土壤水分与短期遮光对棉花光合及其气孔响应的影响

以陆地棉（Ｇｏｓｓｙｐｉｕｍ ｈｉｒｓｕｔｕｍ Ｌ．Ｚｈｏｎｇｍａｉｎ,Ｎｏ２３）为供试材料,探讨了在充分供水－水分胁迫－复水的处理过程中,短期不同遮光水平对棉花光合特性及其气孔响应的影响。结果表明,在水分处理过程中,所有不同遮光水平的棉花叶片对短期遮光具有相似的基本响应规律;短期遮光使净光合速率迅速降低,气孔导度减少,但减少速率缓慢;遮阳网去掉后,叶片气 重新开放速率和光合恢复被延迟,水分胁迫期     

Stomatal and photosynthetic responses during sun/shade transitions in subalpine plants: influence on water use efficiency

Summary Different response patterns in net photosynthesis (A) leaf conductance (g) and water use efficiency (WUE= a/transpiration) in three subalpine plants occurred during experimental sun/shade transitions that simulated natural cloudcover. In Frasera speciosa Dougl., a large-leaved herb characteristic of open sites, g was relatively insensitive to transitions in irradiance and variations in A. However, large decreases in leaf temperature resulted in reduced transpiration during shade intervals and relatively constant WUE throughout the experimental sun/shade regime. In the understory herb, Arnica cordifolia Hook., patterns of A and g were similar during sun/shade transitions, but WUE was substantially reduced compared to steady-state levels. A third, somewhat intermediate pattern of A, g, and WUE was found in Artemisia tridentata L., an open site shrub. Higher intercellular CO₂ values in A. tridentata suggested that internal, cellular limitations to A were high relative to stomatal limitations in this shrub when compared to the herbaceous species.     

Drought tolerance in the alpine dandelion, Taraxacum ceratophorum (Asteraceae), its exotic congener T. officinale, and interspecific hybrids under natural and experimental conditions

We compared water relations and adaptations to drought stress in native and invasive exotic dandelions, Taraxacum ceratophorum and T. officinale. Photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), and water use efficiency (WUE; carbon gained/water lost) were measured for the two species under extreme drought in the alpine tundra of Colorado, USA. We also subjected both species and F(1) hybrids to a dry-down experiment to determine how relative physiological performance varied with water availability. Photosynthesis and transpiration in the field were low and did not differ between Taraxacum congeners; however, native T. ceratophorum had higher WUE than T. officinale. After 6 days of greenhouse drought, photosynthesis and transpiration were reduced in T. officinale compared to T. ceratophorum. Taraxacum ceratophorum maintained high WUE under control and drought treatments. Conversely, WUE in T. officinale was highly plastic between watered (low WUE) and dry-down (high WUE) treatments. Hybrids did not exhibit heterosis; instead, they were similar to T. officinale in A and E and intermediate to the parental species in WUE. Overall, results suggest that native dandelions are more drought tolerant than invasive congeners or their hybrids, but have less plasticity in WUE. Arid habitats and occasional drought in mesic sites may provide native dandelions with refugia from negative interactions with invasives.     

不同荫蔽栽培下亏缺灌溉对干热区小粒咖啡水光利用和产量的影响

干热区小粒咖啡水光管理粗放,产量和品质得不到保证.为探明干热区小粒咖啡最佳灌水和荫蔽栽培耦合模式,通过大田试验,设3个灌水水平(充分灌水、轻度亏缺灌水和重度亏缺灌水)和4个荫蔽栽培模式(无荫蔽:单作咖啡;轻度荫蔽:4行咖啡间作1行香蕉;中度荫蔽:3行咖啡间作1行香蕉;重度荫蔽:2行咖啡间作1行香蕉),研究香蕉荫蔽栽培下亏缺灌溉对小粒咖啡生长、叶片光合特性、水光利用和产量的影响.结果表明: 小粒咖啡叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(g_s)、叶片水分利用效率(LWUE)、叶片表观光能利用效率(LRUE)随灌水量的增大而增大,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)随灌水量的增大而减小;与充分灌水相比,轻度亏缺灌水的干豆产量减小9.4%,重度亏缺灌水的干豆产量减小36.7%,水分利用效率(WUE)减小16.9%.P_n、T_r、g_s、LWUE随荫蔽度的增大呈先增大后减小的趋势,中度荫蔽栽培的增量最大;与无荫蔽模式相比,轻度荫蔽模式干豆产量增加13.0%,WUE增加12.9%,中度荫蔽栽培模式干豆产量增加23.1%,WUE增加23.4%.干豆产量、WUE、百粒咖啡豆的体积和百粒鲜质量随灌水量和荫蔽度的增大呈不同程度增大,其中,中度荫蔽栽培下充分灌水的干豆产量和WUE增量最大.相同土层深度的土壤含水率随荫蔽度的增加而减小;在0~50 cm土层,土壤含水率随土层深度的增加先增大后减小.LRUE与光合有效辐射呈显著的负指数关系或符合Logistic曲线变化.因此,从优质高产、水光高效利用的综合效益考虑,中度荫蔽栽培下充分灌水是小粒咖啡灌水处理和香蕉荫蔽栽培模式的最佳组合.     

银杏幼苗雌雄株对盐胁迫响应的差别

采用对盆栽银杏(Ginkgo biloba)雌雄幼苗浇灌NaCl(40?mmol L-1)溶液模拟土壤受盐胁迫的方法,研究银杏雌雄幼苗气体交换特征、内在水分利用效率(WUE)、游离脯氨酸含量(Pro)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及过氧化物酶(POD)活性在盐胁迫下的差异.结果表明:(1)盐胁迫后雌株的净光合速率、气孔导度以及蒸腾速率与对照相比分别降低45.87%、25.00%、16.47%,而雄株的气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和蒸腾速率分别升高了10.00%、8.10%、22.95%;(2)盐胁迫显著降低了银杏幼苗的WUE(P=0.020),与对照下相比,雌、雄WUE分别下降30.47%、46.38%;(3)盐胁迫显著提高了雄株的游离Pro含量,但对雌株影响不显著;(4)盐胁迫使银杏雌、雄幼苗SOD活性分别降低了22.96%、23.18%,但下降幅度均不显著.然而盐胁迫会显著降低雌株的POD活性,但对雄株无显著影响.上述结果同时表明,40?mmol L-1的NaCl溶液不仅会降低银杏雌雄幼苗的光合速率,影响气体交换,还会降低WUE、SOD及POD等酶活性,提高游离Pro含量,但雌株受到的负面效应小于雄株.与雄株相比,雌株在盐胁迫下能通过维持较高的光合速率贮藏能量,较低的蒸腾速率和较高的内在水分利用效率以减少水分散失,以及较高的抗氧化物酶活性来缓解盐胁迫带来的氧化胁迫,使其受到的负面影响减小.     

巨桉与5种木本植物幼树的耗水特性及水分利用效率的比较

巨桉因生长迅速且经济效益高,在我国南方被广泛用于营造短周期工业原料林,但其蒸腾耗水状况与其他常见或乡土树种存在怎样的差异,大面积种植是否会改变栽培区原有的水分平衡,是一个尚未明确的问题。利用LI-6400光合作用仪测定了巨桉与其他5种木本植物在不同光强、温度、湿度下的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和水分利用效率(WUE),用称重法测定了参试植物载叶量、生物量和耗水量,并对这些树种的蒸腾耗水特性进行了评价。结果表明:(1)相同环境条件下,巨桉的Tr最大,WUE最低,单位质量耗水量最多,单株蒸腾耗水量远高于其他树种,其明显较大的叶面积可能是重要原因之一,虽然其Pn仅次于杨树,生物量积累最大,因此为高光合、高蒸腾、低水分利用效率植物。(2)阔叶树种的Pn和Tr明显高于针叶树种,而WUE低于针叶树种。(3)环境因子(光照强度、温度和湿度)对植物Pn、Tr和WUE的影响较大,其中Pn主要受光照强度影响,Tr对湿度最为敏感,一般情况下WUE随湿度的增大而升高。在试验设置的温度范围(24—32℃)内,光合作用变化幅度不大。光照强度800μmol.m-.2s-1和温度28℃最有利于参试植物的光合作用。(4)巨桉等速生树种较强的光合作用使其生长迅速,固碳潜力大,但其高蒸腾和低水分利用效率的特点意味着在栽培区替代原有植被进行大规模造林时,可能会消耗更多的水资源而对生态环境造成一定的不利影响,因此在发展巨桉人工林时应选择水分条件好的区域(尤其是年降雨量充沛且季节间分配相对均匀的地区),并进行科学的经营管理。     

Enhanced transpiration rate in the high pigment 1 tomato mutant and its physiological significance

Tomato high pigment (hp) mutants represent an interesting horticultural resource due to their enhanced accumulation of carotenoids, flavonoids and vitamin C. Since hp mutants are known for their exaggerated light responses, the molecules accumulated are likely to be antioxidants, recruited to deal with light and others stresses. Further phenotypes displayed by hp mutations are reduced growth and an apparent disturbance in water loss. Here, we examined the impact of the hp1 mutation and its near isogenic line cv Micro-Tom (MT) on stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), CO(2) assimilation (A) and water use efficiency (WUE). Detached hp1 leaves lost water more rapidly than control leaves, but this behaviour was reversed by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), indicating the ability of hp1 to respond to this hormone. Although attached hp1 leaves had enhanced gs, E and A compared to control leaves, genotypic differences were lost when water was withheld. Both instantaneous leaf-level WUE and long-term whole plant WUE did not differ between hp1 and MT. Our results indicate a link between exaggerated light response and water loss in hp1, which has important implications for the use of this mutant in both basic and horticultural research.     

土壤水分状况及环境条件对水稻蒸腾的影响

在南方红壤区用田间测坑试验,研究了高、中、低3种土壤水分条件下的早、晚稻蒸腾速率和水分利用效率的变化,蒸腾日变化结果表明,蒸腾速率受许多田间小气候因子的影响,相关分析及多元逐步回归分析表明,叶片与空气相对湿度差和叶面温度对水稻叶片蒸腾影响最大,处理B（中等土壤水分条件）可以明显提高叶片水利用率和产是,处理C提高了叶片水分利用效率,却导致晚稻减产,早稻中、低土壤水分条件可以减小叶片蒸腾速率,而晚稻上并不能明显减少叶片蒸腾。     

Genotypic variation in transpiration of coppiced poplar during the third rotation of a short‐rotation bio‐energy culture

The productivity of short‐rotation coppice (SRC) plantations with poplar (Populus spp.) strongly depends on soil water availability, which limits the future development of its cultivation, and makes the study of the transpirational water loss particularly timely under the ongoing climate change (more frequent drought and floods). This study assesses the transpiration at different scales (leaf, tree and stand) of four poplar genotypes belonging to different species and from a different genetic background grown under an SRC regime. Measurements were performed for an entire growing season during the third year of the third rotation in a commercial scale multigenotype SRC plantation in Flanders (Belgium). Measurements at leaf level were performed on specific days with a contrasted evaporative demand, temperature and incoming shortwave radiation and included stomatal conductance, stem and leaf water potential. Leaf transpiration and leaf hydraulic conductance were obtained from these measurements. To determine the transpiration at the tree level, single‐stem sap flow using the stem heat balance (SHB) method and daily stem diameter variations were measured during the entire growing season. Sap flow‐based canopy transpiration (E_c), seasonal dry biomass yield, and water use efficiency (WUE; g aboveground dry matter/kg water transpired) of the four poplar genotypes were also calculated. The genotypes had contrasting physiological responses to environmental drivers and to soil conditions. Sap flow was tightly linked to the phenological stage of the trees and to the environmental variables (photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit). The total E_c for the 2016 growing season was of 334, 350, 483 and 618 mm for the four poplar genotypes, Bakan, Koster, Oudenberg and Grimminge, respectively. The differences in physiological traits and in transpiration of the four genotypes resulted in different responses of WUE.     

辽东楤木光合和蒸腾作用对光照和土壤水分的响应过程

应用CIRAS-2型便携式光合作用系统,测定了不同土壤含水量下辽东楤木光合作用与蒸腾作用的光响应过程,探讨了辽东楤木对光照环境和土壤水分的适应性.结果表明:辽东楤木的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和叶片水分利用效率(WUE)对光量子通量密度(PFD)的响应过程不同;在强光范围内(PFD 800～1 800 μmol·m^-2·s^-1),随着光强增加,辽东楤木的P_n变化较小,而T_r逐渐减小,WUE明显提高.辽东楤木的光饱和点(LSP)和光补偿点(LCP)分别在800和30 μmol·m^-2·s^-1左右,且受土壤含水量变化的影响较小;但其光合量子效率(Ф)和暗呼吸速率(R_d)受土壤含水量变化的影响较大.辽东楤木的P_n和WUE对土壤含水量的变化有明显的阈值响应,其高效用水的土壤相对含水量(RWC)在44％～79％;在此范围内,辽东楤木能同时获得较高的光合速率和水分利用效率.     

Photosynthetic and stomatal responses of Avena sativa (poaceae) to a variable light environment

The net photosynthetic (A), stomatal conductance to water vapor (g), water use efficiency (WUE = A/transpiration), and leaf water potential (ψ) responses of cultivated oats (A vena saliva) were determined under an experimental regime of alternating full sun (photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD > 1,700 μmol · m^-2-sec^-1) and shade (300-400 μmol · m^-2 · sec^-1 PPFD). Less extensive measurements were made on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) to test the generality of crop species' responses. The rates of stomatal opening/closing after changes in PPFD in A vena and Triticum were compared with previously determined rates for native grasses and forbs to assess how domestication might have altered stomatal dynamics. Characteristics of Avena under alternating sun and shade were 1) rapid fluctuations in A between full sun (~27 μmol · m^-2 · sec^-1) and shade rates (~12 -13 μmol · m ²sec ¹); 2) slower changes in g, causing progressive stomatal closure during the measurement sequence and possible stomatal limitation of A; 3) no change in leaf ψ; and 4) a net reduction in WUE. Triticum had similar sun/shade A, g, and WUE dynamics, except that Triticum stomata returned to full-sun g between shade periods. The rates of change of g in Avena and Triticum were lower than for some desert and subalpine native species, but were similar to rates for species in adjoining native habitat. The basic stomatal dynamics of Avena and Triticum may typify many cultivated C, species, and these data indicate that crop stomatal behavior has not diverged significantly from that of native species.     

夜间低温对2种桉树幼苗光合特性的影响

以人工气候箱模拟夜间低温处理尾叶桉和邓恩桉幼苗,研究其对2种桉树的光合特性和叶绿体超微结构的影响.结果表明:夜间低温使尾叶桉和邓恩桉的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率均降低;胞间CO2浓度和气孔限制值升高;2种桉树幼苗的水分利用率变化有一定的差异,邓恩桉的水分利用率随低温胁迫升高,而尾叶桉的水分利用率则先升高然后下降;同时,低温胁迫下尾叶桉和邓恩桉气孔导度与净光合速率和蒸腾速率均呈明显的线性关系.夜间低温导致2种桉树叶绿体肿胀变形,淀粉粒降解,对尾叶桉的影响要比邓恩桉的影响大.     

岩溶石漠化治理优良先锋植物种类光合、蒸腾及水分利用效率的初步研究

针对西南岩溶石漠化地区干旱缺水的特点,采用Li-6400对其先锋树种任豆、金银花、狗骨木的光合、蒸腾及水分利用效率等特征进行分析,以揭示先锋树种利用水分生理生态学特征,从而提出植被恢复的对策。光响应模拟结果表明金银花和狗骨木符合Walker的非直线双曲线模型。蒸腾临界值狗骨木(幼树期)最小,金银花次之,任豆树较大,说明阳性树种任豆具有较大的蒸腾拉力,能够从土壤提取更多的水分,以减少岩溶石漠化地区强光引起的高温灼伤。任豆树、金银花、狗骨木具有同地带干性或沙漠优势植物的光合速率特征。任豆树有较耐受强光的能力,这与其在石漠化地区总是能够成为优势层片优势种的地位相符。三种植物光有效辐射与叶片蒸腾的呈极显著的线性关系;任豆树的蒸腾作用受气孔调节明显;狗骨木有较高的水分利用效率。上午9点左右和下午5∶00~6∶00是这些石漠化地区植物水分利用最高时间段。可以说这三种植物具有适应石漠化地区干旱和高温的生理生态学适应特征和避旱避高温策略,并保持旺盛的生物生产力。从植物固定碳水化合物效率并提高水分利用效率而言,三种植物套种,任豆树能够对藤灌植物适当遮荫,对加速狗骨木生长,提高金银花的产量将具有较好的效益。     

贝加尔针茅不同枝条叶片蒸腾特性与水分利用效率对瞬时CO_2和光照变化的响应

利用人工光源测量了不同 CO2 浓度条件下贝加尔针茅 (Stipa bacailensis)营养枝条与生殖枝条叶片的净光合速率 (PN)、蒸腾速率 (E)、气孔导度 (gs)、胞间 CO2 浓度 (Ci)及叶面饱和蒸气压亏缺 (VPD)。营养枝与生殖枝 PN 及 E均随 CO2 浓度升高而增大 ,但 PN 增加幅度较大 ,E增加幅度较小。在高 CO2 浓度 (14 0 0 μmol/m ol)条件下 ,营养枝叶片最大 PN(2 7.2 3μmol CO2 /(m2 · s) )大于生殖枝 (17.13μm ol CO2 /(m2 · s) )。营养枝与生殖枝之间 E呈极显著差异。营养枝与生殖枝水分利用效率 (WUE= PN/E)均随 CO2 浓度升高而增大 ,生殖枝 WUE略高于营养枝 ,但差异未达到显著水平。光合速率的显著增加是贝加尔针茅水分利用效率随 CO2 浓度升高而增加的主要影响因素。CO2 浓度相对稳定条件下 (35 0 μmol/mol) ,生殖枝与营养枝 PN 与 E均随模拟光辐射 (SPR)强度增加而增大 ,但增幅逐渐趋缓 ,营养枝最大 PN 及 E均大于生殖枝。当 SPR强度从 0增加到 4 0 0 μmol/(m2 · s)过程中 ,营养枝与生殖枝叶片水分利用效率均呈陡然增大趋势 ,随着 SPR的进一步增强 ,WUE缓慢增大并在较高值附近达到波动平衡。贝加尔针茅营养枝与生殖枝之间的 gs差异是 PN 与 E差异的主要影响因素 ,也决定了 WUE对 CO2 浓度和模拟光辐     

Experimental Study and Mathematical Simulation of Water Use Efficiency in Wheat Leaves Affected by Some Environmental Factors

By incorporating Ball-Berry model of stomatal conductance into the models of photosynthesis and transpiration, a model of leaf water use efficiency (WUE) as affected by several environmental variables [irradiance (Ⅰ), vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ca) ] was constructed. Because the environmental variables influenced the photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate in different ways, the changes of leaf WUE with these factors were quite complicated. The rates of photosynthesis and transpiration of wheat leaves were also measured in the phytotron where the environmental variables were kept within certain ranges, and leaf WUE was calculated therefrom. The results of simulation fit quite well with the measurements except at high Ca.     

环境因子对小麦叶片水分利用效率影响的实验研究和数值模拟

根据现有的光合作用和蒸腾作用的模型,利用Ｂａｌｌ－Ｂｅｒｒｙ 的气孔导度模型,将叶片的光合作用模型和蒸腾作用模型结合起来,建立了光强（Ｉ）、叶片－大气水汽饱和差（ＶＰＤ）和大气ＣＯ２ 浓度（Ｃａ）等环境因子对小麦叶片水分利用效率（ＷＵＥ）影响的模型。由于这３ 种环境因子对光合、蒸腾的影响方式上的差异,作为两者之比的叶片ＷＵＥ随各环境因子的变化出现复杂的图景,同时,在人工气候箱内分别于这３ 个因子变化时对光合、蒸腾的变化作了测定,计算了叶片的Ｗ ＵＥ。测定结果与模拟结果的对比表明,在多数情况下两者符合程度良好,但在高Ｃａ下有较大的偏离     

群体分布对夏大豆产量和水分利用效率的影响

在田间试验条件下研究了群体不同分布对夏大豆产量构成和水分利用的影响.夏大豆‘鲁豆4号'(Glycine max cv. Ludou 4)在同一群体密度(3.09×10~5株/hm~2)下设5种分布方式,即行距×株距分别为A:18 cm×18 cm,B:27 cm×12 cm,C:36 cm×9 cm,D:45 cm×7.2 cm,E:54 cm×6cm.结果表明,群体分布影响夏大豆的产量、叶片水分特征和水分利用效率(WUE).A、B处理的产量显著高于D、E处理(P<0.05),其他处理间均无显著差异;随着行距加大,单株有效荚数、粒数及百粒重呈下降趋势;叶片相对含水量(RWC)、水势(Ψw)和渗透势(Ψs)随生育进程的推进呈整体下降趋势,其中,A、B处理RWC、Ψw 和Ψs的平均值均显著高于D、E处理,E处理的Ψw在日变化的正午阶段明显低于其他处理;WUE与行距呈负相关(R=-0.935~*),与产量呈正相关(R=0.997~(**)),其中,A、B处理的WUE显著高于其他处理(P<0.05),D、E处理极显著低于B处理(P<0.01).夏大豆植株相对均匀分布的处理可改善产量构成因素及叶片水分状况,进而形成较高的产量,提高水分利用效率.     

Water‐use efficiency in response to climate change: from leaf to ecosystem in a temperate steppe

Water‐use efficiency (WUE) has been recognized as an important characteristic of ecosystem productivity, which links carbon (C) and water cycling. However, little is known about how WUE responds to climate change at different scales. Here, we investigated WUE at leaf, canopy, and ecosystem levels under increased precipitation and warming from 2005 to 2008 in a temperate steppe in Northern China. We measured gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), evapotranspiration (ET), evaporation (E), canopy transpiration (T_c), as well as leaf photosynthesis (P_max) and transpiration (T_l) of a dominant species to calculate canopy WUE (WUE_c=GEP/T), ecosystem WUE (WUE_gep=GEP/ET or WUE_nee=NEE/ET) and leaf WUE (WUE_l=P_max/T_l). The results showed that increased precipitation stimulated WUE_c, WUE_gep and WUE_nee by 17.1%, 10.2% and 12.6%, respectively, but decreased WUE_l by 27.4%. Climate warming reduced canopy and ecosystem WUE over the 4 years but did not affect leaf level WUE. Across the 4 years and the measured plots, canopy and ecosystem WUE linearly increased, but leaf level WUE of the dominant species linearly decreased with increasing precipitation. The differential responses of canopy/ecosystem WUE and leaf WUE to climate change suggest that caution should be taken when upscaling WUE from leaf to larger scales. Our findings will also facilitate mechanistic understanding of the C–water relationships across different organism levels and in projecting the effects of climate warming and shifting precipitation regimes on productivity in arid and semiarid ecosystems.     

半干旱黄土丘陵区五种植物的生理生态特征比较

通过测定陕北黄土丘陵区5种植物在旱季的光合速率、蒸腾速率和叶水势日变化,将植物划分为不同的水分生态适应类型.结果表明:柳枝稷的光合生理特征属于高光合、低蒸腾和高水分利用效率类型,其抗旱适应性特征属于高水势延迟脱水类型;苜蓿属于高光合高蒸腾低水分利用效率类型,耐旱性为高水势延迟脱水型;达乌里胡枝子属于低光合、低蒸腾、低水分利用效率类型,耐旱性为高水势延迟脱水型;白羊草属于高光合、蒸腾较高的水分利用效率中等型,耐旱性属于能忍耐脱水造成的低水势的一类.沙打旺属于高光合中等蒸腾速率中等水分利用效率类型,耐旱性为低水势延迟脱水型.     

Differences in gas exchange contribute to habitat differentiation in Iberian columbines from contrasting light and water environments

During photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration, gas exchange occurs via the stomata and so plants face a trade‐off between maximising photosynthesis while minimising transpiration (expressed as water use efficiency, WUE). The ability to cope with this trade‐off and regulate photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance may be related to niche differentiation between closely related species. The present study explored this as a possible mechanism for habitat differentiation in Iberian columbines. The roles of irradiance and water stress were assessed to determine niche differentiation among Iberian columbines via distinct gas exchange processes. Photosynthesis–irradiance curves (P–I curves) were obtained for four taxa, and common garden experiments were conducted to examine plant responses to water and irradiance stress, by measuring instantaneous gas exchange and plant performance. Gas exchange was also measured in ten individuals using two to four field populations per taxon. The taxa had different P–I curves and gas exchange in the field. At the species level, water stress and irradiance explained habitat differentiation. Within each species, a combination of irradiance and water stress explained the between‐subspecies habitat differentiation. Despite differences in stomatal conductance and CO₂ assimilation, taxa did not have different WUE under field conditions, which suggests that the environment equally modifies photosynthesis and transpiration. The P–I curves, gas exchange in the field and plant responses to experimental water and irradiance stresses support the hypothesis that habitat differentiation is associated with differences among taxa in tolerance to abiotic stress mediated by distinct gas exchange responses.