Climate change impacts environmental conditions that affect photosynthesis. This review examines the effect of combinations of elevated atmospheric CO2, long photoperiods, and/or unfavorable nitrogen supply. Under moderate stress, perturbed plant source-sink ratio and redox state can be rebalanced but may result in reduced foliar protein content in C3 plants and a higher carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of plant biomass. More severe environmental conditions can trigger pronounced photosynthetic downregulation and impair growth. We comprehensively evaluate available evidence that microbial partners may be able to support plant productivity under challenging environmental conditions by providing (1) nutrients, (2) an additional carbohydrate sink, and (3) regulators of plant metabolism, especially plant redox state. In evaluating the latter mechanism, we note parallels to metabolic control in photosymbioses and microbial regulation of human redox biology.
We related leaf physiological traits of four grassland species (Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Festuca valida, and Taraxacum officinale), dominant in a Mediterranean grassland, to their origin and success at community level. From early May to mid-June 1999, four leaf samplings were done. Species originating from poor environments (P. pratensis, F. valida) had low carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf water and mineral contents, and net photosynthetic rate on mass basis (Pmass) but high chlorophyll content. The reverse traits were evident for the fast-growing species (L. perenne, T. officinale). Under the resource-limiting conditions (soil nitrogen and water) of the Mediterranean grassland, the physiological traits of P. pratensis and F. valida showed to be more adapted to these conditions leading to high species abundance and dominance. and J. T. Tsialtas, T. S. Pritsa, D. S. Veresoglou.
Total in vitro activity of RuBPCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) enzyme was assayed spectrophotometrically by the continuous measurement of 3-phosphoglycerate-dependent NADH oxidation in a coupled enzyme system. RuBPCO activities were found in the ranges 1.01-2.76 and 1.23-3.10 µmol(CO2) m-2 s- 1 in current Norway spruce needles growing in ambient (AC) and elevated (EC) CO2 concentration, respectively. RuBPCO activity in AC needles from the upper layer (U) was 11-15 % higher compared to those from the middle (M) layer, and even 44-56 % higher compared to the lower (L) layer of spruce crown. Over the vegetation season, we observed a highly significant decrease of RuBPCO activity in the EC-U needles from 3.10 (July) to 1.60 (October) µmol(CO2) m-2 s-1 as a consequence of downward feedback regulation. Moreover, this down-regulation was not caused by a non-specific decrease in total leaf nitrogen content. and M. Hrstka, O. Urban, M. V. Marek.
The identification and examination of sources of external loading are important pressure indicators for studying the nutrient balance and eutrophication of water bodies. Focusing on the eastern Gulf of Finland, this paper investigates and decomposes the sources of phosphorus, a limiting factor of eutrophication of the Gulf and its accompanying Neva Bay, and of nitrogen as pressure indicators. The eastern Gulf of Finland’s catchment basin represents Europe’s largest freshwater basin. Both point and non-point sources of pollution, as well as their current and possible withdrawals from the watershed’s nutrient loading, are considered. The investigation identifies poultry plants and animal husbandry enterprises in the coastal watershed as critical contributing sources to eutrophication in the eastern Gulf of Finland. Analyses based on such pressure indicators can help to contribute directly to future policy-making as concerns environmental protection measures and water resources planning in the eastern Gulf of Finland and other regions. and Identifikácia zdrojov externej záťaže živinami je významným indikátorom pre štúdium bilancie živín a eutrofizácie vôd. Tento príspevok prezentuje výsledky výskumu zdrojov fosforu a sodíka východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu a delty rieky Nevy, ako limitujúcich faktorov eutrofizácie. Povodie východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu je najväčším európskym zdrojom sladkej vody. V analýze sú uvažované bodové a plošné zdroje znečistenia a tiež súčasné, ale aj možné odbery vody a znečisťujúcich látok z povodia. Výskumom sa podarilo identifikovať hydinárske farmy a veľkochovy zvierat v pobrežnej zóne povodia ako kritické vzhľadom na eutrofizáciu východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu. Výsledky analýzy môžu priamo prispieť k tvorbe legislatívy týkajúcej sa ochrany životného prostredia a plánovania využitia zdrojov vody vo východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu, ale aj v iných regiónoch.
We investigated the effects of long-term acclimation of Eucalyptus nitens seedlings to ultraviolet-A (UV-A) irradiation (320-400 nm) on phenolic compounds (gallotannins, stilbenes, and flavonols), photochemical efficiency, and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Seedlings were raised under four nutrient regimes, ranging from low to high application rates, in an environment that included or excluded UV-A irradiance. Our aims were: to classify phenolic compounds that absorb in the UV-A and their relative contribution to total UV-A absorption; to identify how phenolic compounds respond to UV-A exposure and exclusion, and to determine how plant nutrient status affects acclimation of photo-and pigment-chemistry to UV-A exposure and exclusion. Gallotannins contributed to only a minor fraction of total absorption within the lower range (320-360 nm) of the UV-A spectrum. Stilbene and flavonol compounds dominated absorption within the 320-360 and 360-400 nm ranges, respectively. Contents of gallotannin were generally high in UV-A-exposed seedlings. Although there was a significant effect of UV-A on contents of stilbenes, a general response (across nutrient treatment comparisons) was not evident. Contents of flavonols were not affected by UV-A exposure. Contents of gallotannin, stilbene, and flavonols decreased from low to high nutrient-application treatments. There were no effects of UV-A on photochemical efficiency or pigment-chemistry. and D. C. Close ... [et al.].
In a growth chamber experiment, we determined net photosynthetic rate (PN) and leaf developmental characteristics of cultivars of a relatively small-, intermediate-, and a large-leaf genotype grown under irradiance of 450-500 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1 (HI), shade [140-160 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1] (LI), and after a shade-to-irradiation (LI >>HI) transfer. Differences in physiological responses of the genotypes were more pronounced in HI and LI>>HI plants than in LI plants. The small- and intermediate-leaf sizes had greater PN in the first measured leaf than the large-leaf type by 70 and 63 % in HI plants, and by 23 and 18 % in LI>>HI plants, respectively. Similar relationships were observed in the next developed leaf. The LI plants did not differ significantly in PN. Greater PN in the small- and intermediate-leaf size genotypes were not associated with greater total dry matter of the plant. Under irradiation, the large-leaf genotype accumulated more total nonstructural saccharides (TNS) and starch than the small- or intermediate-leaf size plants. TNS and starch concentrations in LI plants were about one-half those of HI and LI>>HI plants. These results should help to develop management practices that capitalize upon the competitive features of white clover in mixed-species swards. and D. P. Malinowski, D. P. Belesky, J. Fedders.
We investigated the photosynthetic characteristics of Chorispora bungeana under conditions of drought stress caused by different concentrations of polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG; 0, 5, 20, and 40%) and various concentrations of exogenous glycine (0, 5, 10, and 20 mM) with 20% PEG. We showed that moderate and severe drought stress of PEG reduced the chlorophyll (Chl) content (both Chl a and b), maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII in light (YII), and quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation (YNPQ), while Chl a/b and quantum yield of nonregulated energy dissipation (YNO) increased. The low and moderate drought stress increased Mg2+ and Fe3+ contents, while a decrease in Mg2+ and Fe3+ was found under severe drought stress. Compared to sole PEG stress, the addition of exogenous 10 mM glycine increased Chl, Mg2+ and Fe3+ contents, Fv/Fm, YII, and YNPQ, and reduced YNO. On the contrary, 20 mM glycine showed an opposite effect, except for YNO. Our results proved that Chl contents and fluorescence parameters are reliable indicators for drought tolerance of C. bungeana. We suggest that a proper glycine content can relieve the effect of drought stress on C. bungeana., N. Yang, C.-L. Wang, W.-P. He, Y.-Z. Qu, Y.-S. Li., and Seznam literatury
We investigated the effect of growth irradiance (I) on photon-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax), dark respiration rate (RD), carboxylation efficiency (CE), and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in seedlings of the following four tropical tree species with contrasting shade-tolerance. Anthocephalus chinensis (Rubiaceae) and Linociera insignis (Oleaceae) are light-demanding, Barringtonia macrostachya (Lecythidaceae) and Calophyllum polyanthum (Clusiaceae) are shade-tolerant. Their seedlings were pot-planted under shading nets with 8, 25, and 50 % daylight for five months. With increase of I, all species displayed the trends of increases of LMA, photosynthetic saturation irradiance, and chlorophyll-based Pmax, and decreases of chlorophyll (Chl) content on both area and mass bases, and mass-based Pmax, RD, and CE. The area-based Pmax and CE increased with I for the light-demanders only. Three of the four species significantly increased Chl-based CE with I. This indicated the increase of nitrogen (N) allocation to carboxylation enzyme relative to Chl with I. Compared to the two shade-tolerants, under the same I, the two light-demanders had greater area- and Chl-based Pmax, photosynthetic saturation irradiance, lower Chl content per unit area, and greater plasticity in LMA and area- or Chl-based Pmax. Our results support the hypothesis that light-demanding species is more plastic in leaf morphology and physiology than shade-tolerant species, and acclimation to I of tropical seedlings is more associated with leaf morphological adjustment relative to physiology. Leaf nitrogen partitioning between photosynthetic enzymes and Chl also play a role in the acclimation to I. and Y.-L. Feng, K.-F. Cao, J.-L. Zhang.
Photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE), stomatal conductance (gs), and water potential were measured at two different positions in the tree crown of two emergent tropical tree species (Shorea beccariana Burck, Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f.). The trees were about 50 m high, in a tropical rain forest in Sarawak, East Malaysia. In both species, gs at the upper crown position at midday was lower than at the lower crown position, even though both positions were exposed to full sunlight; the difference was greater in S. beccariana. Hydraulic limitation occurs in the upper crown position in both species. A midday depression was observed in the photon saturated photosynthetic rate in both species, especially at the upper crown. However, PWUE was markedly higher in the upper crown than the lower crown at midday, even though no morphological adjustment was observed in the leaves; this difference was greater in S. beccariana. and Y. Kitahashi ... [et al.].