Electron Transport Through Photosystem II Is Not Limited By A Wide Range of Water Deficit Conditions In Field‐Grown Gossypium hirsutum

Despite exhaustive literature describing drought stress effects on photosynthesis in Gossypium hirsutum, the sensitivity of photosynthetic electron flow to water deficit is heavily debated. To address this, G. hirsutum plants were grown at a field site near Camilla, GA under contrasting irrigation regimes, and pre‐dawn water potential (Ψ_PD), stomatal conductance (g_s), net photosynthesis (P_N), actual quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ_PSII) and electron transport rate (ETR) were measured at multiple times during the 2012 growing season. Ψ_PD values ranged from ?0.3 to ?1.1 MPa. Stomatal conductance exhibited a strong (r² = 0.697), sigmoidal response to Ψ_PD, where g_s was ≤0.1 mol m^?2 s^?1 at Ψ_PD values ≤ ?0.86 MPa. Neither Φ_PSII (r² = 0.015) nor ETR (r² = 0.010) was affected by Ψ_PD, despite exceptionally low Ψ_PD values (?1.1 MPa) causing a 71.7 % decline in P_N relative to values predicted for well‐watered G. hirsutum leaves at Ψ_PD = ?0.3 MPa. Further, P_N was strongly influenced by g_s, whereas ETR and Φ_PSII were not. We conclude that photosynthetic electron flow through photosystem II is insensitive to water deficit in field‐grown G. hirsutum.     

Biochemical defense responses of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) lines to Phytophthora capsici

A study on biochemical factors involved in black pepper defense response against Phytophthora capsici, was carried out in P. capsici susceptible (Sreekara) and resistant (04-P24, shows root resistance to the pathogen) black pepper lines. Seven important factors – change in membrane conductance, total phenols, orthodihydroxy (OD) phenols, lignin and defense related enzymes (peroxidase, β-1,3 glucanase and β-1,4 glucanase) – were studied under uninoculated and pathogen (P. capsici, isolate 06-04) inoculated condition to know the preformed and induced responses. The pathogen was inoculated (soil inoculation) and plants were observed for changes, at 24 h intervals for 10 days. On 8th day after inoculation symptoms started appearing on Sreekara and increased the severity till 10th day. Both root and stem samples were subjected for biochemical analysis. Of the factors analyzed, it was found that membrane conductance, OD phenol, lignin and peroxidase activity play significant role in root resistance to P. capsici in 04-P24. Light microscopy of the portion of root – where pathogen found attached – was also done.     

Photosynthesis of field-grown Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars in relation to root-yield

There has been limited research on measuring potential differences in leaf gas exchange of Arracacha (Peruvian parsnip, Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars, as affected by different environments, as well as its relation to storage root-yield. The present paper reports field measurements of leaf CO₂ assimilation rates (A) for five contrasting cultivars grown at two different high-altitude locations. Using a design of plots chosen at random with three repetitions, commercial root production was determined in the two locations at different altitude (1580 and 1930 m). Daily leaf gas exchange was repeatedly monitored with a portable open-mode infrared gas analyzer at different times in both locations during the growth cycle. Root-yield, leaf area and dry weight were measured. Significant differences in leaf photosynthetic rate and in specific leaf area (SLA) were observed among cultivars. Cultivars with high SLA, had high CO₂ assimilation. Mean (A_n) and total (A_tot) of CO₂ assimilation and SLA were significantly correlated with storage root-yield across cultivars and locations. The three cultivars with the greatest commercial root production also had the highest maximum values for A and the highest specific leaf area, indicating that these two parameters can be used to select for highly productive cultivars of A. xanthorriza.     

Abscisic acid alleviates the deleterious effects of cold stress on ‘Sultana’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) plants by improving the anti-oxidant activity and photosynthetic capacity of leaves

The effects of exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) on anti-oxidant enzyme activities and photosynthetic capacity in ‘Sultana’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) were investigated under cold stress. When vines had an average of 15 leaves, 0 (control), 50, 100, or 200 µM ABA was sprayed to run-off on all leaves of each plant. Twenty-four hours after foliar spraying with ABA, half (n = 5) of the water-only control vines and half (n = 5) of each group of ABA-treated plants were subjected to 4°C for 12 h, followed by a recovery period of 3 d under greenhouse conditions (25°/18°C day/night). The remaining plants in each treatment group were kept at 24°C. Cold stress increased H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in vine leaves, whereas all foliar ABA treatments significantly reduced their levels. Chilled plants showed marked increases in their total soluble protein contents in response to each ABA treatment. ABA significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in cold-stressed grapevine leaves. In contrast, cold stress markedly decreased the rates of leaf photosynthesis (A) and evaporation (E), stomatal conductance (g_s), and chlorophyll concentrations in leaves, but increased intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C_i) in leaves. Treatment with all concentrations of ABA resulted in lower leaf A, E, and g_s values, but higher C_i values at 24°C. However, following cold stress, ABA-treated vines showed higher leaf A, E, and g_s values, but lower C_i values compared to control vines without ABA treatment. The application of 50–200 µM ABA allowed chilled vines to recover more quickly when re-exposed to normal temperatures, enabling the vines to resume their photosynthetic capacity more efficiently following cold stress. These results showed that, by stimulating anti-oxidant enzyme systems and alleviating cold-induced stomatal limitations, ABA reduced the inhibitory effect of cold stress on the rate of CO₂ fixation in ‘Sultana’ grapevine plants.     

Relationship between stomatal behavior and characteristics of photosynthesis and transpiration of Adenophora Iobophylla and A. potaninii at different altitudes

The photosynthesis and transpiration characteristics ofAdenophora Iobophylla and A. potaninii, as well as stomatal behavior such as stomatal size, stomatal density, stomatal open and stomatal conductivity were measured at different altitudes. The relationship between the photosynthesis and transpiration characteristics and the stomatal behavior was analysed by correlation coefficient and path coefficient analysis with altitude changes.The results showed that the influences of stomatal behavior were not evident on the photosynthesis and transpiration characteristics of A. Lobophylla, but evident on that of A. potaninii.     

稗草影响大豆根瘤固氮的机制研究之一——水分干扰机制

在全自控人工气候室内系统研究了稗草对大豆根瘤固氮的水分干扰机制。稗草在每盆3株的密度下使播后53-63淹水期间及淹水期后1天的大豆单株根瘤固氮速率平均分别比无草对照提高了16.6%和30.0%,在每盆10株的密度下分别使其比无草对照提高了34.2%和67.5%。在不淹水的情况下播后30-70天,稗草在每盆3株和10株的密度下使其所在处理的平均日蒸发蒸腾量分别比无草对照增加了23.8%和50%,削弱了水分对大豆植株的供应水平;而土壤水分供应水平从其田间持水量的80%降低到35%时,大豆根瘤的氧气传导速率从0.38cm/s下降到0.20cm/s,净光合速率从18.81mg/dm#+2/h降低到4.04mg/dm#+2/h,每盆10株稗草对大豆单株结瘤量及根瘤固氮酶活性的抑制率则分别从8.2%和17.8%升高到18.3%和19.6%,其对大豆单株根瘤固氮速率的抑制率也随之从21.5%上升到33.1%。证明通过干扰土壤水分供应水平,首先影响大豆植株的同化物产量及根瘤内的氧气供应,进而影响大豆植株的根瘤形成和根瘤固 氮酶的固氮活性,是稗草影响大豆根瘤固氮的主要机制之一。     

Effects of Repeated Cycles of Dehydrationrehydration on Gas Exchange and Water Use Efficiency of Seedlings \=

该文研究了多重复干旱循环对１年生北美短叶松和黑云杉苗木的气体交换速率及水分利用效率的影响．结果表明,多重复干旱循环对它们的气体交换（Ｃｓ,Ｐｎ,Ｔｒ）有显著影响（Ｐ＜０．５）,而对其水分利用效率（ＷＵＥ）影响不大（Ｐ＞０．１）．尽管北美短叶松的气孔对轻度干旱胁迫不如黑云杉敏感,但是它对中度及严重干旱胁迫的敏感程度却高于黑云杉．在轻度及中度干旱胁迫下,北美短叶松的光合作用主要受非气孔因素的影响,而黑云杉则主要受气孔因素的影响．解除干旱胁迫后,黑云杉的气孔敏感性、光合能力及水分利用效率的恢复都要比北美短叶松更快．轻度的干旱胁迫锻炼可以帮助北美短叶松在更严重的干旱胁迫下保持固有而强劲的耐旱能力．然而,通过多重复干旱循环锻炼后,黑云杉在改善耐旱能力的强度方面大于北美短叶松．     

四个生长季高浓度CO_2处理长白松的气孔响应(英文)

在长白山站以开顶箱方式对4 年生长白松连续4 个生长季进行CO2 处理,包括700 和500 μmolmol-1 高浓度CO2,以及接受空气CO2的对照箱和不扣箱的裸露地条件(约350 μmolmol-1 CO2),通过测定气孔导度(gs),ci/ca比及气孔数量等指标评价气孔对高浓度CO2的响应。气孔导度及ci/ca比的转换实验表明,在各自生长CO2下和在相同测定CO2 下进行比较时,生长在高浓度CO2 下植株的气孔导度要高于空气CO2 下对照组植株的气孔导度(除700 μmol mol-1 CO2 下的植株在生长CO2 浓度下及在350 μmol mol-1 CO2 下测定时的气孔导度低于裸地植株外)。在各自生长CO2浓度下测定时,高浓度CO2下植株的ci/ca比低于对照组植株,但在相同测定CO2浓度下比较时,却是高浓度CO2下植株的ci/ca高于对照组植株的ci/ca比。高浓度CO2下植株与对照组植株在每单位长度气孔数量上无明显差异,但高浓度CO2通过降低气孔线数使长白松当年生针叶的总气孔数量降低,并且改变了气孔在针叶上、下表面的分配模式。表4 参18。     

Effect of salinity on water stress, growth, and yield of maize and sunflower

Maize and sunflower were grown in tanks filled with loam and clay, and were irrigated with water of three different levels of salinity. Predawn leaf-water potential and stomatal conductance were used as parameters for water stress. The predawn leaf-water potential of maize was higher than that of sunflower, but the effect of salinity and soil texture on the predawn leaf-water potential was the same for both crops. The stomatal conductance of sunflower was much higher and more severely affected by salinity and soil texture than the stomatal conductance of maize.

Although salinity had a more serious effect on the development of leaf area and canopy dry matter of sunflower, its effect on evapotranspiration and grain yield was the same for both crops. Soil texture had a stronger effect on the development of leaf area and canopy dry matter of sunflower, which also appeared in the evapotranspiration and grain yield, indicating that sunflower is more sensitive to drought than maize.     

New approach for olive trees irrigation scheduling using trunk diameter sensors

Trunk diameter fluctuations (TDFs) have been suggested as an irrigation-scheduling tool for several fruit trees, but the works in olive trees has not obtained successful results with any of the indicators (maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and trunk growth rate (TGR)) that are calculated from the daily TDF curves. No studies of olive trees have ever used reference trees to reduce the influence of the environment, as in work for other fruit trees. In this work, we compare different continuous and discrete water status measurements in a drought cycle. We suggest the calculation of a new and related indicator (DTGR), the difference between the TGR of stressed trees, and the TGR of reference trees. Negative DTGR values always indicate water stress conditions. The current work describes the variations of this new indicator (DTGR) in relation to water stress, and compares DTRG to the midday stem water potential, maximum leaf conductance and to the MDS. The midday stem water potential and the maximum leaf conductance describe the stress cycle clearer than the trunk diameter fluctuation indicators. No significant differences were found in the values of MDS between stressed and reference trees. On the other hand, the DTGR pattern values were near that of the stem water potential, though positive values were recorded in some dates during the water stress cycle. These variations indicate that DTGR is not a cumulative water stress indicators, as is water potential. Therefore, according to our data, water potential is a better indicator than the TDF parameters when no deficit irrigation scheduling is performed in olive trees. DTGR seems to be a good indicator of water stress from a threshold value around −1.4 MPa in olive trees. In addition, higher variability of DTGR than stem water potential may also be reduced with the increase in the number of sensors.