Sodium chloride improves photosynthesis and water status in the succulent xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum

Zygophyllum xanthoxylum, a C(3) woody species, is a succulent xerophyte that is well adapted to arid environments. Our previous investigations showed that Na(+) has a positive effect on the growth of Z. xanthoxylum under drought conditions, which was closely related to high Na(+) accumulation in leaves. To reveal the physiological mechanisms underlying how Na(+) accumulation improves the drought resistance of Z. xanthoxylum, 3-week-old seedlings were treated with a series of additional external NaCl concentrations (5-150 mM) in sand culture experiments. Seedlings were also subjected to water deficit (30% of field water capacity) in the presence or absence of additional NaCl (50 mM) in pot experiments. The results indicated that 50 mM NaCl could mitigate deleterious impacts of water deficit on the growth of Z. xanthoxylum, by improving the relative water content, inducing a significant drop in leaf water potential and, concomitantly, increasing leaf turgor pressure and chlorophyll concentrations resulting in an enhancement of overall plant photosynthetic activity (i.e., photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency). Furthermore, NaCl (50 mM) could alleviate the inhibitory effect of water deficit on the activity of photosystem II in Z. xanthoxylum. The contribution of Na(+) to the total osmotic potential varied from 8% in the control to 13% in plants subjected to water deficit and, surprisingly, to 28% in plants grown in the presence of 50 mM NaCl under water deficit; however, the contribution of K(+) significantly decreased from 13 to 8%. These findings suggest that, under arid environments, Z.?xanthoxylum is able to accumulate a high concentration of Na(+) in its leaves and use it directly for osmotic adjustment, which was coupled with an improvement in leaf hydration and photosynthetic activity.     

Modeling photosynthesis in olive leaves under drought conditions

We quantified parameters for a model of leaf-level photosynthesis for olive, and tested the model against an independent dataset. Specific temperature-dependence parameters of the model for olive leaves were measured, as well as the relationship of the model parameters with area-based leaf nitrogen (N) content. The effect of soil water deficit on leaf photosynthesis was examined by applying two irrigation treatments to 29-year-old trees growing in a plantation: drip irrigation sufficient to meet the crop water requirements (I) and dry-farming (D). In both treatments, leaves had a higher photosynthetic capacity in April than in August. In August, photosynthetic capacity was lower in D trees than in I trees. Leaf photosynthetic capacity was linearly and positively related to leaf N content on an area basis (N(a)) and to leaf mass per unit area (LMA), and the regression slope varied with irrigation treatment. The seasonal reduction in N(a) was used in the model to predict photosynthesis under drought conditions. Olive leaves showed a clear limitation of photosynthesis by triose phosphate utilization (TPU) even at 40 degrees C, and the data suggest that olive invests fewer resources in TPU than other species. The seasonal decrease in photosynthetic capacity moderated the stomatal limitation to carbon dioxide (CO(2)) fixation as soil water deficit increased. Further, it enabled leaves to operate close to the transition point between photosynthetic limitation due to RuBP carboxylation capacity and that due to RuBP regeneration capacity, and resulted in a near constant value of internal CO(2) concentration from April to August. Under well watered conditions, N-use efficiency of the olive leaves was enhanced at the expense of reduced water-use efficiency.     

Interactive effects of water supply and defoliation on photosynthesis, plant water status and growth of Eucalyptus globulus Labill

Increased climatic variability, including extended periods of drought stress, may compromise on the health of forest ecosystems. The effects of defoliating pests on plantations may also impact on forest productivity. Interactions between climate signals and pest activity are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the combined effects of reduced water availability and defoliation on maximum photosynthetic rate (A(sat)), stomatal conductance (g(s)), plant water status and growth of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Field-grown plants were subjected to two water-availability regimes, rain-fed (W-) and irrigated (W+). In the summer of the second year of growth, leaves from 75% of crown length removed from trees in both watering treatments and physiological responses within the canopies were examined. We hypothesized that defoliation would result in improved plant water status providing a mechanistic insight into leaf- and canopy-scale gas-exchange responses. Defoliated trees in the W+ treatment exhibited higher A(sat) and g(s) compared with non-defoliated trees, but these responses were not observed in the W- treatment. In contrast, at the whole-plant scale, maximum rates of transpiration (E(max)) and canopy conductance (G(Cmax)) and soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance (K(P)) increased in both treatments following defoliation. As a result, plant water status was unaffected by defoliation and trees in the defoliated treatments exhibited homeostasis in this respect. Whole-plant soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance was strongly correlated with leaf scale g(s) and A(sat) following the defoliation, providing a mechanistic insight into compensatory up-regulation of photosynthesis. Above-ground height and diameter growth were unaffected by defoliation in both water availability treatments, suggesting that plants use a range of responses to compensate for the impacts of defoliation.     

Changes in water status and proline and abscisic acid concentrations in developing somatic embryos of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) during maturation and germination

Somatic embryos of oak (Quercus robur L.) were matured on P24 media differing in gel strength (0.8, 0.9 and 1.0% (w/v) agar). Viscosity and osmotic potential (Psipi,medium) of the media were determined. Developing cotyledonary embryos were analyzed at maturity Stages I-III for water content, osmotic potential (Psipi,embryo) and concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) and proline. Proliferation of embryogenic tissue, germination rates and the number of embryos formed were also determined in order to relate embryo quality to physiological parameters. Viscosity increased with agar concentration, a phenomenon apparently related to water availability. Many Stage III embryos with high germination potentials were obtained on P24 medium containing 1.0% agar. Embryo water content decreased progressively from 94 to 80% during embryo maturation. Stage I and II embryos that matured on media containing 0.8 or 0.9% agar had similar values of Psipi,embryo, whereas Psipi,embryo of Stage III embryos that matured on medium containing 1.0% agar was significantly lower, although Psipi,medium was unaffected by gel strength. Stage III embryos showed a nearly 16-fold increase in proline concentration and a 50% decrease in ABA concentration compared with Stage I embryos. We conclude that tissue water status and a complex relationship between ABA and proline concentrations, modulated by medium gel strength, are important factors in the maturation process and the quality of oak somatic embryos.     

间作模式下桑树与大豆叶片的光合日变化特点

为了提高桑树与大豆间作模式下地上部分的光能利用率,优化桑树与大豆复合经营的空间配置,研究了在这一间作模式下生育后期速生桑树和大豆叶片的光合日变化特点.结果表明:无论在单作还是间作模式下大豆叶片在13:00时均表现出明显的光合"午休"现象,其光合性能并未因间作桑树而受到影响;一天之中,桑树叶片分别在9:00时和13:00时出现光抑制现象,并且13:00时光抑制的程度和持续的时间均大于9:00时出现的,不同种植模式下桑树叶片的光合日变化情况存在着明显的差异,一天之中,间作模式下桑树叶片的P_r、_r、和F_v /F_m等光合指标值均优于单作模式的桑树叶片,桑树与大豆间作具有一定程度的种间促进作用,1年生桑树幼苗与大豆间作能明显提高生育后期速生桑树叶片的光合生产能力,从而可实现高产的目的.     

Comparison of stomatal characteristics and photosynthesis of polymorphic Populus euphratica leaves

The leaf shapes of adult Populus euphratica vary from lanceolate to dentate broad-ovate. In order to find the mechanism regarding the ecological adaptation of the polymorphic leaves, the dentate broad-ovate, broad-ovate, and lanceolate leaves were chosen to study their stomatal and photosynthetic characteristics. It is observed that the stomas on the adaxial and abaxial epidermis of the same leaves open non-uniformly with similar densities. The stomatal densities are different among the three typical leaves, which decrease from broad-ovate to lanceolate leaves. Their stomatal sunken degree varied obviously, decreasing from broad-ovate to lanceolate leaves. The changes of the diurnal photosynthetic rate of the three typical leaves follow a single peak curve. The mean diurnal photosynthetic rates of these leaves rank from high to low as broad-ovate > dentate broad-ovate > lanceolate leaves. The light compensation points are similar in the three typical leaves, while the light saturation points vary obviously. The efficiency of solar energy conversion and potential activity of the PSII in the leaves differ significantly, with the dentate broad-ovate leaves the highest. The results suggest that their leaf shapes, anatomic structures, and photosynthetic characteristics change during the leaf development. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2006, 42(8): 20–24 [译自: 林业科学]     

Response of Ulmus americana seedlings to varying nitrogen and water status. 2 Water and nitrogen use efficiency in photosynthesis

Photosynthetic utilization of water and nitrogen in Ulmus americana L. seedlings was tightly linked with the relative availability of each resource. During periodic drying cycles, water use efficiency increased as predawn water potential fell from -0.5 to -2.0 MPa. During the later stages of such drying cycles, the relative contribution of stomatal limitations to the total net photosynthetic limitation appeared to be at its greatest, whereas biochemical limitations were predominant in well-watered plants grown under low nitrogen (N) availability. For any level of leaf water status, water use efficiency of photosynthesis (WUE) was always greater in plants with high leaf N content than in plants with low leaf N content. Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) was always greater in plants with low leaf N content than in plants with high leaf N content, for any level of water status. In combined N treatments and predawn water status classes, there was a significant inverse relationship between PNUE and WUE.     

东部白松叶片光合作用日变化特征的研究

利用LI-6400便携式光合仪观测了东部白松自然状态的叶片光合作用日变化规律。结果表明:东部白松叶片的净光合速率日变化呈典型双峰曲线,表现出明显的光合"午睡"现象,光合效率午间明显降低;蒸腾速率日变化趋势与净光合速率相似,但两者最大值出现的时间不相同。气孔导度日变化与净光合速率日变化相似,但并不完全同步,气孔导度最大值出现的时间较净光合速率提前约2h。     

2种梨砧木叶片光合与气孔形态特征研究

为了探讨梨砧木光合作用与气孔形态特征间的关系及其对环境的适应性,分别以杜梨和豆梨为试材,分析了2种砧木生长量、叶片各光合参数日变化规律和下表皮气孔形态特征的差异情况。观测结果表明:相同环境条件下,杜梨的生长量显著高于豆梨的;两者间净光合速率(Pn)日变化规律的差异显著,其中,杜梨叶片Pn的日变化曲线呈单峰曲线,而豆梨的为双峰曲线,且杜梨的Pn整体大于豆梨的;杜梨的气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)在10:00时后均显著大于豆梨的,但杜梨的水分利用效率(WUE)仍维持在较高水平上;豆梨叶片下表皮气孔密度是杜梨的1.5倍;两者气孔长度、气孔开度的日变化规律均相似,但在白天气孔开度的最小值,杜梨出现在14:00时,而豆梨出现在12:00时。相关性分析结果表明:杜梨的WUE与试验环境温度(T)呈显著负相关(P<0.05),而与叶片表面的相对湿度(Hr)呈显著正相关(P<0.05);豆梨的WUE与T呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),而与RH呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。研究结果表明:豆梨气孔对高温、强光等环境的响应较为敏感且强烈,随着每日温度的升高,其气孔闭合现象出现的时间提早,致使光合作用减弱;而杜梨能够保持气孔的正常形态,且杜梨的Gs、Tr均维持在较高水平上,其光合能力较强,并具有较高的水分利用效率,从而表现出更强的环境适应性。     

Wintertime photosynthesis and water uptake in a boreal forest

Warm air in combination with frozen soil is a major cause of wintertime drought damage in evergreen plants in subalpine and boreal environments. We analyzed diurnal tree stem diameter variation (SDV), which reflects soil water uptake, canopy-level water vapor flux (Fw), stand photosynthesis (Ps), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), soil and air temperatures (Ts and T air, respectively) and soil liquid water content (theta) to determine under what conditions photosynthesis is possible in wintertime and how crucial water uptake from soil is for photosynthesis. Measurements were made under field conditions in a Scots pine forest in southern Finland during winter 2002-2003. We found four wintertime periods when there was measurable Ps and SDV, the latter always starting 2-7 days after photosynthesis and both usually ending on the same day. Stand photosynthesis began when T air reached 3-4 degrees C and ended when T air dropped below -7 degrees C. The trees appeared to rely on stored stem water first and started taking up water from the soil a few days later, when the transpirational demand became strong enough. The more difficult it was to access soil water because of low Ts or low theta, the longer the trees used water stored in their stems. Even partial stem freezing did not prevent photosynthesis or soil water uptake.     

Yield and mechanical properties of veneer from Brachystegia nigerica

In an effort to find suitable wood from natural forest to meet the demand for veneer products, the yield and tensile strength of veneers produced from Brachystegia nigerica were investigated. Two trees of B. nigerica were separately selected from 10 different natural forest zones while two logs were obtained from each tree. The logs were debarked and steamed in a vat prior to rotary peeling and slicing for veneer production. The optimum steam temperature was determined by considering different temperatures: 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C and 90°C for 24 h. Thereafter, optimum steam time was determined at the optimum temperature by considering durations of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The average taper of 0.75 mm per 1.0 m length was recorded for B. nigerica, indicating that the logs were reasonably cylindrical; thereby its logs are good for the production of veneer. The yield ranged from 44% to 61% with an average of 52% of the log input. The tensile strength of the veneer was tested perpendicular to grain and both peeled and sliced veneers had the highest tensile strength between 70°C and 90°C, suggesting that softening of wood polymers, especially lignin, is between 70°C and 90°C. The optimum temperature and time for veneer production are 70°C and 48 h, respectively. Commercial production of veneer from B. nigerica is feasible based on the yield and mechanical properties of the obtained veneer, thereby encouraging the expansion of the scope ofits utilization.     

红榉光合及水分生理生态特性

研究了红榉在不同光合有效辐射(PAR)强度及不同CO2浓度(CCO2)范围内叶片光合及水分生理生态参数的变化特征。结果表明:①当大气CO2浓度为400μmol/mol时,红榉叶片净光合速率(Pn)与光合有效辐射(PAR)之间回归方程为Pn=-9×10-6PAR2+0.021 2PAR+0.592,光饱和点、补偿点及表观量子效率分别为1 177.8μmol/(m2.s)、20.0μmol/(m2.s)、0.034 5 mol/mol;叶片蒸腾速率(Tr)与PAR间回归方程:Tr=0.002 5PAR+4.535(R2=0.816 9,n=48);叶片水分利用效率(WUE)和PAR之间的回归方程:WUE=-2×10-6PAR2+0.003 3PAR+0.193 9(R2=0.822 2,n=48);②1 200μmol/(m2.s)PAR条件下,Pn与CCO2之间回归方程为Pn=-2×10-5C2CO2+0.062 1CCO2-5.501 8(R2=0.936,n=48),CO2饱和点、补偿点、羧化速率分别为1 552.5μmol/mol、84.8μmol/mol、0.040 3 mol/(m2.s);Tr随CCO2增强基本保持稳定不变;WUE与CCO2之间回归方程为:WUE=-3×10-6C2CO2+0.010 5 CCO2-0.944 2(R2=0.894 1,n=48)。     

Changes in rates of photosynthesis and respiration during needle development of loblolly pine

Net photosynthetic rates of developing foliage and one-year-old foliage of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were measured under field conditions. In the subsequent year, net photosynthesis and dark respiration rates of current-year and one-year-old foliage were measured under controlled environmental conditions. Loblolly pine foliage grows slowly, reaching its final size 3.5 to 4 months after bud burst. Positive rates of net photosynthesis were recorded when the foliage was 13 and 18% of final length, in the controlled-environment and field study, respectively. However, because of high rates of dark respiration during the initial growth period, a positive diurnal carbon balance did not occur until foliage was about a third of final length (40 days after bud burst). Two months after bud burst, when foliage was about 55% of final length, its photosynthetic capacity exceeded that of one-year-old foliage. The highest rates of net photosynthesis were achieved when foliage was more than 90% fully expanded.     

杨树与栅锈菌互作过程中光合、蒸腾作用变化研究

利用LI-6400便携式光合仪对受落叶松-杨栅锈菌 Melampsora larici-populina Kleb.侵染后的杨树寄主的光合、蒸腾作用进行了动态监测.通过对不同抗性的杨树寄主在不同接种时间段的光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)以及蒸腾速率(Tp)活体监测后发现,在受到栅锈菌侵染后,抗病品种和感病品种的净光合速率、胞间CO2浓度均随接种时间的延长而逐渐下降.其中抗病品种内下降的幅度要比感病品种小.蒸腾速率在寄主受侵后开始逐渐下降直到开始产孢,但是在产孢后蒸腾速率就开始持续上升并超过健康寄主,并在产孢高峰达到最大值.气孔导度在接种后迅速增加,在产孢前后又开始大幅度的下降.这4个基本生理指标变化说明,栅锈菌侵染寄主后对寄主的光合、蒸腾作用均有影响,而且在亲合性组合中影响显著.     

Canopy photosynthesis in a mangrove considering vertical changes in light-extinction coefficients for leaves and woody organs

The light-penetration pattern for a mangrove Kandelia obovata canopy was analyzed considering the vertical changes in the light-extinction coefficients for leaves and woody organs. Furthermore, canopy photosynthesis and foliage respiration were estimated on the basis of the constructed light-penetration models. The canopy structure and light-penetration pattern were investigated by use of a destructive method. Seasonal changes in photosynthetic light-response curves and dark respiration of leaves were measured at different canopy depths. The main findings of this study were: (1) the ratio of the cumulative woody silhouette area density C to the cumulative leaf area density F increased downward within the canopy; (2) the light-extinction coefficient for leaves increased from 0.30 to 0.72 downward and the light-extinction coefficient for woody organs was almost constant at 0.77; and (3) ignoring the woody organs and the vertical change in the C/F ratio and light-extinction coefficients for leaves caused ca. ±10 and ±20% errors in annual canopy gross photosynthesis and surplus production, respectively.     

Low humidity can cause uneven photosynthesis in olive (Olea europea L.) leaves

We examined the photosynthetic responses of olive (Olea europea L.) leaves exposed to either (a) two hours of high leaf-to-air vapor pressure difference (vpd) or (b) four 30-min cycles of high vpd separated by 15-min periods of recovery at low vpd. Neither treatment affected photosynthesis when vpd was less than 3.0 kPa. Photosynthesis by mature leaves was also insensitive to higher vpd, but photosynthesis of young leaves was reduced by both treatments at a vpd higher than 3.2 kPa. This effect of vpd was much smaller under high intercellular CO(2) pressure. Autoradiograms showed that under a vpd of 3.2 kPa, mature leaves photosynthesized uniformly, but patches of reduced CO(2) fixation occurred in the distal part of young leaves. We conclude that heterogeneities in photosynthesis along the length of the leaf caused the apparent reduction of photosynthesis in our experiments. This pattern of patchy photosynthesis was different from that observed in mesophytic herbs, but the effect on gas exchange analysis was the same. In this case, apparent biochemical effects of low humidity on photosynthesis of young olive leaves are likely an artifact.     

Effect of elevated carbon dioxide concentration and root restriction on net photosynthesis, water relations and foliar carbohydrate status of loblolly pine seedlings

To determine the effects of CO(2)-enriched air and root restriction on photosynthetic capacity, we measured net photosynthetic rates of 1-year-old loblolly pine seedlings grown in 0.6-, 3.8- or 18.9-liter pots in ambient (360 micro mol mol(-1)) or 2x ambient CO(2) (720 micro mol mol(-1)) concentration for 23 weeks. We also measured needle carbohydrate concentration and water relations to determine whether feedback inhibition or water stress was responsible for any decreases in net photosynthesis. Across all treatments, carbon dioxide enrichment increased net photosynthesis by approximately 60 to 70%. Net photosynthetic rates of seedlings in the smallest pots decreased over time with the reduction occurring first in the ambient CO(2) treatment and then in the 2x ambient CO(2) treatment. Needle starch concentrations of seedlings grown in the smallest pots were two to three times greater in the 2x ambient CO(2) treatment than in the ambient CO(2) treatment, but decreased net photosynthesis was not associated with increased starch or sugar concentrations. The reduction in net photosynthesis of seedlings in small pots was correlated with decreased needle water potentials, indicating that seedlings in the small pots had restricted root systems and were unable to supply sufficient water to the shoots. We conclude that the decrease in net photosynthesis of seedlings in small pots was not the result of CO(2) enrichment or an accumulation of carbohydrates causing feedback inhibition, but was caused by water stress.     

Seed germination and seedling extension growth in Ougeinia dalbergioides Benth. under water and salinity stress

Seed germination and early seedling growth were studied in Ougeinia dalbergioides Benth. varn. Sandan seeds under different levels of water and salinity stresses in laboratory conditions. Increasing level of water and salinity stresses caused reduction in total as well as rate of germination which was significant beyond –0.6 MPa and 0.16 M levels of water and salinity stresses, respectively. The reduction was more in rate than in total percent germination and in extension growth than in germination. Germination Index (GI) decreased while Mean Germination Time (MGT) increased with increasing stress. The water uptake by seeds also declined with increasing stresses. Early seedling growth as well as Seedling Vigour Index (SVI) markedly decreased under both the stresses.     

Effects of foliar nitrogen concentration on photosynthesis and water use efficiency in Douglas-fir

Leaf-level physiological processes were studied in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to determine whether apparent increases in stand-level water use efficiency (WUE) observed in response to nitrogen (N) fertilization were attributable to foliar N effects on carbon fixation rates or on stomatal control of water loss. Photosynthesis and transpiration were measured at different light intensities and ambient CO(2) molar fractions and comparisons were made between current-year shoots with average foliar N concentrations of 1.58% (High-N) and 1.25% (Low-N). Photosynthetic rates and foliar N concentrations were positively correlated. In response to light, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were closely coupled and a similar coupling was observed in response to different ambient CO(2) concentrations. Partitioning the photosynthetic responses into mesophyll and stomatal components indicated that foliar N altered mesophyll conductance but not stomatal control of water loss. High-N shoots had significantly greater rates of photosynthesis and transpiration than Low-N shoots and, as a result, instantaneous WUE did not differ significantly between High-N and Low-N shoots.     

化感作用在林业有害生物防治中的研究现状与发展前景

化感作用早已在生物界成为研究热点,大多是研究植物和植物之间的化感作用,应用在林业有害生物防治方面的研究报道较少。化感作用为合理、高效防治林业有害生物提供了理论指导和实践依据,在林业有害生物防治实践中很有应用潜力。该文在对生物间化感作用综述的基础上,阐明了化感物质对防治林业有害生物的潜力及发展前景。