The rainy season affects the development of maize in Liaoning Province in China. Continuous, rainy weather and scant sunlight result in poor pollination, bald tips, and in an abnormally high, barren stalk. Field studies were conducted at the kernel formation stage (3-11 d after silking). Paired, near-isogenic lines of nonbarren stalk (Shennong 98B) and barren stalk (Shennong 98A) were exposed to 38, 60, and 75% shading to investigate changes in photosynthesis and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence characteristics under different light intensities. Net photosynthetic rate (PN), leaf maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence (qP), and actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII) of Shennong 98B were always higher than those of Shennong 98A under natural light, contrary to nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, and qP increased, while PN and electron transport rate (ETR) decreased after shading, and this was aggravated with increasing shade intensity. PN, qP, ΦPSII, and ETR were lower than the values in natural light condition after seven days of shading. NPQ, Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, qP, and ETR recovered, when shading was removed. The PN of two inbred lines returned soon to the control levels after 38% shade. Under shade and natural light conditions, the PN and Chl fluorescence characteristics of Shennong 98A were both lower than those of Shennong 98B. We suggest that a poor adaptability to low light is an important physiological reason for inducing barren stalk in low light-sensitive maize., X. M. Zhong, Z.S. Shi, F.H. Li, H.J. Huang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Predicting the effects of increased ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation due to stratospheric ozone depletion on temperate desert ecosystems requires better knowledge of the ecophysiological response of common moss species. The aim of the current work was to determine whether elevated UV-B radiation affected photosynthetic performance and chloroplast ultrastructure of two moss crusts and whether response differences were observed between the crusts. In laboratory experiments, Bryum argenteum and Didymodon vinealis, which show microdistributions and are dominant in soil crusts at the Tengger Desert, Northern China, were subjected to four levels of UV-B radiation of 2.75 (control), 3.08, 3.25, and 3.41 W m-2 for 10 days, simulating 0, 6, 9, and 12% of stratospheric ozone at the latitude of Shapotou, respectively. The results showed that chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (i.e., the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and photochemical quenching coefficient), pigment contents, soluble protein contents, and the ultrastructure were negatively influenced by elevated UV-B radiation and the degree of detrimental effects significantly increased with the intensity of UV-B radiation. Moreover, results indicated that B. argenteum was probably more sensitive to supplementary UV-B radiation than D. vinealis. Therefore, we propose the use of B. argenteum crusts as a bioindicator of responses to elevated UV-B radiation., R. Hui, X. R. Li, R. L. Jia, L. C. Liu, R. M. Zhao, X. Zhao, Y. P. Wei., and Obsahuje bibliografii