利用叶绿素荧光评估草原植物羊草缺磷缺氮状况北大核心CSCD

羊草(Leymus chinensis)是北方草原的重要牧草。准确评估其营养状况,对维护羊草草原的生产力具有重要意义。以羊草幼苗为材料,利用能同时表征2个光系统光化学活性的叶绿素荧光检测技术,对缺氮和缺磷处理下的叶片光化学活性进行分析。结果表明,缺氮处理20天后羊草叶片叶绿素含量降低近50%。同期缺磷及缺氮处理对PSⅡ功能的影响总体大于PSⅠ。与对照相比,缺氮叶片的Φ(Ⅱ)和Φ(Ⅰ)分别比对照降低了30.3%与38.5%;ETR(Ⅱ)与ETR(Ⅰ)分别降低30.8%和28.9%。缺磷处理组Φ(Ⅱ)和ETR(Ⅱ)的降低幅度约为缺氮的1/2。这些定量研究结果对及时有效地诊断和区分羊草植物氮磷缺乏状况具有重要的参考价值。     

施氮和供水对混播和单播白羊草叶片叶绿素荧光特性的影响

为明确干旱条件下混播和施氮对白羊草〔Bothriochloa ischaemum(Linn.)Keng〕叶片叶绿素荧光参数的影响,采用盆栽法并设置不同混播比例〔白羊草与柳枝稷(Panicum virgatum Linn.)混播比例分别为8:0、6:2、4:4和2:6〕、施氮水平(即不施氮和1kg干土施01g纯氮)和供水条件(即正常供水和干旱胁迫6d后复水),对白羊草叶片叶绿素荧光参数的变化进行比较分析;在此基础上,采用一般线性模型分析这3个因素及其交互作用对白羊草叶绿素荧光参数的影响效应.结果显示:正常供水条件下,各处理组白羊草的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)均无明显变化.干旱及复水条件下,不施氮处理组白羊草的Fv/Fm值在干旱胁迫6 d(即土壤相对含水量最低)时降至最低值,并在复水2 d后恢复至与正常供水条件下相近的水平,而施氮处理组的Fv/Fm值则一直保持与正常供水条件下相近的水平;不论施氮与否,各处理组白羊草的ΦPSⅡ、ETR、qP和NPQ值基本上均表现为在干旱胁迫6 d时达到最高值,并在复水2 d后恢复至正常供水条件下各参数值的90%以上.总体上看,混播白羊草的qP和ETR值均高于单播白羊草,而其NPQ值则低于后者.统计分析结果表明:混播比例、施氮水平和供水条件3个因素间的交互作用对白羊草的ΦPSⅡ、qP和ETR值无显著影响,施氮水平对NPQ值的单独作用、施氮水平和混播比例的交互作用对Fv/Fm值以及施氮水平和供水条件的交互作用对ETR值也无显著影响,但这3个因素的单独作用及两两因素间的交互作用对白羊草其余叶绿素荧光参数均有显著或极显著影响.研究结果表明:一定程度的干旱胁迫有利于提高白羊草叶片PSⅡ反应中心的开放程度、光合电子传递速率和热耗散过剩光能的能力;在干旱胁迫条件下,施氮有助于白羊草叶片维持PSⅡ反应中心的活性和光化学效率;并且,与柳枝稷适度混播可改善白羊草叶片的光合性能,提高其种间竞争适应性.     

光强转换对不同生长环境下桑树叶片光化学效率的影响

以桑树品种‘蒙古桑’为试验材料,利用叶绿素荧光技术研究了光强转换对生长在不同光强下的桑树叶片实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、电子传递速率(ETR)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)的影响,分析了非光化学淬灭(NPQ)3个组分的变化.结果表明:当光强从黑暗或弱光转换到自然光条件下,自然光桑树叶片的光量子转化效率高于弱光叶片,ΦPSⅡ、ETR诱导平衡较快,NPQ诱导呈先升后降趋势.自然光叶片在强光下状态转换淬灭组分(qT)占NPQ的18%,而弱光叶片qT仅占NPQ的7%.与弱光桑树叶片相比,自然光桑树叶片可以通过较高的光量子转化效率和较强的调节激发能在PSⅠ和PSⅡ之间的分配能力来适应光强的变化.     

盐胁迫对鸡爪槭幼苗生长及其叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以鸡爪槭幼苗为材料,采用盆栽方法,研究了不同盐浓度[0.042%(对照)、0.2%、0.4%和0.6%]对鸡爪槭幼苗生长的伤害和叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果显示:当土壤NaCl含量为0.2%、0.4%和0.6%时,鸡爪槭幼苗分别表现为轻度、中度和重度盐害;叶片含水量、叶绿素a和b及叶绿素总含量均随盐浓度的增加而显著下降,花色素苷含量则表现为随盐浓度的增大而显著上升,分别比对照高出48.7%、280.3%和382.7%;叶片叶绿素荧光参数PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、潜在量子效率(Fv/Fm)、光化学量子产量(Yield)、光合电子传递速率(ETR)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学猝灭系数(qP)均随着盐浓度的增大呈显著下降趋势,但非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)在低盐胁迫时则较对照显著提高,0.2%NaCl处理时比对照显著增加33.3%,而高盐胁迫下则显著下降。研究表明,盐胁迫显著抑制了鸡爪槭幼苗叶片叶绿素合成和光合作用进行,而幼苗叶片在低盐胁迫下则可能通过增加PSⅡ反应中心非辐射热能量耗散来保护光合机构不受损害,从而表现出一定的耐盐胁迫能力。     

混播下柳枝稷叶绿素荧光参数及对水氮条件的响应特征

采用盆栽试验,按照白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum)与柳枝稷(Panicum virgatum)株数比设置5个混播比例(0∶8、2∶6、4∶4、6∶2、8∶0),在两种氮肥处理(不施氮和0.1g N·kg-1)下,测定分析柳枝稷叶绿素荧光参数对土壤水分短期自然干旱并复水[土壤含水量从80%FC(田间持水量为20%)逐渐降至20%FC后再复水至80%FC]的响应,以期揭示不同水氮及混播比例下柳枝稷与白羊草竞争关系的生理生态机制。结果显示:(1)随干旱胁迫加剧,柳枝稷最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光化学猝灭(qP)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和表观光合量子传递速率(ETR)逐渐下降,复水后第2天各指标均可恢复到对照水平;(2)两氮肥处理下,单播柳枝稷的ETR显著高于混播,施氮处理下单播的qP显著高于混播,但非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)相反(P0.05),且柳枝稷比例越小各指标降幅越大,表明混播后柳枝稷PSⅡ反应中心活性下降,显示出其对混播竞争的适应;(3)施氮显著提高了柳枝稷的ΦPSⅡ(13.64%~23.53%)和qP(6.12%~11.11%),降低了NPQ值(9.76%~12.82%)(P0.05),表明施氮可提高其光能利用能力,增强其与白羊草的竞争力。研究认为,不同水氮条件下,柳枝稷表现出较强的混播竞争适应性,施氮会提高其对白羊草的生态竞争能力。     

杜鹃花类菌根真菌对桃叶杜鹃幼苗光合性能及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

【目的】研究12株杜鹃花类菌根(Ericoid mycorrhiza,ERM)真菌对2 a生桃叶杜鹃无菌实生幼苗促生效应及叶片叶绿素、光合参数和叶绿素荧光参数的影响。【方法】采用温室盆栽试验,ERM真菌菌株由野生桃叶杜鹃根系分离而得。【结果】表明接种苗侵染率较高。接种处理间在幼苗地上部分、地下部分干重与总生物量指标呈极显著差异(P<0.01)。与不接种对照相比,叶片中叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素含量、叶片净光合速率Pn、叶片气孔导度Gs和叶片蒸腾速率Tr显著提高,而叶片胞间CO2浓度Ci则降低。接种幼苗叶片中实际量子产量ΦPSⅡ除菌株TY19、TY24和TY34低于对照外,其余均显著增加;PSⅡ电子传递速率ETR、PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量Fv/Fm、潜在活性Fv/Fo和光化学淬灭qP均显著提高;非光化学淬灭NPQ除菌株TY29外其它均高于对照,并与对照差异极显著(P<0.01)。ΦPSⅡ与Pn、Gs的相关性大于Fv/Fm、qP、NPQ;ETR与Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、NPQ、Pn、Tr的相关性大于qP和Gs;Pn与Gs的相关性大于Tr,与Ci显著负相关(P<0.01)。【结论】通过接种处理,提高了叶片光合性能及叶绿素荧光参数,增强了植株对有效光的利用,显著增加了幼苗生物量。从综合接种效应来看,TY18、TY29、TY35、TY02、TY07和TY12是培育桃叶杜鹃菌根苗优良备选菌株。     

二硫苏糖醇处理导致大豆叶片两光系统间激发能分配失衡

通过叶绿素荧光技术研究了二硫苏糖醇(1,4-dithiothreitol, DTT)对大豆叶片光系统I(PSI)和光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)间激发能分配的影响.结果显示:DTT处理没有影响叶片最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm),但光下叶绿素荧光降低比率(Rfd)下降;强光下,DTT处理叶片PSⅡ开放反应中心激发能捕获效率(Fv′/Fm′)比对照高30%～40%;分配给PSⅠ的激发能比对照叶片低约30%,分配给PSⅡ的激发能比对照叶片高20%左右,激发能分配严重偏离平衡状态;DTT处理叶片PSⅡ的激发能压力(1-qP)较对照高,但非光化学猝灭(qN)明显比对照低;进一步的实验揭示DTT的引入抑制了玉米黄质(Z)的生成和状态转换(qT).据此,推测DTT可能通过抑制天线色素的调节能力导致两光系统间激发能分配失衡.     

外源水杨酸对黄瓜幼苗叶片PSⅡ活性和光能分配的影响

以黄瓜品种‘中农203号’幼苗为试材,采用水培法研究了根际施用0.05、0.10和0.50 mmol/L水杨酸对黄瓜幼苗叶片PSⅡ活性和光能分配的影响,以探讨水杨酸对光合作用的调节机制。结果显示:黄瓜幼苗叶片净光合速率(Pn)、荧光参数和光能分配对水杨酸的响应存在明显的浓度依赖性。0.05和0.10 mmol/L水杨酸处理提高了叶片PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/F0)、电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学猝灭系数(qP),降低了非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ),使PSⅡ吸收光能中分配于光化学反应的能量增加,进而提高了Pn,并以0.10 mmol/L水杨酸施用效果最明显,差异达极显著水平(P<0.01);而0.50 mmol/L水杨酸处理降低了ΦPSⅡ、Fv/Fm等,使光能分配于热耗散和荧光耗散的比例升高,导致Pn下降。研究表明,水杨酸对黄瓜叶片光合的正负调节作用与浓度依存下的PSⅡ活性和光能分配改变有关。     

复苏被子植物牛耳草脱水和复水期间叶黄素循环的保护作用

研究了复苏被子植物牛耳草(Boea hygrometrica (Bunge) R.Br.)离体叶片在微弱光强下(3 μmol photons*m-2*s-1)和黑暗中叶黄素循环组分及叶绿素荧光随脱水复水的变化.结果发现:脱水期间随着光系统Ⅱ光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、实际量子产率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭(qP)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)值的降低,微弱光强下的对照叶片玉米黄素含量显著增加,而微弱光强下DTT处理的叶片和黑暗中的叶片都没有玉米黄素的积累.经过3 d复水后,微弱光强下对照叶片的Fv/Fm, ΦPSⅡ, qP 和 NPQ值能完全恢复,但是微弱光强下DTT处理的叶片和黑暗中的叶片其Fv/Fm、ΦPSⅡ、qP 和 NPQ值只有部分恢复.说明脱水的牛耳草离体叶片光系统Ⅱ的光化学活性的恢复明显受到DTT处理和黑暗的影响,因此玉米黄素可能对微弱光强下脱水的牛耳草叶片具有重要的保护作用.     

单半乳糖甘油二脂缺失对烟草光合特性的影响

以单半乳糖甘油二脂(MGDG)相对含量比野生烟草显著降低的突变体(M18)及野生型烟草为材料,通过对转基因烟草叶绿体类囊体膜的低温荧光、放氧活性以及叶片的叶绿素荧光分析,研究MGDG部分缺失对烟草叶片光合特性的影响。结果表明,在低温下(77K)MGDG部分缺失并不影响烟草叶绿素荧光发射峰(F683和F730)的位置,但使光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)及光系统Ⅰ(PSⅠ)的荧光发射峰的强度减弱,F683/F730比值降低,直接影响激发能在PSⅡ和PSⅠ之间的均衡分配,使叶绿素a和叶绿素b之间的能量传递受阻,降低光能转化效率;MGDG部分缺失使PSⅡ放氧活性下降了72.9%;转基因烟草叶绿素荧光参数中最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、暗适应最大荧光(Fm)、实际光化学效率(Yield)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)比野生型烟草分别降低了7%、49%、32%和18%,并以Fm降幅最大。研究证明,MGDG在维持植物叶绿体类囊体膜的功能,特别是PSⅡ的功能方面起着重要的作用。     

光系统II实际光化学量子效率对光的响应模型的比较

为了比较光系统II实际光化学量子效率(Φ_PSII)对光的响应机理模型(简称机理模型)、负指数模型和指数模型的优缺点, 用LI-6400-40B光合作用测定仪控制CO₂浓度和温度, 测量了剑叶金鸡菊(Coreopsis lanceolata)、黄荆(Vitex negundo)和大狼杷草(Bidens frondosa)的电子传递速率(ETR)对光的响应曲线(ETR-I)和Φ_PSII对光的响应曲线(Φ_PSII-I), 然后用这3个模型分别拟合了这些数据。拟合结果表明: 3个模型都可以较好地拟合这3种植物的ETR-I的响应数据和Φ_PSII-I的响应数据, 但由指数模型拟合ETR-I和Φ_PSII-I的响应数据得到相应的饱和光强(PAR_sat)和光系统II最大光能利用效率(F_v/F_m)之间存在显著差异, 且估算的饱和光强远低于实测值。由机理模型可知, Φ_PSII不仅与光强的函数有关, 还与植物的内禀特性有关, 即与天线色素分子的本征光能吸收截面、激子的传递效率、能级的简并度、光化学反应常数、热耗散常数和处于最低激发态的平均寿命等参数有关。此外, 由机理模型还可知, Φ_PSII随光强的增加而下降的原因是捕光色素分子的有效光能吸收截面随光强增加而降低。     

Effects of nitrogen addition on photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis in the temperate grassland of Nei Mongol,China

Aims The increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition due to human activity and climate change greatly causes grassland ecosystems shifting from being naturally N-limited to N-eutrophic or N-saturated, and further affecting the growth of grass species. The aims of this study are: 1) to evaluate the effects of different N addition levels on morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis; 2) to determine the critical N level to facilitate L. chinensis growth.
Methods We conducted a different N addition levels experiment in dominant species in the temperate steppe of Nei Mongol. The aboveground biomass, morphological and leaf physiological traits, pigment contents, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and biochemical parameters of L. chinensis were investigated.
Important findings Our results showed that aboveground biomass first increased and then decreased with the increased N, having the highest values at the 10 g N·m^-2·a^?1 treatment, but the 25 g N·m^-2·a^?1 still significantly increased the aboveground biomass relative to 0 g N·m^-2·a^?1. Leymus chinensis accommodate low N situation through allocating less N to carboxylation system and decreasing leaf mass per area (LMA) in order to get more light energy. Moderate N addition captured more light energy through increasing total chlorophyll (Chl) contents and decreasing the ratio of Chl a/b. Moderate N addition increased LMA, carboxylation efficiency, maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax), maximum electron transport rate (J_max) and decreased J_max/V_cmax, thus allocating more N to carboxylation system to enhance carboxylation capability. Moreover, the photochemical activity of PSII was increased through higher effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, electron transport rate and photochemical quenching coefficient. Excessive N addition had negative effects on physiological variables of L. chinensis due to lower carboxylation capability and photochemical activity of PSII, further leading to decreased net photosynthetic rate, whereas increased non-photochemical quenching coefficient and carotenoids played the role in the dissipation of excess excitation energy. Overall, moderate N addition facilitated the photosynthetic characteristics of dominant species, but excessive N addition inhibited photosynthetic characteristics. The most appropriate N addition for the growth of L. chinensis was 5-10 g N·m^-2·a^?1 in the temperate steppe of Nei Mongol, China.     

黑沙蒿光合能量分配组分在生长季的相对变化与调控机制

为了探明典型荒漠灌木优势物种黑沙蒿(俗名油蒿, Artemisia ordosica)光合过程能量中分配对环境波动的相对变化及其长期调节机制, 该研究于2018年4-10月在宁夏盐池毛乌素沙地, 同时使用MONITORING-PAM多通道荧光监测仪和LI-6400XT便携式光合测量仪对黑沙蒿叶片的最小荧光产量(F_o)、最大荧光产量(F_m)、稳态荧光产量(F_s)、光下最大荧光产量(F_m′)、净光合速率(P_n)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)、蒸腾速率(E)和叶片气孔导度(g_s)进行现场测定, 在实验室内计算比叶面积(SLA)、单位面积氮含量(N_area)、叶绿素含量(C_Chl)和叶绿素a/b (Chl a/b), 分析黑沙蒿光合过程能量分配中固碳耗能占比(Φ_A)、光呼吸耗能占比(Φ_PR)、调节性热耗散耗能占比(Φ_NPQ)和非调节性热耗散耗能占比(Φ_NO)与环境参数和叶性状参数之间的关系以及能量分配各组分之间的相对变化。结果表明, 光化学反应组分(Φ_A、Φ_PR)和热耗散组分(Φ_NPQ、Φ_NO)之间呈负相关竞争关系, 两组分内部呈正相关协同关系, E和Φ_A、Φ_PR正相关, 和Φ_NPQ、Φ_NO负相关。在低土壤含水量(SWC)和高饱和水汽压差(VPD)环境条件下, 黑沙蒿Φ_A、Φ_PR和SLA显著降低, Φ_NPQ和Φ_NO显著增加。研究认为, 在长期干旱或高蒸散条件下, 黑沙蒿通过降低SLA等途径避免水分的过度流失, 同时将部分过剩光能由光呼吸代谢途径转移到热耗散组分进行耗散。波动环境下黑沙蒿形态性状的变异和光合过程能量分配的长期调节机制, 反映了其利用形态与生理的协同可塑性对逆境的适应。     

不同水氮梯度下典型挺水植物叶绿素荧光的响应特性

叶绿素荧光测量分析可以揭示植物叶片光化学效率的变化,已越来越多地应用于植物生态监测。以再生水为主要补给水源的北京门城湖湿地公园为研究区,选取典型湿地挺水植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)、香蒲(Typha angustifolia)和茭白(Zizania latifolia)为研究对象,通过野外测量叶片尺度的叶绿素荧光参数和室内测定对应样点的水体总氮含量指标,研究了再生水补给条件下,不同水氮梯度植物叶绿素荧光的响应特性。结果表明,3种典型挺水植物的初始荧光(Fo)与最大荧光(Fm)随着水体总氮含量的增加呈现上升的趋势;PSII的量子效率(F_v/F_m)与实际量子效率(ΦPSII)受水氮含量的影响先升高,达到15–20 mg·L~(–1)区间时,则与之持平;光化学淬灭(qP)参数则呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势,而非光化学淬灭(NPQ)参数的变化没有明显的规律。当水氮含量为15–20 mg·L~(–1)时,光化学反应减弱,光合作用出现抑制。不同类型植物的荧光参数也有所不同,处于生长期(6月)植物的光合作用显著强于生长成熟期(9月)。     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对绿色巴夫藻的生长毒性和干扰效应

采用批次培养的方法研究了邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)对绿色巴夫藻(Pavlova viridis)的生长毒性和干扰效应。实验设置了0 mg·L^-1、2.5 mg·L^-1、3.0 mg·L^-1、3.5 mg·L^-1、4.0 mg·L^-1、5.0 mg·L^-1和7.5 mg·L^-1 共7个质量浓度梯度的DBP暴露处理组,测定了绿色巴夫藻的细胞密度、光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光特性及丙二醛(MDA)含量等指标,试图揭示DBP对绿色巴夫藻的生态毒性影响规律及机制。结果表明:DBP暴露对绿色巴夫藻的生长具有显著抑制作用,高质量浓度(5.0 mg·L^-1和7.5 mg·L^-1)DBP暴露下绿色巴夫藻细胞10 d内全部死亡;随着DBP暴露质量浓度增加,藻细胞叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量均显著降低;DBP暴露使光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的最大光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)、潜在光化学活性(F_v/F_o)、实际光能转化效率(Yield)和光合电子传递速率(ETR)等指标也显著降低;DBP暴露还能够使绿色巴夫藻的细胞MDA含量显著增加。该研究进一步证实了DBP污染物对微藻光系统和酶类生理生化过程的干扰作用。     

根区缓冲降温处理对葡萄叶片冻害的影响

为探索根区降温条件对葡萄(Vitis vinifera)叶片冻害的影响,以1年生美乐葡萄(V.vinifera cv.‘Merlot’)幼苗为试材,设置根区正常降温和缓冲降温2种降温条件,人工模拟霜冻,分析了叶片冻害指数和叶片的荧光参数。结果表明,根区正常降温会导致根系受冻,同时叶片发生严重的冻害,冻害指数达74.36%;根区缓冲降温使根区温度保持在0°C以上,叶片冻害指数降低53.29%,仅有21.07%的叶片遭受了冻害。根区缓冲降温处理能有效提高叶片霜冻恢复过程中光化学淬灭系数(qP)和天线色素转化效率(F_v~'/F_m~'),加快PSII光合电子传递量子效率(Φ_(PSII))的恢复,提高热耗散能力(NPQ),减轻霜冻后的光抑制(F_v/F_m),有利于叶片霜冻后的恢复。     

Effects of shading on photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla

Aims The objectives were to investigate the effects of different light intensities on photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, to clarify the physiological responses and photo-protective mechanisms of Hydrangea macrophylla to changes in light regimes in view of the distribution of energy absorbed and photosynthetic characteristics.Methods Three light regimes including natural and shade (shading rate 50% and 75% of natural light) were applied to plants for 60 days. After the treatment, the gas-exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and photosynthesis-light curves were measured by a portable leaf gas exchange system (LI-6400).Important findings The results showed that the weak light intensity treatment reduced dark respiration rate, light compensation point and light saturation point of plant, but increased apparent quantum yield, suggesting that plants had the physiological strategy to utilize the weakening light by reducing respiration. The net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate and water use efficiency of plants grown below 50% of natural light showed significant difference compared with natural and shading rate 75% of natural light. There were significant difference between natural and shade treatments in the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), as indicated that it was significantly less at full light than that at 50% of natural light. Initial fluorescence intensity (F_o) of plants was higher at full light than that at 50% of natural light, suggesting that photoinhibition occurred in natural light. The non-photochemical quenching (NQP) decreased with the aggravation of shade stress, indicating that shading decreased the efficiency of photochemical reaction by reducing the fraction of incident light in photochemical energy utilization and decreased thermal dissipation through regulating energy distribution in photosystem II (PSII) in the leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla. In general, the 70% of incident light in photochemical energy utilization was distributed to thermal dissipation, 20% was distributed to non-regulated energy dissipation and 4% was distributed to effective photochemical reaction. In conclusion, responses of plants to increased irradiance are governed by strategy: to utilize a high fraction of incident light in photochemistry and regulate energy dissipation in PSII and weaken the accumulation of excess excitation energy in PSII to protect the photosynthetic apparatus in the leaves of H. macrophylla under saturated radiation.     

Phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation of quantitative traits in genotypes of Leymus chinensis

Aims Adaptation mechanisms of plants to environment can be classified as genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity (environmental modification). The strategy and mechanism of plant adaptation is a hot topic in the field of evolutionary ecology. Leymus chinensis is one of constructive species in the Nei Mongol grassland. Particularly, Leymus chinensis is a rhizomatous and clonally reproductive grass, a genotype that can play an important role in the community. In this study, we aimed to (1) investigate the phenotypic plasticity of L. chinensis under different conditions, and (2) test the genetic differentiation and reaction norms (the relationship between the environment and the phenotype of an individual or a group of individuals) under four environmental conditions among different genotypes of L. chinensis. Methods Ten genotypes of L. chinensis were randomly selected. Under the control condition, we studied the effects of genotype, defoliation, drought and their interactions on 11 quantitative traits of growth (8 traits including photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, maximum net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, specific leaf area, relative growth rate, the number of tillers increased, aboveground and underground biomass growth), defense (total phenol concentration of leaf) and tolerance (non-structural carbohydrate content of root, root/shoot ratio) of L. chinensis. We studied the phenotypic plasticity, genetic differentiation and reaction norms mainly through tested the effect of environment and genotype on these traits. Important findings First, all 11 traits showed obvious phenotypic plasticity (i.e., significant effect of drought, defoliation and their interactions). The expression of 10 genotypes of L. chinensis was divergent under different environmental conditions. Interactions of genotype and environment significantly affected the maximum net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, specific leaf area, relative growth rate, total phenolic concentration of leaf, and total non-structural carbohydrate content of root. This indicated that the phenotypic plasticity of these five traits exhibited genetic differentiation. Second, the increase of number of tillers, belowground biomass and non-structural carbohydrate content of root did not show genetic differentiation under the same condition. The other eight traits showed significantly genetic differentiation, and the heritabilities (H²) of six traits related to growth were higher than 0.5. The leaf total phenol concentration and root/shoot ratio showed genetically differentiation only under the drought and defoliation condition, with the heritabilities being 0.145 and 0.201, respectively. These results explained why L. chinensis widely distributed in the Nei Mongol grassland, and provided genetic and environmental basis for related application and species conservation in this grassland ecosystem.     

Response of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Dunaliella salina (Green Algae) to Irradiance Stress

The response of the photosynthetic apparatus in the green alga Dunaliella salina, to irradiance stress was investigated. Cells were grown under physiological conditions at 500 millimoles per square meter per second (control) and under irradiance-stress conditions at 1700 millimoles per square meter per second incident intensity (high light, HL). In control cells, the light-harvesting antenna of photosystem I (PSI) contained 210 chlorophyll a/b molecules. It was reduced to 105 chlorophyll a/b in HL-grown cells. In control cells, the dominant form of photosystem II (PSII) was PSII_α(about 63% of the total PSII) containing >250 chlorophyll a/b molecules. The smaller antenna size PSII_β centers (about 37% of PSII) contained 135 ± 10 chlorophyll a/b molecules. In sharp contrast, the dominant form of PSII in HL-grown cells accounted for about 95% of all PSII centers and had an antenna size of only about 60 chlorophyll a molecules. This newly identified PSII unit is termed PSII_γ. The HL-grown cells showed a substantially elevated PSII/PSI stoichiometry ratio in their thylakoid membranes (PSII/PSI = 3.0/1.0) compared to that of control cells (PSII/PSI = 1.4/1.0). The steady state irradiance stress created a chronic photoinhibition condition in which D. salina thylakoids accumulate an excess of photochemically inactive PSII units. These PSII units contain both the reaction center proteins and the core chlorophyll-protein antenna complex but cannot perform a photochemical charge separation. The results are discussed in terms of regulatory mechanism(s) in the plant cell whose function is to alleviate the adverse effect of irradiance stress.     

Relationship between tomato fruit growth and fruit osmotic potential under salinity

To investigate the relationship between fruit growth and fruit osmotic potential (Ψ_s) in salty conditions, a sensitive tomato cultivar (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and a tolerant accession of the wild species Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium Mill. were grown in a greenhouse with 0 and 70 mM NaCl, and the growth of the fruit studied from 15 to 70 days after anthesis (DAA). L. pimpinellifolium did not reduce significantly fruit weight in salty conditions throughout the growth period, whereas L. esculentum fruit weights decreased significantly with salinity from 45 DAA. L. esculentum fruit fresh weight reductions resulted from both less dry matter and water accumulation, although the fruit water content was affected by salinity before the fruit weight. In both species, fruit osmotic potential (Ψ_s) decreased significantly with salinity during the rapid fruit growth phase, although the changes were different. Thus, fruits from L. pimpinellifolium salt treated plants showed a Ψ_s reduction at the beginning (15 DAA) twice as high as that found in L. esculentum. As the advanced growth stage (from 15 to 55 DAA), the Ψ_s reduction percentages induced by salinity were quite similar in L. pimpinellifolium fruits, while increased in L. esculentum. Under saline conditions, the solutes contributing to reduce the fruit Ψ_s during the first 55 DAA were the inorganic solutes in both species, while in the ripe fruits they were hexoses. L. esculentum fruits accumulated K⁺ as the main osmoticum in salty conditions, while L. pimpinellifolium fruits were able to use not only K⁺ but also the Na⁺ provided by the salt.