shade leaves on both leaf area and mass bases. We conclude that trees rooted freely in the ground can exhibit photosynthetic acclimation to elevated [CO2], and the response may be modified by light environment. The hypothesis that photosynthesis acclimates more completely to elevated [CO2] in shade-tolerant species than in shade-intolerant species was not supported.     

Spatial distribution of leaf morphological and physiological characteristics in relation to local radiation regime within the canopies of 3-year-old Populus clones in coppice culture

Spatial distributions of leaf characteristics relevant to photosynthesis were compared within high-density coppice canopies of Populus spp. of contrasting genetic origin. We studied three clones representative of the range in growth potential, leaf morphology, coppice and canopy structure: Clone Hoogvorst (Hoo) (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray x Populus deltoides Bartr. & Marsh), Clone Fritzi Pauley (Fri) (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray) and Clone Wolterson (Wol) (Populus nigra L.). Leaf area index ranged from 2.7 (Fri and Wol) to 3.8 (Hoo). The clones exhibited large vertical variation in leaf area density (0.02-1.42 m2 m-3). Leaf dry mass per unit leaf area (DM(A)) increased with increasing light in Clones Hoo and Fri, from about 56 g m-2 at the bottom of the canopy to 162 g m-2 at the top. In Clone Wol, DM(A) varied only from 65 to 100 g m-2, with no consistent relationship with respect to light. Conversely, nitrogen concentration on a mass basis was nearly constant (around 1.3-2.1%) within the canopies of Clones Hoo and Fri, but increased strongly with light in Clone Wol, from 1.4% at the bottom of the canopy to 4.1% at the top. As a result, nitrogen per unit leaf area (N(A)) increased with light in the canopies of all clones, from 0.9 g m-2 at the bottom to 2.9 g m-2 at the top. Although a single linear relationship described the dependence of maximum carboxylation rate (17-93 micromol CO2 m-2 s-1) or electron transport capacity (45-186 micromol electrons m-2 s-1) on N(A), for all clones, Clone Wol differed from Clones Hoo and Fri by exhibiting a higher dark respiration rate at low N(A) (1.8 versus 0.8 micromol CO2 m-2 s-1).     

Leaf physiological versus morphological acclimation to high-light exposure at different stages of foliar development in oak

We investigated light acclimation in seedlings of the temperate oak Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and the co-occurring sub-Mediterranean oak Quercus pyrenaica Willd. Seedlings were raised in a greenhouse for 1 year in either 70 (HL) or 5.3% (LL) of ambient irradiance of full sunlight, and, in the following year, subsets of the LL-grown seedlings were transferred to HL either before leaf flushing (LL-HLBF plants) or after full leaf expansion (LL-HLAF plants). Gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, nitrogen fractions in photosynthetic components and leaf anatomy were examined in leaves of all seedlings 5 months after plants were moved from LL to HL. Differences between species in the acclimation of LL-grown plants to HL were minor. For LL-grown plants in HL, area-based photosynthetic capacity, maximum rate of carboxylation, maximum rate of electron transport and the effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II were comparable to those for plants grown solely in HL. A rapid change in nitrogen distribution among photosynthetic components was observed in LL-HLAF plants, which had the highest photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency. Increases in mesophyll thickness and dry mass per unit area governed leaf acclimation in LL-HLBF plants, which tended to have less nitrogen in photosynthetic components and a lower assimilation potential per unit of leaf mass or nitrogen than LL-HLAF plants. The data indicate that the phenological state of seedlings modified the acclimatory response of leaf attributes to increased irradiance. Morphological adaptation of leaves of LL-HLBF plants enhanced photosynthetic capacity per unit leaf area, but not per unit leaf dry mass, whereas substantial redistribution of nitrogen among photosynthetic components in leaves of LL-HLAF plants enhanced both mass- and area-based photosynthetic capacity.     

Morphogenetic responses of Populus alba L. under salt stress

The morphogenetic responses to salt stress of Tunisian Populus alba clones were studied in order to promote their plantation in damaged saline areas.One year-old plants of three P.alba clones(MA-104,MA-195 and OG)were subjected to progressive salt stress by irrigation during two consecutive years.The plants were grown in a nursery,inside plastic receptacles containing sandy soil and were irrigated with tap water(control)or 3–6 g/l NaCl solution.During this study,leaf epinasty,elongation rate,vigor,internode length,plant architecture,and number of buds were evaluated.Test clone response was highly dependent on the applied treatment and degree of accommodation.The most pronounced alterations were induced under 6g/l of NaCl treatment including leaf epinasty,leaf elongation rate delay,vigor decrease,internode length shortening,and morphogenetic modifications.These responses were less noticeable in the MA-104 clone with respect to the two other clones.The salt effect induced a delay in the leaf elongation rate on the MA-195 and OG clones leading to an early leaf maturity.The vigour and internode length of the MA-104 clone was less affected than the other clones.The OG clone was the most salt-sensitive thus,it developed shorter branches and more buds number than MA-195 and MA-104.The effect of long-term salt stress was to induce early flowering of the P.alba clones which suggests that mechanism of salt accommodation could be developed.     

两种柳树无性系幼苗生长和光合特性研究

为进一步比较不同柳树无性系幼苗生长及光合特性的差异,选择优良柳树无性系,以垂爆109柳SalixבChuibao 109’和旱快柳Salix matsudana var.anshanensis为试材,采用Hoagland营养液水培方法,研究正常情况下垂爆109柳和旱快柳幼苗生长性状和光合特性。结果表明:培养45d后,与旱快柳相比垂爆109柳幼苗的叶片数、叶长、根长、根数、基径无显著差异;垂爆109柳的叶宽、叶间距、新枝长、枝条鲜质量和干质量,根鲜质量和干质量,都明显高于旱快柳(p<0.01)。垂爆109柳和旱快柳的净光合速率有明显的差异,净光合速率值在不同光照强度下均表现为垂爆109柳>旱快柳。垂爆109柳的光饱和点和光补偿点都低于旱快柳,表明旱快柳具有较强的光强利用能力,强光照射对旱快柳的抑制作用较低;而垂爆109柳利用弱光的能力较强。     

六个杨树无性系苗木生长、生物量和光合作用的研究*

六个杨树无性系苗木（２年生根１年生于）叶面积、苗高和地径的季生长用Ｒｉｃｈａｒｄｓ方程模拟，根据模拟参数分别计算最大绝对生长速率，平均绝对生长速率，生长期和拐点。结果为：六个无性系之间在生长速率、拐点和生长期方面均有明显的差异；最好的欧美杨６４号生长季末的总生物量是赤峰杨３４号的六倍多；六个无性系的总生物量与它们的总叶面积、平均单个叶片的面积、叶面积的平均生长速率和每株树的日净光合总量等呈正相关，而与单位叶面积的日净光合总量呈负相关；总生物量生产依赖于叶面积、苗高、直径的生长速率及其生长期。     

北方型美洲黑杨不同无性系重要性状评价

[目的]为杨树高产低耗高效工业用材新品种选育筛选新种质。[方法]采用布雷金多性状综合评定法和模糊数学隶属函数值法,系统分析和评价北方型美洲黑杨种质生长及光、水分、养分等关键环境资源利用性状。[结果]表明:(1)种源间、种源内无性系间在生长、光合、水分和养分利用方面的差异显著或极显著。(2)总叶面积、成叶速率、暗呼吸速率、氮素转移率、生长旺期水分利用效率与北方型美洲黑杨胸径显著或极显著相关。(3)筛选出M6、Q1、Q5、M5、Q7、Q3、M3、Q9等高产型种质,M6、Q1、Q2、M5、Q5、M3、Q4、M2等高产高光效型种质,Q5、Q1、W9、M5、Q7、M6、M3、W2等高产高水分利用型种质,Q9、Q5、Q3、Q8、Q1、M10、Q7、I5高产高养分利用型种质。其中,Q5、M6、Q1、Q2、Q9等无性系兼具生长和对资源(光、水分和养分)的利用优势。[结论]北方型美洲黑杨遗传变异丰富,为优良种源和种质选择提供了依据;总叶面积、成叶速率、、暗呼吸速率、氮素转移率等5个与生长关系密切的指标可作为种质资源评价的可靠指标;筛选出的优良种质特别是综合表现最优的5个无性系是后续育种工作的有效资源。     

滇池湖滨湿地中山杉和黑杨的光合特性

以生长在滇池湖滨湿地中的中山杉(302)和黑杨植株为材料,研究了它们的光合特性。结果表明:中山杉和黑杨均有较高的净光合速率,较适应种植环境;中山杉的水分利用效率较高。从光合生理角度看,中山杉是一个较好的建造滇池湖滨林带的树种。     

Evaluation of sampling schemes for estimating instantaneous whole-tree photosynthesis in Populus clones: a modeling approach

We evaluated several sampling schemes for estimating instantaneous whole-tree photosynthesis of 1-year-old Populus clones. Growth of two clones was simulated under varying weather conditions and leaf orientation scenarios providing photosynthetic data on a leaf-by-leaf basis throughout the growing season. Simple random sampling, stratified random sampling and a series of physiologically based sampling schemes were evaluated using either whole-leaf photosynthesis or photosynthetic rate (i.e., photosynthesis per unit leaf area) as the sampling attribute. Ratio and regression estimators with leaf area as an auxiliary variable were also studied. On the basis of their bias and accuracy in estimating instantaneous whole-tree photosynthesis (mg CO(2)), the physiologically based sampling schemes were superior for all combinations of clone type, weather condition and leaf orientation. Aspects of extending the sampling process to estimate daily and seasonal photosynthesis are also elaborated.     

美洲黑杨不同生长势无性系生长和生理特征的差异

以高(A)、低(B)生长势2个群体为试验材料,通过表型性状和生理指标的连续采集开展生长性状、光合生理特征及养分吸收等特性相关研究。结果表明:A系号与B系号在根、茎、叶的干质量及总干质量上差异显著或极显著,不同器官干物质分配上根干质量比例最小,且A系号干物质分配倾向于茎,而B系号倾向于叶;从6—9月,生长和生理特征变化呈现一定的规律性,不同月份间7月份各系号生长最快,生理特征值变化幅度最大;相关性分析表明:苗高和地径与单叶面积、夜间呼吸速率、NH4+的吸收速率及总光合速率均呈显著相关(R>0.826,P<0.05),说明幼苗生长主要受自身总光合能力、养分吸收和夜间呼吸消耗的影响,而A系号在这些因子上均优于B系号,由此构建了其高生长势的生理基础。     

Leaf- and shoot-level plasticity in response to different nutrient and water availabilities

Phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental variation occurs at all levels of organization and across temporal scales within plants. However, the magnitude and functional significance of plasticity is largely unexplored in perennial species. We measured the plasticity of leaf- and shoot-level physiological, morphological and developmental traits in nursery-grown Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. individuals subjected to different nutrient and water availabilities. We also examined the extent to which nutrient and water availability influenced the relationships between these traits and productivity. Populus deltoides responded to changes in resource availability with high plasticity in shoot-level traits and moderate plasticity in leaf-level traits. Although shoot-level traits generally correlated strongly with productivity across fertilization and irrigation treatments, few leaf-level traits correlated with productivity, and the relationships depended on the resource examined. In fertilized plants, leaf nitrogen concentration was negatively correlated with productivity, suggesting that growth, rather than enhanced leaf quality, is an important response to fertilization in this species. With the exception of photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency, traits associated with resource conservation (leaf senescence rate, water-use efficiency and leaf mass per area) were uncorrelated with short-term productivity in nutrient- and water-stressed plants. Our results suggest that plasticity in shoot-level growth traits has a greater impact on plant productivity than does plasticity in leaf-level traits and that the relationships between traits and productivity are highly resource dependent.     

Differences in Growth and Physiological Characteristics in Different Growth Vigor Clones of Populus deltoids

To investigate differences in physiological characteristics of growth and physiological basis of high growth vigor in the first generation of Populus deltoides which are from different growth vigor clones,here we chose two groups of seedlings with different growth vigor:high（A） and low（B）.Indexes of phenotype and physiology were successively measured to study the growth,photosynthesis and nutrient absorption.There were significant or very significant differences in dry mass of root,stem, leaf and the total biomass between A and B.Dry matter of roots had the smallest proportion in different components,and the largest proportion was stem in A,while the leaf had the largest proportion in B.Changes in growth and physiological characteristics showed a certain regularity during June to September.All clones grew the most rapidly and physiological characteristics varied the most significantly in July.Correlation analysis showed that seedling height and ground diameter were both significantly correlated to leaf area,night respiration rate,NH₄^- uptake rate and the total photosynthetic rate（R>0.826,P<0.05）,suggesting that the seedling growth was mainly affected by their own total photosynthetic capacity,nutrient absorption and night respiration consumption.In general,A was superior to B in all these factors,which construct physiological basis of the high growth vigor.     

嫩江中下游小黑杨樟子松林分水分生产率研究

较系统地论述了嫩江流域中下游地区小黑杨、樟子松林分的水分生产率,结果表明:小黑杨林分的水分生产率为1.113,较全国农业平均水分生产率(0.8)相对提高39.13%;樟子松林分的水分生产率为1.441,比小黑杨林分的水分生产率高29.47%,说明樟子松林分是嫩江中下游地区较好的抗旱节水型林分,应在该地区适当增加樟子松林分的比例。     

Seasonal changes in photosynthesis and growth of Zizyphus attopensis seedlings in three contrasting microhabitats in a tropical seasonal rain forest

We hypothesized that photosynthesis and growth of tropical vegetation at its most northern distribution in Asia (Xishuangbanna, SW China) is adversely affected by seasonal drought and chilling temperatures. To test this hypothesis, we measured photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Zizyphus attopensis Pierre seedlings grown in three contrasting forest microhabitats: the understory, a small gap and a large gap. Photosynthetic capacity (light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A(max)), maximum rate of carboxylation and electron transport rate) and partitioning of leaf nitrogen (N) into carboxylation and electron transport differed significantly among seasons and microhabitats. Specific leaf area (SLA) did not change seasonally, but differed significantly among microhabitats and showed a negative linear relationship with daily integrated photon flux (PPF(i)). In contrast, leaf N concentration per unit area (N(a)) changed seasonally but did not differ among microhabitats. Measurements of maximum PSII photochemical efficiency (F(v)/F(m)) indicated that chronic photoinhibition did not occur in seedlings in any of the microhabitats during the study. Photosynthetic capacity was greatest in the wet season and lowest in the cool season. During the cool and dry seasons, the reduction in A(max) was greater in seedlings grown in the large gap than in in the understory and the small gap. Close logarithmic relationships were detected between PPF(i), leaf N(a) and photosynthetic capacity. Stem mass ratio decreased, and root mass ratio increased, in the dry season. We conclude that seasonal acclimation in growth and photosynthesis of the seedlings was associated with changes in biochemical features (particularly N(a) and partitioning of total leaf N between the different photosynthetic pools) and biomass allocation, rather than with changes in leaf morphological features (such as SLA). Local irradiance is the main factor driving seasonal variations in growth and photosynthesis in the study area, where the presence of heavy fog during the cool and dry seasons limits irradiance, but supplies water to the soil surface layers.