低氮诱导玉米幼苗叶片衰老过程中碳氮平衡的动态变化

叶片适时衰老对保证玉米产量有重要意义。本试验以玉米自交系PH6WC和PH4CV为研究对象,通过水培方法,设置低氮(0.04 mmol·L^-1,LN)和正常(4 mmol·L^-1,CK)氮素水平两种处理,在培养2、4、6和8 d后,对其幼苗第2和第3叶片表型、光合特性、叶片中氮素和糖分含量及碳氮比进行分析,旨在探究低氮胁迫下玉米幼苗叶片衰老过程中碳氮平衡的动态变化。结果表明: 与CK相比,LN造成两玉米自交系幼苗第2和第3叶片的面积、生物量、相对叶绿素含量、净光合速率、可溶性糖和淀粉含量均下降,而其氮物质生产能力均先后增加,但第2叶片的变化时间均早于第3叶片;在两叶片的各性状上,均为LN下PH6WC的变化幅度大于PH4CV,且仅幼苗叶片中的碳氮比在LN下显著提高;PH6WC的叶片衰老更快,PH4CV有更强的碳氮平衡能力,其叶片衰老相对滞后。综上,低氮会诱导玉米幼苗叶片衰老,高碳氮比具有促进叶片衰老的调控作用,低氮胁迫下幼苗叶片的碳氮平衡能力在两个玉米基因型间存在较大差异。     

干旱胁迫下新疆杨树冠不同高度叶片水分状况与非结构性碳动态北大核心CSCD

水力结构调整及非结构性碳动态对于认知干旱胁迫下植物生存前景和死亡风险至关重要。该研究以新疆杨(Populus bolleana Lauche.)为对象,通过干旱处理分析树冠不同高度叶片水力性状、光合生理特性、不同功能器官间的可溶性糖、淀粉及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量变化,以甄别树冠不同高度叶片对干旱胁迫的生理响应和适应差异。结果表明:(1)在干旱胁迫下,树冠上部的叶水势、叶含水量、枝条含水量普遍低于下部,饱和膨压渗透势及膨压损失点水势在不同树冠高度间差异不显著;(2)干旱处理组植株净光合速率随树冠高度的增加而降低,叶绿素SPAD值在树冠的上部显著低于下部,而水分利用效率在树冠的上部却高于下部;(3)干旱处理组比叶面积在各树冠高度下显著低于对照组,而胡伯尔值在中部及上部高于对照组但差异不显著;(4)干旱处理组,树冠上部叶片淀粉含量显著高于下部,枝条可溶性糖及NSC含量在树冠上部显著高于下部,韧皮部的可溶性糖、淀粉及NSC含量在不同树冠高度间无显著差异,细根的可溶性糖、淀粉及NSC含量在对照组与干旱处理组间的差异不显著。研究发现,干旱处理下,树冠高度的增加会加剧新疆杨枝叶的干旱胁迫,致使树冠上部枝条木质部发生栓塞的风险大于下部,并导致NSC在不同器官间的分配和组分产生差异,但新疆杨植株可通过水分利用效率和形态上的适应性调整减缓干旱胁迫。     

干旱胁迫下腐植酸对燕麦叶片非结构性碳水化合物代谢的影响

以燕麦品种‘燕科2号’为试验材料,采用盆栽方式,分别在正常供水(75%田间持水量)、中度干旱胁迫(60%田间持水量)和重度干旱胁迫(45%田间持水量)3个水分条件下喷施腐植酸(HA)和等量清水(CK),对燕麦叶片中非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量及相关酶活性和籽粒产量进行测定,以明确腐植酸在干旱胁迫下对燕麦叶片非结构性碳水化合物代谢变化的影响,探讨HA对燕麦耐旱性的影响及其作用机制。结果表明：(1)随着土壤水分含量的减少,燕麦叶片中蔗糖和淀粉含量逐渐显著降低,蔗糖合成酶(SS)、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)活性显著降低,而酸性转化酶(S AI)和淀粉水解酶(α GC)活性显著提高。(2)燕麦叶片可溶性总糖和还原糖含量随着土壤水分含量的减少表现出先升高后降低的变化趋势,导致籽粒产量显著下降,且干旱胁迫程度越重变化幅度越大。(3)叶面喷施HA能不同程度提升中度和重度干旱胁迫下燕麦叶片中上述非结构性碳水化合物含量,并调节相关酶活性,显著提高籽粒产量,并在重度胁迫下的效果更佳。研究发现,腐植酸可以通过调控燕麦叶片NSC的代谢来响应干旱胁迫,降低叶片细胞渗透势,有效缓解干旱胁迫造成的损伤,增强植株耐旱性。     

氮素水平对茶树叶片氮代谢关键酶活性及非结构性碳水化合物的影响

以福鼎大白茶(FD)、保靖黄金茶1号(HJ1)、白毫早(BHZ)为材料,设置不施氮N_0(0 g)、低氮N1(11 g)、中氮N_2(22 g)和高氮N_3(33 g)4个氮素水平的盆栽实验,研究了铵态氮对3个品种茶树的根系活力、氮代谢关键酶及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)的影响。结果表明:随着施氮水平的提高,N_2、N_3处理的茶树根系活力较对照N0显著增加(P0.05),但二者间无显著差异;叶片谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合成酶(GOGAT)活性总体呈上升趋势;与对照比较,茶树叶片全氮和可溶性蛋白含量增加,其中HJ1在N_2和N_3处理后显著增加(P0.05);在3个茶树品种中,非结构性碳水化合物中可溶性总糖含量均呈上升趋势,淀粉含量具有品种特异性,施氮处理后3个茶树品种氮代谢关键酶活性及NSC含量变化存在差异,以HJ1的氮同化关键酶GS、GOGAT酶活性较高、根系活力较强,氮代谢产物显著增加,表明其具有较高的氮同化速率。施氮后HJ1的总NSC的含量及碳氮比的变化幅度较另外2个品种小,能够更好的保持碳氮平衡,游离氨基酸含量增幅较高,品质更优。因此,通过茶树氮代谢关键酶活性及非结构性化合物的研究能为茶树品种的品质评价以及提高茶树的品质和氮素利用效率提供依据。     

谷子对干旱胁迫的生理生态响应

干旱少雨严重限制了我国西北地区谷子的产量,为明确谷子响应干旱的生理特征,以干旱敏感谷子品种安04和不敏感品种豫谷1号以及xiaomi为材料,通过盆栽试验,研究了谷子不同生育期叶片光合参数、叶绿素含量、非结构性碳、β-淀粉酶基因表达对水分亏缺的响应。结果表明,正常水分条件下安04产量高于豫谷1号,干旱胁迫严重限制了两个谷子品种的产量形成,安04和豫谷1号分别减产71.2%和56.0%,豫谷1号产量显著高于安04。正常水分条件下,安04具有比豫谷1号更高的净光合速率（P<0.05）,干旱胁迫下,豫谷1号叶片净光合速率显著高于安04;叶片蒸腾速率结果同光合结果一致。干旱条件下,豫谷1号具有更高的叶片相对含水量。干旱胁迫显著降低了两个谷子品种花期的叶绿素a、叶绿素b及总叶绿素含量,且安04降低幅度均大于豫谷1号。干旱胁迫均显著增加了豫谷1号拔节期和开花期的叶片可溶性糖含量,而安04叶片可溶性糖含量并没有发生显著性变化,同时干旱胁迫显著增加了豫谷1号β-淀粉酶基因SiBAM1的表达水平。施用β-淀粉酶活性抑制剂α-环糊精,xiaomi叶片可溶性糖及脯氨酸含量显著降低,进一步加重了干旱对xiaomi的生长抑制。综上所述,干旱胁迫诱导谷子β-淀粉酶基因表达和β-淀粉酶活性升高从而水解淀粉形成可溶性糖,高可溶性糖含量对谷子提高抗旱性起重要作用。     

半干旱典型草原养分添加对优势物种叶片氮磷及非结构性碳水化合物含量的影响

在7年的养分添加(对照、低磷、低氮、低氮高磷和高氮低磷)试验基础上,测定了内蒙古半干旱典型草原优势种大针茅(Stipa grandis)和羊草(Leymus chinensis)叶片氮、磷、可溶性碳水化合物和淀粉含量。结果表明:两物种叶片氮、可溶性碳水化合物、淀粉及非结构性碳水化合物含量对养分添加有显著的响应(P0.05),养分添加与物种有显著的交互作用(P0.05);加氮显著增加了两物种植物叶片氮含量(P0.05),单加N处理显著降低了两物种叶片中的淀粉含量(P0.05),单加磷处理显著增加了羊草叶片可溶性碳水化合物含量(P0.05),高氮低磷处理显著降低两物种叶片非结构性碳水化合物总量(P0.05)。大针茅叶片各变量对磷添加无明显的响应,其叶片相对较高的C/N、C/P和可溶性碳水化合物/淀粉比,表明其具有相对较高的可直接利用的碳水化合物以及较高的氮、磷养分利用效率;羊草对外源养分的添加具有相对较强的竞争吸收能力。     

施氮对镉胁迫下山杨幼苗叶片氮磷钾吸收及镉积累量的影响

为探究山杨在重金属镉胁迫与增施外源氮复合处理条件下的生长及元素积累差异,该研究以山杨幼苗为材料,通过盆栽实验研究在重金属镉(Cd)胁迫下增施外源氮(N)对其形态、叶绿素、淀粉和可溶性糖含量、叶片中全氮(N)、全磷(P)、全钾(K)以及Cd含量的影响。结果表明：(1)单独Cd处理显著抑制山杨幼苗的叶片宽度和茎粗;施加外源N能够缓解Cd胁迫对植株的毒害,其叶长、叶宽和茎粗较单独Cd处理显著增加。(2)单独Cd处理后山杨叶片的叶绿素含量和淀粉含量均比对照显著下降,而其可溶性糖含量显著增加;与单独Cd处理相比,Cd+N复合处理后山杨的叶绿素含量显著增加,淀粉含量却显著下降,而可溶性糖含量略有降低。(3)与对照相比,单独Cd处理后,山杨叶片全N含量显著下降,全P含量显著增加;单独N和Cd+N复合处理后叶片全N含量均显著增加,全P含量均显著下降;全K含量在各处理下均无显著差异。(4)在Cd胁迫下山杨幼苗叶片的Cd含量比对照极显著增加,且Cd+N复合处理后叶片的Cd含量约是单独Cd处理的2倍。研究认为,增施氮素处理可显著提高山杨幼苗对镉胁迫环境的适应能力以及叶片对镉的富集能力。     

利用叶色特征监测小麦叶片的碳氮状况

研究了不同土壤水氮条件下小麦 (Triticumaestivum) 抽穗后叶片碳氮状况及其比例与叶片叶色 (SPAD值 ) 的关系。结果表明, 小麦中后期叶片氮含量和可溶性糖含量与顶部 3张叶片叶色 (SPAD值 ) 均呈显著的指数正相关, 其相关程度大小为L1>L2 >L3, 但与不同叶位叶色间的差值或比值相关并不显著 ;而叶片碳氮比与各叶位叶色相关不显著, 但与顶 1叶和顶 3叶的叶色差值呈极显著直线相关, 据此建立了基于叶色特征的叶片氮含量、可溶性糖含量和碳氮比监测模型, 检验结果显示, 顶 1叶叶色和顶 1叶与顶 3叶叶色的差值可用来有效地评估小麦叶片的碳、氮含量及碳氮比状况。     

干旱胁迫对杉木无性系非结构性碳水化合物含量的影响

以杉木Cunninghamia lanceolata 6个优良无性系组培移栽苗为试材,对聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫条件下各无性系针叶淀粉、可溶性糖及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)总量进行测定。结果显示,干旱胁迫致使杉木无性系针叶淀粉含量下降、可溶性糖含量有所提高,NSC含量呈下降趋势(除T-cF1无性系外)。干旱胁迫条件下,可溶性糖含量与针叶相对含水量、丙二醛含量间呈显著正相关(P<0.05),而淀粉含量、NSC与过氧化氢酶活性间均为显著负相关(P<0.05)。     

不同水分条件下控释尿素对夏玉米产量和叶片衰老特性的影响

采用旱棚土柱试验,以郑单958为材料,研究不同水分处理(重度干旱胁迫W₁、轻度干旱胁迫W₂、正常水分条件W₃)和不同控释尿素施氮处理(N₀:不施氮肥;低氮N₁:施纯氮150 kg·hm^-2;中氮N₂:施纯氮225 kg·hm^-2;高氮N₃:施纯氮300 kg·hm^-2)对夏玉米产量及叶片衰老特性的影响.结果表明: 控释尿素与水分耦合对延缓叶片衰老、提高功能叶作用时间和效率以及提高产量方面存在显著互作效应.相同氮素条件下,随着土壤水分含量的增加,夏玉米叶面积指数(LAI)、穗位叶叶绿素含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均显著提高,可溶性蛋白含量增加,而丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低,产量增加;相同水分条件下,随着施氮量的增加,夏玉米LAI、穗位叶叶绿素含量及各种保护酶活性均显著提高,可溶性蛋白含量增加,而MDA含量显著降低,产量也呈增加趋势.但处理W₃N₃、W₃N₂和W₂N₃之间差异不显著,且相对于其他处理,各项指标(MDA除外)均保持较高水平,MDA含量较低,表明控释尿素与水分的耦合效应有利于维持穗位叶功能,延缓叶片衰老,促进光合产物的生产,进而提高夏玉米产量.综合产量、叶面积指数、叶绿素含量和各种保护酶活性及MDA、可溶性蛋白含量,在土壤含水量为(75±5)%的田间持水量条件下(正常水分),控释尿素施氮量超过225 kg N·hm^-2后,继续增施氮肥不能持续提高花后叶片的保护酶活性,且导致保护酶活性下降加快,MDA含量显著升高,加速植株衰老,不利于氮素的高效利用;在土壤含水量为(55±5)%的田间持水量条件下,控释尿素施氮量在300 kg N·hm^-2条件下水氮耦合效应最佳.     

Carbon/Nitrogen Imbalance Associated with Drought-Induced Leaf Senescence in Sorghum bicolor

Drought stress triggers mature leaf senescence, which supports plant survival and remobilization of nutrients; yet leaf senescence also critically decreases post-drought crop yield. Drought generally results in carbon/nitrogen imbalance, which is reflected in the increased carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio in mature leaves, and which has been shown to be involved in inducing leaf senescence under normal growth conditions. Yet the involvement of the carbon/nitrogen balance in regulation of drought-induced leaf senescence is unclear. To investigate the role of carbon/nitrogen balance in drought-induced senescence, sorghum seedlings were subjected to a gradual soil drought treatment. Leaf senescence symptoms and the C:N ratio, which was indicated by the ratio of non-structural carbohydrate to total N content, were monitored during drought progression. In this study, leaf senescence developed about 12 days after the start of drought treatment, as indicated by various senescence symptoms including decreasing photosynthesis, photosystem II photochemistry efficiency (Fv/Fm) and chlorophyll content, and by the differential expression of senescence marker genes. The C:N ratio was significantly enhanced 10 to 12 days into drought treatment. Leaf senescence occurred in the older (lower) leaves, which had higher C:N ratios, but not in the younger (upper) leaves, which had lower C:N ratios. In addition, a detached leaf assay was conducted to investigate the effect of carbon/nitrogen availability on drought-induced senescence. Exogenous application of excess sugar combined with limited nitrogen promoted drought-induced leaf senescence. Thus our results suggest that the carbon/nitrogen balance may be involved in the regulation of drought-induced leaf senescence.     

大豆幼苗对套作玉米遮荫环境的光合生理生态响应

以2个耐荫性不同的大豆品种为材料,田间试验设置大豆单作和玉米-大豆套作2个种植模式处理,研究不同耐荫性大豆品种的幼苗光合生理生态特性对套作玉米遮荫环境的响应。结果表明:1)玉米-大豆套作模式中,玉米遮荫显著降低大豆冠层的光合有效辐射,导致大豆幼苗光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率显著下降(P0.05),分别达37.9%、54.2%和42.4%,但品种间无显著差异;而胞间二氧化碳浓度和Fv/Fm无显著变化,且光合速率的下降与气孔导度存在显著相关关系,光合速率下降主要是由气孔限制和CO2同化过程中能量不足所致;2)玉米遮荫显著降低大豆幼苗叶面积指数、叶片碳含量、叶片和根系干重及总生物量,且品种间差异显著,相关性分析显示,叶面积指数下降是导致生物量减少的主要原因;3)玉米遮荫环境中,大豆幼苗的叶片叶绿素和氮素含量提高以增强光捕获能力,但它们并不能补偿因光截获面积降低而引起的光截获量下降。     

Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and drought tolerance in a mapping population of winter bread wheat in the highlands of Iran

The usefulness of fluorescence parameters as drought tolerance selection criteria for winter bread wheat in the highlands of Iran was studied. A population of 142 recombinant inbred lines, derived from a cross between two common wheat varieties, Azar2 (winter type) and 87Zhong291 (facultative type), was used to analyze the correlation between grain yield and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters at the grain-filling stage under drought stress and supplementary irrigation conditions during 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 seasons at Maragheh experiment station of the Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI) using a RCBD with three replications. The results showed significant differences among the lines in the grain yield and all fluorescence parameters under rainfed and irrigation conditions. The values of chlorophyll content, F ₀, F _m, F _v, F _v/F _m, LWP, YPEC, NPQ, and PI in the drought-tolerant genotypes were significantly higher than those in drought-sensitive genotypes under drought stress. Significant differences were observed between slope coefficients under drought, but not under supplementary irrigation conditions except NPQ (P = 5%). It was concluded that chlorophyll content, F ₀, F _m, F _v, F _v/F _m, LWP, YPEC, NPQ, and PI could be used as additional indicators in screening wheat germplasm for drought tolerance.     

Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool for evaluation of drought stress in strawberry

The effect of water deficit on chlorophyll fluorescence, sugar content, and growth parameters of strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch. cv. Elsanta) was studied. Drought stress caused significant reductions in leaf water potential, fresh and dry masses, leaf area, and leaf number. A gradual reduction of photochemical quenching (q_P) and quantum efficiency (Φ_PS2) was observed under drought stress while non-photochemical quenching (q_N) increased. Maximum efficiency of photosystem 2 (F_v/F_m) was not affected by drought stress.     

低温胁迫下丛枝菌根真菌对玉米光合特性的影响

利用盆栽试验,在15 ℃和5 ℃低温胁迫下研究了丛枝菌根（AM）真菌对玉米生长、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光和光合作用的影响.结果表明：低温胁迫抑制了AM真菌的侵染;接种AM真菌的玉米地上部和地下部干物质量、相对叶绿素含量高于不接种植株.与非菌根玉米相比,菌根玉米具有较高的最大荧光（F_m）、可变荧光（F_v）、最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）和潜在光化学效率（F_v/F_o）及较低的初始荧光（F_o）,并且在5 ℃处理中差异显著.接种AM真菌使玉米叶片的净光合速率（P_n）和蒸腾速率（T_r）显著增强;低温胁迫下,菌根植株的气孔导度（G_s）显著高于非菌根植株;而胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）显著低于非菌根植株.表明AM真菌可通过提高叶绿素含量及改善叶片叶绿素荧光和光合作用来减轻低温胁迫对玉米植株造成的伤害,提高玉米耐受低温的能力,进而提高玉米的生物量,促进玉米生长.     

Leaf structure and patterns of photoinhibition in two neotropical palms in clearings and forest understory during the dry season

We studied the leaf structural, water status, and fast fluorescence responses of two palms, Socratea exorrhiza and Scheelea zonensis, under natural dry season conditions in a clearing (high light [HL] palms) and the forest understory (low light [LL] palms) on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. HL-Socratea leaves were more shade-adapted, less xeromorphic, and more strongly affected by drought than HL-Scheelea. F_v/F_m (the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence) and t_½ (the half-rise time of F_m) was lower in HL-leaves of both species, indicating photoinhibition. In HL-Scheelea, the light-induced reduction of F_v/F_m was much less than in HL-Socratea, and F_v/F_m recovered completely overnight. Patterns of relative water content, specific leaf dry weight, stable carbon isotope composition, and leaf conductance suggest that increased drought resistance in Scheelea reduces susceptibility to photoinhibition. An increase in F_o indicated the inactivation of PSII reaction centers in HL-Socratea. The very low chlorophyll a/b ratio and alterations in chloroplast ultrastructure in HL-Socratea are consistent with photoinhibition. Under LL, the species showed no appreciable interspecific differences in chlorophyll fluorescence. Excess light leads to low values of F_v/F_m in HL-plants relative to LL-plants on both leaf surfaces, particularly on the lower surface, due to a decrease of F_m in both surfaces and an increase in F., of lower surface. For both species, F_o for the lower surfaces of HL-plants was higher and t_½ was markedly lower than for the upper surface, as is typical for shade-adapted leaves. Xeromorphic leaf structure may reduce susceptibility to photoinhibition during the dry season. Drought-enhanced photoinhibition could limit the ability of some species to exploit treefall gaps.     

Response of photosynthesis to high light and drought for Arabidopsis thaliana grown under a UV-B enhanced light regime

Arabidopsis thaliana grown in a light regime that included ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation (6 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) had similar light-saturated photosynthetic rates but up to 50% lower stomatal conductance rates, as compared to plants grown without UV-B radiation. Growth responses of Arabidopsis to UV-B radiation included lower leaf area (25%) and biomass (10%) and higher UV-B absorbing compounds (30%) and chlorophyll content (52%). Lower stomatal conductance rates for plants grown with UV-B radiation were, in part, due to lower stomatal density on the adaxial surface. Plants grown with UV-B radiation had more capacity to down regulate photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) as shown by up to 25% lower φ_PSII and 30% higher non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence under saturating light. These contributed to a smaller reduction in the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F _v/F _m), greater dark-recovery of F _v/F _m, and higher light-saturated carbon assimilation and stomatal conductance and transpiration rates after a four-hour high light treatment for plants grown with UV-B radiation. Plants grown with UV-B were more tolerant to a 12 day drought treatment than plants grown without UV-B as indicated by two times higher photosynthetic rates and 12% higher relative water content. UV-B-grown plants also had three times higher proline content. Higher tolerance to drought stress for Arabidopsis plants grown under UV-B radiation may be attributed to both increased proline content and decreased stomatal conductance. Growth of Arabidopsis in a UV-B-enhanced light regime increased tolerance to high light exposure and drought stress.     

Physiological and anatomical changes induced by drought in two olive cultivars (cv Zalmati and Chemlali)

Photosynthetic gas exchange, vegetative growth, water relations and fluorescence parameters as well as leaf anatomical characteristics were investigated on young plants of two Olea europaea L. cultivars (Chemlali and Zalmati), submitted to contrasting water availability regimes. Two-year-old olive trees, grown in pots in greenhouse, were not watered for 2 months. Relative growth rate (RGR), leaf water potential (Ψ_LW) and the leaf relative water content (LWC) of the two cultivars decreased with increasing water stress. Zalmati showed higher values of RGR and LWC and lower decreased values of Ψ_LW than Chemlali, in response to water deficit, particularly during severe drought stress. Water stress also caused a marked decline on photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll fluorescence. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (F _v/F _m) and the intrinsic efficiency of open PSII reaction centres (F′ _v/F′ _m) decreased as drought stress developed. In addition, drought conditions, reduced leaf chlorophyll and carotenoids contents especially at severe water stress. However, Zalmati plants were the less affected when compared with Chemlali. In both cultivars, stomatal control was the major factor affecting photosynthesis under moderate drought stress. At severe drought-stress levels, the non-stomatal component of photosynthesis is inhibited and inactivation of the photosystem II occurs. Leaf anatomical parameters show that drought stress resulted in an increase of the upper epidermis and palisade mesophyll thickness as well as an increase of the stomata and trichomes density. These changes were more characteristic in cv. ‘Zalmati’. Zalmati leaves also revealed lower specific leaf area and had higher density of foliar tissue. From the behaviour of Zalmati plants, with a smaller reduction in relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and with a thicker palisade parenchyma, and a higher stomatal and trichome density, we consider this cultivar more drought-tolerant than cv. Chemlali and therefore, very promising for cultivation in arid areas.     

Photosynthetic responses and proline content of mature and young leaves of sunflower plants under water deficit

In mature and young leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Catissol-01) plants grown in the greenhouse, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate declined during water stress independently of leaf age and recovered after 24-h rehydration. The intercellular CO₂ concentration, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and photochemical activity were not affected by water stress. However, non-photochemical quenching increased in mature stressed leaves. Rehydration recovered the levels of non-photochemical quenching and increased the F_v/F_m in young leaves. Drought did not alter the total Chl content. However, the accumulation of proline under drought was dependent on leaf age: higher content of proline was found in young leaves. After 24 h of rehydration the content of proline returned to the same contents as in control plants.