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Chen G, Liu M, Zhao X, Bawa G, Liang B, Feng L, Pu T, Yong T, Liu W, Liu J, Du J, Yang F, Wu Y, Liu C, Wang X, Yang W. Improved photosynthetic performance under unilateral weak light conditions in a wide-narrow-row intercropping system is associated with altered sugar transport. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:258-273. [PMID: 37721809 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Intercropping improves resource utilization. Under wide-narrow-row maize (Zea mays) intercropping, maize plants are subjected to weak unilateral illumination and exhibit high photosynthetic performance. However, the mechanism regulating photosynthesis under unilateral weak light remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between photosynthesis and sugar metabolism in maize under unilateral weak light. Our results showed that the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of unshaded leaves increased as the level of shade on the other side increased. On the contrary, the concentration of sucrose and starch and the number of starch granules in the unshaded leaves decreased with increased shading due to the transfer of abundant C into the grains. However, sink loss with ear removal reduced the Pn of unshaded leaves. Intense unilateral shade (40% to 20% normal light), but not mild unilateral shade (60% normal light), reduced grain yield (37.6% to 54.4%, respectively). We further found that in unshaded leaves, Agpsl, Bmy, and Mexl-like expression significantly influenced sucrose and starch metabolism, while Sweet13a and Sut1 expression was crucial for sugar export. In shaded leaves, expression of Sps1, Agpsl, and Sweet13c was crucial for sugar metabolism and export. This study confirmed that unshaded leaves transported photosynthates to the ear, leading to a decrease in sugar concentration. The improvement of photosynthetic performance was associated with altered sugar transport. We propose a narrow-row spacing of 40 cm, which provides appropriate unilateral shade and limits yield reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guopeng Chen
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Ming Liu
- Guangxi Subtropical Crops Research Institute, Nanning 530001, P.R. China
| | - Xuyang Zhao
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - George Bawa
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Bing Liang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Liang Feng
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Tian Pu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Taiwen Yong
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Weiguo Liu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Jiang Liu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Junbo Du
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Feng Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Yushan Wu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Xiaochun Wang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Wenyu Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211-Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, P.R. China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu, P. R. China
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Sun X, Zhang EZ, Yu L, Du JB, Yang WY. Nitrogen allocation for CO 2 fixation promotes nitrogen use in the photosynthetic compensation of soybean under heterogeneous light after a pre-shading. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1755-1762. [PMID: 38162920 PMCID: PMC10754808 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-023-01392-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The spatial and temporal distribution of sunlight around plants is constantly changing in natural and farmland environments. Previous studies showed that the photosynthesis of crops responds significantly to heterogeneous light conditions in fields. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, soybean plants were treated by heterogeneous light after a pre-shading (SH-HL) to simulate the light condition in relay strip intercropping. Gas exchange and nitrogen (N) of leaves were measured to evaluate the photosynthetic performance, as well as photosynthetic N- and water-use efficiency (PNUE and PWUE). Chlorophylls (Chl) and Rubisco were analyzed as representative photosynthetic N components. Results suggest that SH-HL treated soybean exhibited evident photosynthetic compensation as the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) increased significantly in unshaded leaves, from which the export of photosynthates was enhanced. Under SH-HL, leaf N concentration remained relatively stable in unshaded leaves. While Chl concentration decreased but Rubisco concentration increased in unshaded leaves, indicating preferential allocation of leaf N for CO2 fixation. Results also showed that PNUE increased and PWUE decreased in unshaded leaves under SH-HL. Therefore, we suggest that within-leaf N allocation for CO2 fixation in unshaded leaves rather than within-plant N distribution to unshaded leaves drives the photosynthetic compensation under heterogeneous light after a pre-shading. However, enhanced water loss from unshaded leaves is a cost for efficient N-use under these conditions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01392-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130 China
| | - En-Ze Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130 China
| | - Liang Yu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130 China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130 China
| | - Jun-Bo Du
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130 China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130 China
| | - Wen-Yu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130 China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu, 611130 China
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Sun X, Huang SR, Ai Y, Zhang EZ, Wang XC, Du JB, Yang WY. Comparative study on the different responses of maize photosynthesis to systemic regulation under light heterogeneity. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 301:110666. [PMID: 33218633 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic performance of a leaf is widely recognized to be systemically regulated by distal parts within the same plant. However, the effects of systemic regulation on different plant materials cannot be generalized. In this work, two cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.), 'Rongyu 1210' (RY) and 'Zhongdan 808' (ZD), were selected for a comparative study on the different responses of photosynthesis to light-dependent systemic regulation. After the growth of plants in heterogeneous light, the net photosynthetic rate of newly developed leaves increased in RY but decreased in ZD. A distinct capacity of CO2 fixation and assimilation between these two cultivars is also suggested. In ZD, the area of vascular bundles declined obviously, suggesting a restriction on carbohydrate export, which is also indicated by an increase in starch content. Resulting excessive accumulation of carbohydrates is proposed to inhibit the carbon assimilation, and eventually the photosynthesis. A decline in the area of bundle sheath cells also suggests a restriction on carbon assimilation. In contrast, these restrictions were unlikely to present in RY. This study reveals that the response of leaf photosynthetic performance to light heterogeneity is largely dependent on the systemic regulation of carbon assimilation, as well as carbohydrate export in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Si-Rong Huang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yuan Ai
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - En-Ze Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Wang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jun-Bo Du
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Wen-Yu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China (Ministry of Agriculture), Chengdu 611130, China; Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu 611130, China
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4
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Sun X, Lu J, Yang MY, Huang SR, Du JB, Wang XC, Yang WY. Light-induced systemic signalling down-regulates photosynthetic performance of soybean leaves with different directional effects. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2019; 21:891-898. [PMID: 30825360 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
When plants are exposed to a heterogeneous environment, photosynthesis of leaves is not only determined by their local condition, but also by certain signals from other parts of the same plant, termed systemic regulation. Our present study was conducted to investigate the effects of light-dependent systemic regulation on the photosynthetic performance of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) under heterogeneous light conditions. Soybean plants were treated with heterogeneous light. Then gas exchange characteristics were measured to evaluate the photosynthetic performance of leaves. Parameters related to photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, Rubisco and photosynthates were examined to study the mechanisms of light-dependent systemic regulation on photosynthesis. Light-induced systemic signalling by illuminated leaves reduced the Pn of both upper and lower non-illuminated leaves on the same soybean plant. The decrease in gs and increase in Ci in these non-illuminated leaves indicated restriction of carbon assimilation, which was further verified by the decline in content and activity of Rubisco. However, the activation state of Rubisco decreased only in upper non-illuminated leaves. Quantum efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII) and ETR also decreased only in upper non-illuminated leaves. Moreover, the effects of light-induced systemic signalling on carbohydrate content were also detectable only in upper non-illuminated leaves. Light-induced systemic signalling by illuminated leaves restricts carbon assimilation and down-regulates photosynthetic performance of non-illuminated leaves within a soybean plant. However, effects of such systemic regulation differed when regulated in upward or downward direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Sun
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - J Lu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - M Y Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - S R Huang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - J B Du
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu, China
| | - X C Wang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu, China
| | - W Y Yang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu, China
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Huang SR, Du JB, Wang XC, Sun X, Yang WY. Involvement of carbohydrates in long-term light-dependent systemic regulation on photosynthesis of maize under light heterogeneity. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2019; 14:1629266. [PMID: 31184293 PMCID: PMC6619968 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2019.1629266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
It is widely recognized that different parts of a plant can communicate with each other via light-dependent long-distance signaling under heterogeneous light conditions. However, the mechanism of such systemic signaling has not been revealed yet. Our studies on different species suggest the involvement of carbohydrates in light-dependent systemic regulation between different parts of a plant under both short- and long-term light heterogeneity. Leaves exposed to better light condition perform enhanced photosynthetic capacity, and act to compensate for the decline in photosynthesis of other leaves under bad light condition within the same plant. This kind of compensatory photosynthesis has a close relationship to the distribution of carbohydrates, and can be regarded as an integrative strategy to make efficient use of sunlight at the whole-plant level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Rong Huang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun-Bo Du
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Wang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Sun
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - Wen-Yu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System, Chengdu, China
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