Effects of Seasonal Changes on Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Physiological Characteristics in the Two Taxus Species

Taxus is a rare and endangered woody plant worldwide with important economic and ecological values. However, the weak environmental adaptability of Taxus species, in particular the unstable photosynthetic activity in different seasons, always affects its normal growth and development and limits its conservation and exploitation. To improve the survival of Taxus trees in cultivated areas, the seasonal dynamics of chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) and key physiological parameters were comprehensively investigated in T. media and T. mairei. The results demonstrated that the photosynthetic activity of both Taxus species was sensitive to local summer and winter environmental conditions, with the heterogeneity of fluorescence signatures intuitively presented on the needle surface by CF-Imaging detection, while images of maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) demonstrated values below 0.7 in the blue-green sectors in winter. The distribution of light energy was regulated by the photosynthetic apparatus in both Taxus species to maintain a stable actual quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (φPSII), which was around 0.4-0.5. Based on a redundancy discriminant analysis, the interpretation rate of light intensity and air temperature ranked as the top two in both Taxus species, which were considered the main environmental factors affecting the photosynthetic performance of Taxus by disturbing the electron transport chain. In the winter, T. mairei exhibited weaker electron transport activity than T. media, thus caused lower photochemistry and more severe photosynthetic damages. Interestingly, both Taxus species demonstrated consistent response patterns, including diverse energy dissipation strategies and enhancement of osmoregulatory substances and antioxidative activities, thus maintaining stable photosynthetic functions in response to environmental changes.

Comparison of photosynthetic responses between haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa and diatom Skeletonema costatum under phosphorus limitation

The diatom Skeletonema costatum and the haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa often form blooms in the coastal waters of the South China Sea. Skeletonema costatum commonly dominates in nutrient enrichment coastal waters, whereas P. globosa starts flourishing after the diatom blooms when phosphorus (P) is limited. Therefore, P limitation was proposed to be a critical factor affecting diatom-haptophyte transition. To elucidate the tolerance to P limitation in P. globosa compared with S. costatum, the effect of P limitation on their photosystem II (PSII) performance was investigated and their photosynthesis acclimation strategies in response to P limitation were evaluated. P limitation did not affect the growth of P. globosa over 7 days but decreased it for S. costatum. Correspondingly, the PSII activity of S. costatum was significantly inhibited by P limitation. The decline in PSII activity in S. costatum under P limitation was associated with the impairment of the oxygen-evolving complex (the donor side of PSII), the hindrance of electron transport from Q_A ^- to Q_B (the acceptor side of PSII), and the inhibition of electron transport to photosystem I (PSI). The 100% decrease in D1 protein level of S. costatum after P limitation for 6 days and PsbO protein level after 2 days of P limitation were attributed to its enhanced photoinhibition. In contrast, P. globosa maintained its photosynthetic activity with minor impairment of the function of PSII. With accelerated PSII repair and highly increased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), P. globosa can avoid serious PSII damage under P limitation. On the contrary, S. costatum decreased its D1 restoration under P limitation, and the maximum NPQ value in S. costatum was only one-sixth of that in P. globosa. The present work provides extensive evidence that a close interaction exists between the tolerance to P limitation and photosynthetic responses of S. costatum and P. globosa.

Hyperpolarization electrical signals induced by local action of moderate heating influence photosynthetic light reactions in wheat plants

Local action of stressors induces fast changes in physiological processes in intact parts of plants including photosynthetic inactivation. This response is mediated by generation and propagation of depolarization electrical signals (action potentials and variation potentials) and participates in increasing plant tolerance to action of adverse factors. Earlier, we showed that a local action of physiological stimuli (moderate heating and blue light), which can be observed under environmental conditions, induces hyperpolarization electrical signals (system potentials) in wheat plants. It potentially means that these signals can play a key role in induction of fast physiological changes under the local action of environmental stressors. The current work was devoted to investigation of influence of hyperpolarization electrical signals induced by the local action of the moderate heating and blue light on parameters of photosynthetic light reactions. A quantum yield of photosystem II (Ф_PSII) and a non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) in wheat plants were investigated. It was shown that combination of the moderate heating (40°C) and blue light (540 µmol m^-2s^-1) decreased Ф_PSII and increased NPQ; these changes were observed in 3-5 cm from border of the irritated zone and dependent on intensity of actinic light. The moderate soil drought (7 days) increased magnitude of photosynthetic changes and shifted their localization which were observed on 5-7 cm from the irritated zone; in contrast, the strong soil drought (14 days) suppressed these changes. The local moderate heating decreased Ф_PSII and increased NPQ without action of the blue light; in contrast, the local blue light action without heating weakly influenced these parameters. It meant that just local heating was mechanism of induction of the photosynthetic changes. Finally, propagation of hyperpolarization electrical signals (system potentials) was necessary for decreasing Ф_PSII and increasing NPQ. Thus, our results show that hyperpolarization electrical signals induced by the local action of the moderate heating inactivates photosynthetic light reactions; this response is similar with photosynthetic changes induced by depolarization electrical signals. The soil drought and actinic light intensity can influence parameters of these photosynthetic changes.

Impact of Web Blight on Photosynthetic Performance of an Elite Common Bean Line in the Western Amazon Region of Colombia

Disease stress caused by plant pathogens impacts the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus, and the symptoms caused by the degree of severity of the disease can generally be observed in different plant parts. The accurate assessment of plant symptoms can be used as a proxy indicator for managing disease incidence, estimating yield loss, and developing genotypes with disease resistance. The objective of this work was to determine the response of the photosynthetic apparatus to the increased disease severity caused by web blight Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk on the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves under acidic soil and the humid tropical conditions of the Colombian Amazon. Differences in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, including F_v/F_m, Y(II), Y(NPQ), Y(NO), ETR, qP, and qN in leaves with different levels of severity of web blight in an elite line (BFS 10) of common bean were evaluated under field conditions. A significant effect of web blight on the photosynthetic apparatus was found. A reduction of up to 50% of energy use dedicated to the photosynthetic machinery was observed, even at the severity scale score of 2 (5% surface incidence). The results from this study indicate that the use of fluorescence imaging not only allows for the quantifying of the impact of web blight on photosynthetic performance, but also for detecting the incidence of disease earlier, before severe symptoms occur on the leaves.

Study on the Relationship of Ions (Na, K, Ca) Absorption and Distribution to Photosynthetic Response of Salix matsudana Koidz Under Salt Stress

To identify the key indicators for salt tolerance evaluation of Salix matsudana Koidz, we explored the relationship of ion absorption and distribution with chlorophyll, fluorescence parameters (leaf performance index, maximum photochemical efficiency), and photosynthetic gas parameters (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration) under salt stress. We established 4 treatment groups and one control group based on salinity levels of NaCl hydroponic solutions (171, 342, 513, and 684 mm). The Na⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/Ca²⁺, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic parameters of leaves were measured on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 15th days to analyze the correlations of chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters to the ion distribution ratio. The results showed that (1) The ratio of the dry weight of roots to leaves gradually increased with increasing salt concentration, whereas the water content of leaves and roots first increased and then decreased with increasing time. (2) The content of Na⁺, Na^+/K⁺, and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ in roots and leaves increased with increasing salt stress concentration and treatment time, and the difference gradually narrowed. (3) Ca²⁺ was lost more than K⁺ under salt stress, and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ was more sensitive to the salt stress environment than Na⁺/K⁺. (4) Because the root system had a retention effect, both Na⁺/K⁺ and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ in roots under different NaCl concentrations and different treatment times were higher than those in leaves, and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ was much higher than Na⁺/K⁺ in roots. (5) Na^+/K⁺ had a higher correlation with fluorescence parameters than Na⁺/Ca²⁺. Among them, Na⁺/K⁺ had a significantly negative correlation with the maximum photochemical efficiency, and the correlation coefficient R ² was 0.8576. (6) Photosynthetic gas parameters had a higher correlation with Na⁺/Ca²⁺ than with Na⁺/K⁺. Among them, significantly negative correlations were noted between Na⁺/Ca²⁺ and Gs as well as between Na⁺/Ca²⁺ and E under salt stress. The correlation between Na⁺/Ca²⁺ and Gs was the highest with a correlation coefficient of 0.9368. (7) Na⁺/K⁺ and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ had no significant correlation with chlorophylls. Na⁺/Ca²⁺ was selected as a key index to evaluate the salt tolerance of S. matsudana Koidz, and the results provided a reference for analyzing the relationship between ion transport and distribution for photosynthesis.

Local adaptation optimizes photoprotection strategies in a Neotropical legume tree under drought stress

Photoprotection is a plant functional mechanism to prevent photooxidative damage by excess light. This is most important when carbon assimilation is limited by drought, and as such, it entails a trade-off between carbon assimilation vs stress avoidance. The ecological adaptation of plants to local water availability can lead to different photoprotective strategies. To test this, we used different provenances of Caesalpinia spinosa (Mol.) Kuntze (commonly known as 'tara') along a precipitation gradient. Tara is a Neotropical legume tree with high ecological and commercial value, found in dry tropical forests, which are increasingly threatened by climate change. Morphological and physiological responses of tara provenances were analysed under three different treatments of drought and leaflet immobilization, i.e., light stress, in a common garden greenhouse experiment. Tara quickly responded to drought by reducing stomatal conductance, evapotranspiration, photochemical efficiency, carbon assimilation and growth, while increasing structural and chemical photoprotection (leaflet angle and pigments for thermal dissipation). Leaflet closure was an efficient photoprotection strategy with overall physiological benefits for seedlings as it diminished the evaporative demand and avoided photodamage, but also entailed costs by reducing net carbon assimilation opportunities. These responses depended on seed origin, with seedlings from the most xeric locations showing the highest dehydration tolerance, suggesting local adaptation and highlighting the value of different strategies under distinct environments. This plasticity in its response to environmental stress allows tara to thrive in locations with contrasting water availability. Our findings increase the understanding of the factors controlling the functional ecology of tara in response to drought, which can be leveraged to improve forecasts of changes in its distribution range, and for planning restoration projects with this keystone tree species.

Photosynthetic parameters and stomatal conductance in attached and detached balsam fir foliage

Leaf level gas-exchange measurements can be made on detached foliage to address the challenge of access to the crown of tall trees. However, detachment may impact leaf gas exchange. This necessitates the study of gas-exchange characteristics of foliage on detached branches to assess the feasibility of using detached branches for gas-exchange analysis. We compared photosynthetic parameters and stomatal conductance in foliage of attached and detached branches of balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] during the growing season. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model, with fixed and random effects (branch status and measurement month, and tree number, respectively). Branch detachment had no significant effects on: (i) photosynthesis at the current ambient CO₂ concentration (400 µmol mol^-1, A ₄₀₀); (ii) maximum rates of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylation (V _cmax) and regeneration (J _max); (iii) the ratio of J _max to V _cmax (i.e., J _max:V _cmax), and (iv) stomatal conductance (g _s) during the study period (p = 0.120-0.335). There was a strong seasonal effect on all gas-exchange variables (p ≤ 0.001-0.015). Gas-exchange measurements made on detached foliage during the warm summer months should be performed with care. Reliable gas-exchange measurements can be obtained using balsam fir foliage on detached branches 50-80 cm in length, in cooler growing-season months, up to 30 min after detachment.

Influence of Local Burning on Difference Reflectance Indices Based on 400-700 nm Wavelengths in Leaves of Pea Seedlings

Local damage (e.g., burning) induces a variation potential (VP), which is an important electrical signal in higher plants. A VP propagates into undamaged parts of the plant and influences numerous physiological processes, including photosynthesis. Rapidly increasing plant tolerance to stressors is likely to be a result of the physiological changes. Thus, developing methods of revealing VP-induced physiological changes can be used for the remote sensing of plant systemic responses to local damage. Previously, we showed that burning-induced VP influenced a photochemical reflectance index in pea leaves, but the influence of the electrical signals on other reflectance indices was not investigated. In this study, we performed a complex analysis of the influence of VP induction by local burning on difference reflectance indices based on 400–700 nm wavelengths in leaves of pea seedlings. Heat maps of the significance of local burning-induced changes in the reflectance indices and their correlations with photosynthetic parameters were constructed. Large spectral regions with significant changes in these indices after VP induction were revealed. Most changes were strongly correlated to photosynthetic parameters. Some indices, which can be potentially effective for revealing local burning-induced photosynthetic changes, are separately shown. Our results show that difference reflectance indices based on 400–700 nm wavelengths can potentially be used for the remote sensing of plant systemic responses induced by local damages and subsequent propagation of VPs.

Response of photosynthetic characteristics and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation of Betula ermanii seedlings to drought stress

We explored the effects of drought stress on photosynthetic characteristics and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) accumulation of the timberline tree species Betula ermanii in Changbai Mountain with a drought control experiment. The results showed that drought significantly reduced the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, but increased water use efficiency (WUE) of B. ermanii seedlings. Drought dramatically improved the contents of soluble sugar and total NSC in leaves, barks, stems, and roots of B. ermanii seedlings, but significantly reduced their starch content. The stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and WUE decreased rapidly as the drought continued, whereas the contents of soluble sugar, starch and NSC increased and then declined. At the end of the experiment, 90% of the leaves turned yellow, and the ratios of soluble sugar to starch in the stems, barks and roots under the drought treatment were significantly higher than those in the control. These results demonstrated that B. ermanii might be a drought-avoidance species that could reduce water loss by rapidly reducing stomatal conductance and improving WUE under drought stress. B. ermanii might have evolved priority storage strategy to cope with water deficit through improving the content of soluble sugar in organs and increasing the transformation rate between starch and sugar. With the extension of drought stress, seedlings tended to die, since water stress might exceed the threshold of the plant self-regulation capacity. However, the content of NSC in organs did not decrease, suggesting that the death of B. ermanii under drought stress might not be caused by carbon starvation.

A hemiparasite in the forest understorey: photosynthetic performance and carbon balance of Melampyrum pratense

Melampyrum pratense is an annual root-hemiparasitic plant growing mostly in forest understorey, an environment with unstable light conditions. While photosynthetic responses of autotrophic plants to variable light conditions are in general well understood, light responses of root hemiparasites have not been investigated. We carried out gas exchange measurements (light response and photosynthetic induction curves) to assess the photosynthetic performance of M. pratense in spring and summer. These data and recorded light dynamics data were subsequently used to model carbon balance of the hemiparasite throughout the entire growth season. Summer leaves had significantly lower rates of saturated photosynthesis and dark respiration than spring leaves, a pattern expected to reflect the difference between sun- and shade-adapted leaves. However, even the summer leaves of the hemiparasite exhibited a higher rate of light-saturated photosynthesis than reported in non-parasitic understorey herbs. This is likely related to its annual life history, rare among other understorey herbs. The carbon balance model considering photosynthetic induction still indicated insufficient autotrophic carbon gain for seed production in the summer months due to limited light availability and substantial carbon loss through dark respiration. The results point to potentially high importance of heterotrophic carbon acquisition in M. pratense, which could be of at least comparable importance as in other mixotrophic plants growing in forests - mistletoes and partial mycoheterotrophs. It is remarkable that despite apparent evolutionary pressure towards improved carbon acquisition from the host, M. pratense retains efficient photosynthesis and high transpiration rate, the ecophysiological traits typical of related root hemiparasites in the Orobanchaceae.