低温弱光胁迫及恢复对切花菊光合作用和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以切花菊品种‘神马’为试材,在偏低温弱光(16℃/12℃,PFD100μmol.m-2.s-1)和临界低温弱光(12℃/8℃,PFD60μmol.m-2.s-1)下分别胁迫11d,然后转入正常条件(22℃/18℃,PFD450μmol.m-2.s-1)恢复11d,研究不同低温弱光强度及恢复对菊花光合作用和叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明:低温弱光导致菊花叶片的净光合速率(Pn)和气孔限制值(Ls)下降,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)上升.偏低温弱光胁迫下菊花叶片暗适应下最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和初始荧光(Fo)无明显变化,但光适应下最大光化学效率(Fv′/Fm′)在处理前期略有下降,后期则有所回升;而临界低温弱光处理的Fo明显升高,Fv/Fm和Fv′/Fm′显著降低.PSⅡ光合电子传递量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)均随着低温弱光胁迫程度的增加和时间的延长而降低;偏低温弱光处理植株在解除胁迫后能迅速恢复到对照水平,而临界低温弱光处理植株回升速度较慢;同时,低温弱光胁迫下吸收光强用于分配光化学反应部分(Prate)的比例减少,而天线热耗散(Drate)和反应中心的能量耗散(Ex)比例上升,但天线热耗散为过剩光能的主要分配途径.     

光强对番茄叶片低温光抑制恢复的影响

经弱光 (6 0 μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1 )和 5℃低温处理 3d的番茄叶片Fv Fm和ΦPSⅡ下降 ,F0 没有变化 ;随后放在弱光 (6 0 μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1 )和 2 5℃条件下 ,番茄叶片的Fv Fm和ΦPSⅡ可以恢复 ,而在强光 (80 0 μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1 )下恢复的植株Fv Fm和ΦPSⅡ则显著下降 ,F0 也明显增加。恢复 3d后 ,弱光下恢复的植株光合作用可恢复到对照水平的 72 .1% ,而强光下恢复的植株光合作用仍维持在很低的水平     

不同光强下氮素形态对番茄谷氨酰胺合成酶和光呼吸的影响

强光(800μmol·m-2·s-1)下供应铵态氮的番茄植株与供应硝态氮的相比,其生长受到显著抑制,谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性和光呼吸速率显著下降,同时净光合速率(Pn)和叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm、Fv/F.)值下降;而弱光(200μmol·m-2·s-1)下供应铵态氮与硝态氮植株之间的这些参数差异不显著.     

遮光对不同基因型玉米光合特性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了遮光对4个基因型玉米光合特性的影响.结果表明:4个基因型玉米叶片的光饱和点、净光合速率(Pn)、电子传递速率(ETR)、光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)均受光强的影响.遮光降低了玉米的光饱和点,苗期遮光处理豫玉2号和丹玉13分别在光量子通量密度(PFD)为1400μmol·m-2·s-1和1100μmol·m-2·s-1时达到饱和.遮光还降低了玉米的Pn、ETR、Fv/Fm和ΦPSⅡ,但不同基因型玉米表现不同,豫玉2号和掖单22的下降幅度较小,而丹玉13和掖单6号的下降幅度较大.     

低温弱光对辣椒幼苗光合特性与光合作用启动时间的影响

以辣椒(Capsicum annuumL.)幼苗为试材,研究了偏低温弱光(19℃/12℃昼/夜,90μmol?m-2?s-1)和临界低温弱光(15℃/8℃昼/夜,90μmol?m-2?s-1)胁迫10 d后的光合特性与光合作用启动时间的变化.结果表明:无论是在偏低温弱光还是在临界低温弱光下,辣椒幼苗的光补偿点(LCP)、光饱和点(LSP)、光饱和时的光合速率(Amax)和表观量子产额(AOY)下降;CO2补偿点(CCP)升高,而CO2饱和点(CSP)、CO2饱和时的光合速率(Amax)以及羧化效率(CE)下降;温度补偿点(TCP)降低;光合作用启动时间(STP)延长.在偏低温弱光下,辣椒幼苗有着更高的光与CO2利用能力和利用效率,光合作用启动时间较短,但温度补偿点较高.     

短暂低温对佛手光合生理的影响

佛手(Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis Swingle)是一种对冷胁迫较为敏感的观果植物,在生产中普遍存在着冷害影响植物生长的现象.通过模拟浙中地区冬季设施种植中常见的短暂低温弱光条件,研究了佛手叶片的光合生理变化.研究表明,15℃低温即显著降低佛手光合速率、气孔导度,显著提高胞间CO2浓度;引起Fv/Fm显著性下降及初始荧光Fo显著上升的拐点温度为10℃,但延长处理时间至72h情况下,15℃亦显著降低Fv/Fm;低温处理还降低佛手光合羧化效率、最大光合速率,并导致光抑制现象发生时对应光强降低;低温条件下佛手叶片质膜透性及MDA含量高于对照,SOD、POD、CAT等抗氧化酶的活性则呈下降趋势;由此可见,短暂低温弱光胁迫首先是降低核酮糖1, 5-二磷酸羧化酶(Rubisco)等碳固定关键酶活性,引起氧自由基积聚,进而引发光抑制及光合速率的下降.     

低温弱光对黄瓜幼苗Rubisco与Rubisco活化酶的影响

以‘津优3号'黄瓜幼苗为试材,研究弱光(100 μmol·m-2·s-1)下适温(WL:25℃/18℃)、亚适温(ST+WL:18℃/12℃)和低温(LT+WL:10℃/5℃)对黄瓜幼苗光合速率(Pn)、核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化/加氧酶(Rubisco)、Rubisco活化酶(RCA)活性及其基因表达量的影响.结果表明:与对照(25℃/18℃,400 μmol·m-2·s-1)相比,WL、ST+WL和LT+WL处理的单株叶面积和干物质量均明显减小.处理初期,Pn、Rubisco活性及其大亚基基因(rbcL)、小亚基基因(rbcS)表达、RCA活性与基因(CsRCA)表达量大幅度降低,5～7 d后,WL处理趋于平稳,ST+WL处理缓慢回升,而LT+WL处理持续下降,表明黄瓜光合机构对适温弱光和亚适温弱光环境有逐步适应机制.Rubisco和RCA活性及其基因表达对低温弱光的响应与Pn基本一致,表明低温弱光下RCA和Rubisco活性及其基因表达量下降是黄瓜幼苗Pn降低的重要原因.     

不同胁迫处理对刺栲叶片叶绿素a荧光的影响

探讨了光强、温度和水分胁迫对刺栲(Castanopsis hystrix)体叶片叶绿素a荧光特征的影响,由此了解它的基本生物学特性。结果表明:(1)强光(1 300μmol.m-2.s-1左右)未胁迫时下降6.1%,表现轻微光抑制;(2)黑暗下低温(4℃,72 h)处理后电子传递速率下降较少(21.1%),初始荧光Fo保持稳定;与25℃对照相比,Fv/Fo和Fv/Fm无显著变化,表明黑暗下零上低温对PSⅡ潜在活性及光化学效率影响较小;(3)高温(40℃)胁迫显著影响了PSⅡ反应中心活性,ETR,Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo下降在处理2 h后达到极显著水平(p<0.01),Fo上升在处理4 h后也达到显著水平(p<0.05);(4)PEG诱导的水分胁迫严重影响了其光合机构活性,表现在无论与处理前比较、还是与耐旱种降真香(Acronychia pedunculata)的比较,其Fo上升和Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo下降都达到显著水平,表明其不耐干旱。     

高、低温胁迫对牡丹叶片PSⅡ功能和生理特性的影响

以牡丹‘肉芙蓉’离体叶片为试材,以25 ℃为对照,研究了强光(1400 μmol·m-2·s-1)下高温(40℃)和低温(15℃)处理对牡丹叶片PSⅡ光化学活性和生理特性的影响.结果表明:随处理时间的延长,各处理叶片的PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光量子效率(φPsⅡ)和光下开放的PSⅡ反应中心激发能捕获效率(Fv’/Fm’)均持续降低.暗恢复4h后,对照和15℃处理叶片的Fv/Fm基本上完全恢复,而40℃处理叶片仅恢复到处理前的75.5％,即使15 h后也不能完全恢复;强光下40℃处理使PSⅠ和PSⅡ间的激发能分配严重偏离平衡状态.强光下40 ℃处理抑制了超氧化物歧化酶活性,加剧了O2、H2O2、丙二醛的产生,导致叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量不断下降.说明强光下40℃高温胁迫对牡丹叶片光合机构造成了不可逆的破坏,而15℃低温处理对其光合机构的影响相对较弱.     

干旱条件下冷季型草光合蒸腾特性的研究

对9种冷季型草在春夏季干旱条件下的光合、蒸腾等生理特性进行测定.结果表明:春季冷季型草净光合速率在6:00较低,8:00~12:00后出现最大值后逐渐下降,呈曲线变化.不同种类的日平均净光合速率,以虉草和看麦娘最高,达11μmol?m-2?s-1,匍匐剪股颖不到5μmol?m-2?s-1,其它草种居中,为6~10μmol?m-2?s-1.夏季测定时,大部分冷季型草在6:00净光合速率为全天最大值,8:00后光合速率下降,至16:00光合速率最低,几乎呈直线下降的变化.不同种类的日平均净光合速率,紫羊茅最高,为16.5μmol?m-2?s-1,鸭茅和虉草仅6~7μmol?m-2?s-1,其它草种居中.春季蒸腾速率早晨6:00~8:00最低,随后逐步升高至最高峰后又逐渐回落.不同种类的日平均蒸腾速率,看麦娘、高羊茅、虉草、草地早熟禾较高,为2 mmol?m-2?s-1左右,最低为匍匐剪股颖0.8 mmol?m-2?s-1,其它草种为1.3~1.8 mmol?m-2?s-1.夏季大部分植物在6:00蒸腾速率较高,至8:00开始回落,10:00后上升,到最高点后回降,呈多峰变化的曲线.不同种类的日平均蒸腾速率,紫羊茅最高为3.5 mmol?m-2?s-1,最低为无芒雀麦、鸭茅、虉草,为1.4~1.7 mmol?m-2?s-1,其它草种为2.1~2.8 mmol?m-2?s-1.     

氯化胆碱对低温弱光下黄瓜幼苗叶片细胞膜和光合机构的保护作用

1.07mmol／L氯化胆碱处理降低了低温弱光（6℃．PFD100μmol m^-2s^-1）下黄瓜幼苗叶片膜脂组分中主要是磷脂酰甘油（PG）的饱和脂肪酸含量,增加了膜脂不饱和度：减缓了膜透性的下降、MDA的产生速率、叶绿素的降解及PSII最大量子效率（Fv/Fm）、捕光效率（Fv＇／Fm＇）、光化学猝灭系数（qp）、实际光化学效率（ФPSII）和抗氧化酶POD、APX及CAT活性的下降;提高了非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）和脯氨酸的含量。以上结果表明氯化胆碱处理保护了低温弱光对黄瓜叶片细胞膜和光合机构的伤害。     

Differential response of photosynthesis in greenhouse- and field-ecotypes of tomato to long-term chilling under low light

Three greenhouse- and four field-ecotype varieties of domestic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were compared for the sensitivity of their photosynthetic apparatus to chilling under low light intensity. After chilling at 12/7 degrees C under 100 micromolm(-2)s(-1) of light for 10 days, they were allowed to recover at 25/18 degrees C and 600 micromolm(-2)s(-1) of light for 10 days. For both pre-chilling and recovered plants, greenhouse-ecotype varieties did not necessarily show higher net CO(2) assimilation rate (A), quantum yield of electron transport at PSII (Phi(PSII)) and photochemical quenching (q(P)) than field-ecotype varieties. However for the post-chilling period, greenhouse-ecotype varieties, exhibited higher A, and Phi(PSII) values than field-ecotype varieties. The difference in Phi(PSII) was found to be largely due to q(P). The absence of ecotypic differences in pre-chilling plants indicates that the trait was not expressed constitutively, but relied mainly on adaptation/acclimation mechanisms. Greenhouse-ecotype varieties were able to adapt to low temperature and low light more quickly, and then exhibited higher A, Phi(PSII), q(P) values and greater re-growth capacity after chilling than field-ecotype varieties. Plant re-growth capacity after chilling was highly correlated with Phi(PSII) and q(P) measured in chilled plants, suggesting the usefulness of Phi(PSII) and q(P) measured at low temperature after defined chilling stresses as screening indexes for chilling tolerance in breeding programs.     

青藏高原药用植物唐古特山莨菪和唐古特大黄光合作用对强光的响应

与唐古特大黄相比,唐古特山莨菪的表观光合量子效率(AQY)较高,但最大净光合速率(Pmax)较低。在光强小于1200μmolm-2s-1时,后者用于碳同化的电子传递占总光合电子传递的比例(JC/JF)比前者高,而分配于光呼吸的电子传递(JO/JF)及Rubisco氧化和羧化速率的比值(VO/VC)则相反;光强大于1200μmolm-2s-1以后两种植物的这些参数都趋向稳定。随光强增加,后者叶片吸收光能分配于热耗散(D)的增加斜率较前者高,表明两高山植物对强辐射的适应方式略有不同。加强光呼吸途径的耗能代谢和PSII天线热耗散份额是唐古特山莨菪适应高原强辐射的主要方式,而提高叶片光合能力则是唐古特大黄的一种适应方式。     

The change of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in winter barley during recovery after freezing shock and as affected by cold acclimation and irradiance

The change of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in froze leaves of 3 leaf-age seedlings were examined using two winter barley cultivars (Chumai 1 and Mo 103) differing in cold tolerance to investigate physiological response to low temperature as affected by cold acclimation (under 3/1 degrees C, day/night for 5 days before freezing treatment) and irradiation size (high irradiance: 380+/-25 micromol m(-2)s(-1) and low irradiance: 60+/-25 micromol m(-2)s(-1)) during recovery. The results showed that non-lethal freezing shock (exposed to -8 degrees C for 18 h) did not obviously affect maximum quantum efficiency in photosystem II (PSII), but dramatically increased non-photochemical quenching and reduced effective quantum yield in PSII. Cold acclimation significantly improved stability of photosynthetic function of leaves after freezing stress through buffering excessive energy and alleviating photoinhibition during recovery, indicating it increased recovery ability of barley plants from freezing injury. High irradiance was quite harmful to the stability of PSII in barley plants during recovery from freezing injury. The electron transport rate of PSII varied with cold-acclimation, irradiance and genotype. Cold acclimation caused significant increase in electron transport rate of PSII for relatively tolerant cultivar Mo 103, but not for relatively sensitive cultivar Chumai 1. It can be concluded that some chlorophyll fluorescence parameters during recovery from freezing shock may be used as the indicators in identification and evaluation of cold tolerance in barley.     

Chloroplast Acclimation in Leaves of Guzmania monostachia in Response to High Light

Acclimation of leaves to high light (HL; 650 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) was investigated in the long-lived epiphytic bromeliad Guzmania monostachia and compared with plants maintained under low light (LL; 50 micromol m(-2) s(-1)). Despite a 60% decrease in total chlorophyll in HL-grown plants, the chlorophyll a/b ratio remained stable. Additionally, chloroplasts from HL-grown plants had a much lower thylakoid content and reduced granal stacking. Immunofluorescent labeling techniques were used to quantify the level of photosynthetic polypeptides. HL-grown plants had 30% to 40% of the content observed in LL-grown plants for the light-harvesting complex associated with photosystems I and II, the 33-kD photosystem II polypeptide, and Rubisco. These results were verified using conventional biochemical techniques, which revealed a comparable 60% decrease in Rubisco and total soluble protein. When expressed on a chlorophyll basis, the amount of protein and Rubisco was constant for HL- and LL-grown plants. Acclimation to HL involves a tightly coordinated adjustment of photosynthesis, indicating a highly regulated decrease in the number of photosynthetic units manifested at the level of the content of light-harvesting and electron transport components, the amount of Rubisco, and the induction of Crassulacean acid metabolism. This response occurs in mature leaves and may represent a strategy that is optimal for the resource-limited epiphytic niche.     

Non-invasive monitoring of the light-induced cyclic photosynthetic electron flow during cold hardening in wheat leaves

The effect of irradiance during low temperature hardening was studied in a winter wheat variety. Ten-day-old winter wheat plants were cold-hardened at 5 degrees C for 11 days under light (250 micromol m(-2) S(-1)) or dark (20 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) conditions. The effectiveness of hardening was significantly lower in the dark, in spite of a slight decrease in the Fv/Fm chlorophyll fluorescence induction parameter, indicating the occurrence of photoinhibition during the hardening period in the light. Hardening in the light caused a downshift in the far-red induced AG (afterglow) thermoluminescence band. The faster dark re-reduction of P700+, monitored by 820-nm absorbance, could also be observed in these plants. These results suggest that the induction of cyclic photosynthetic electron flow may also contribute to the advantage of frost hardening under light conditions in wheat plants.     

Effects of phosphorus and chilling under low irradiance on photosynthesis and growth of tomato plants

To determine the effects of phosphorus nutrition on chilling tolerance of photosynthetic apparatus, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Kenfengxin 2002) plants were raised under different P contents and subjected to 7 d of chilling at 9/7 °C. After chilling (2 h or 7 d) plant growth, P content in tissue, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured. Decreasing P concentration [P] in the nutrient solution markedly reduced plant growth and the chilled plants exhibiting higher optimum [P] than the unchilled plants. Decreasing [P] significantly decreased light saturated net photosynthetic rate (P_Nsat), maximum carboxylation velocity of Rubisco (V_cmax), maximum potential rate of electron transport contributed to Rubisco regeneration (J_max), quantum efficiency of photosystem (PS) 2 (ΠPS2) and O₂ sensitivity of P_Nsat (PS_O2) and this trend was especially apparent in chilled plants.     

Stoichiometry of the photosynthetic apparatus and phycobilisome structure of the cyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485 are regulated by both light and temperature

The role of growth temperature and growth irradiance on the regulation of the stoichiometry and function of the photosynthetic apparatus was examined in the cyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485 by comparing mid-log phase cultures grown at either 29 degrees C/150 micromol m(-2) s(-1), 29 degrees C/750 micromol m(-2) s(-1), 15 degrees C/150 micromol m(-2) s(-1), or 15 degrees C/10 micromol m(-2) s(-1). Cultures grown at 29 degrees C/750 micromol m(-2) s(-1) were structurally and functionally similar to those grown at 15 degrees C/150 micromol m(-2) s(-1), whereas cultures grown at 29 degrees C/150 micromol m(-2) s(-1) were structurally and functionally similar to those grown at 15 degrees C/10 micromol m(-2) s(-1). The stoichiometry of specific components of the photosynthetic apparatus, such as the ratio of photosystem (PS) I to PSII, phycobilisome size and the relative abundance of the cytochrome b(6)/f complex, the plastoquinone pool size, and the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex were regulated by both growth temperature and growth irradiance in a similar manner. This indicates that temperature and irradiance may share a common sensing/signaling pathway to regulate the stoichiometry and function of the photosynthetic apparatus in P. boryanum. In contrast, the accumulation of neither the D1 polypeptide of PSII, the large subunit of Rubisco, nor the CF(1) alpha-subunit appeared to be regulated by the same mechanism. Measurements of P700 photooxidation in vivo in the presence and absence of inhibitors of photosynthetic electron transport coupled with immunoblots of the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex in cells grown at either 29 degrees C/750 micromol m(-2) s(-1) or 15 degrees C/150 micromol m(-2) s(-1) are consistent with an increased flow of respiratory electrons into the photosynthetic intersystem electron transport chain maintaining P700 in a reduced state relative to cells grown at either 29 degrees C/150 micromol m(-2) s(-1) or 15 degrees C/10 micromol m(-2) s(-1). These results are discussed in terms of acclimation to excitation pressure imposed by either low growth temperature or high growth irradiance.     

Photoacclimation in a tropical population of Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kützing 1843 (Chlorophyta) from southeastern Brazil.

Photoacclimation of photosynthesis was investigated in a tropical population of C. glomerata (S?o Paulo State, southeastern Brazil, 20 degrees 48' 24" S and 49 degrees 22' 24" W) by chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and chlorophyll a content. Plants were acclimated to two levels of irradiance: low (65 +/- 5 micromol.m(-2).s(-1)) and high (300 +/- 10 micromol.m(-2).s(-1)) and exposed short-term (4 days) and long-term (28 days) under a light-dark cycle of 12:12 hours. Photosynthesis-irradiance (PI) curves revealed distinct strategies of photoacclimation. In long-term exposure, plants acclimated by altering the photosynthetic units (PSU) number and keeping fixed the PSU size, revealed by increased rates of maximum photosynthesis (Pmax), lower photosynthetic efficiency (alpha) and higher values of the saturation parameter (Ik) under high irradiance. The short-term acclimation strategy consisted of changing the PSU size, with a fixed number of PSUs, as revealed by similar Pmax but higher alpha and lower Ik under low irradiance. Chlorophyll a contents followed the general pattern reported in green algae of higher concentrations under lower irradiance. Dark/light induction curves revealed consistently higher values of potential quantum yield under low irradiance. Initial and final values showed a higher recovery capacity in the short (84.4-90.6%) term exposure than in the long-term case (81.4-81.5%). ETR (electron transport rate) and NPQ (non-photochemical quenching) values were consistently higher under low irradiance. ETR showed a continuous and steady increase along the light exposure period in the short and long-term experiments, whereas NPQ values revealed a rapid increase after 15 seconds of light exposure, kept a slightly increasing trend and stabilized in most treatments. Lower photosynthetic performance (ETR) and recovery capacity of potential quantum yield were observed, particularly in long-term exposure, suggesting that this population is constrained by the typical high light environment of tropical regions.     

Winter photosynthetic activity of twenty temperate semi-desert sand grassland species

The winter photosynthetic activity (quantified by net CO(2) assimilation rates and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters) of 20 plant species (including two lichens and two mosses) of a Hungarian temperate semi-desert sand grassland was determined on one occasion per year in 1984, 1989 and 1994. Throughout winter, the overwintering green shoots, leaves or thalli were regularly exposed to below zero temperatures at night and daytime temperatures of 0-5 degrees C. In situ tissue temperature varied between -2.1 and +6.9 degrees C and the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) between 137 and 351 micromol m(-2)s(-1). Under these conditions 18 of the grassland species exhibited photosynthetic CO(2) uptake (range: vascular plants ca. 0.2-3.8 micromol m(-2)s(-1), cryptogams 0.3-2.79 micromol kg(-1)s(-1)) and values of 0.9-5.1 of the Chl fluorescence decrease ratio R(Fd). In 1984, Festuca vaginata and Sedum sexangulare had net CO(2) assimilation at leaf temperatures of -0.85 to -1.2 degrees C. In 1989, all species except Cladonia furcata showed net CO(2) assimilation at tissue temperatures of 0 to +3.3 degrees C, with the highest rates observed in Poa bulbosa and F. vaginata. The latter showed a net CO(2) assimilation saturation at a PPFD of 600 micromol m(-2)s(-1) and a temperature optimum between +5 and +18 degrees C. At the 1994 measurements, the photosynthetic rates were higher at higher tissue water contents. The two mosses and lichens had a net photosynthesis (range: 1.1-2.79 micromol CO(2)kg(-1)s(-1)) at 2 degrees C tissue temperature and at 4-5 degrees C air temperature. Ca. 80% of the vascular grassland plant species maintained a positive C-balance during the coldest periods of winter, with photosynthetic rates of 1.5-3.8 micromol CO(2)m(-2)s(-1). In an extremely warm beginning March of the relatively warm winter of 2006/2007, the dicotyledonous plants had much higher CO(2) assimilation rates on a Chl (range 6-14.9 micromol g(-1)Chl s(-1)) and on a dry weight basis (9-48 micromol kg(-1)dw s(-1)) than in the cold winter of 1994. However, the assimilation rates of the three investigated cryptogams (Tortula and two Cladonia) and the two grasses Festuca and Poa were not affected by this increase. The results indicate that the photosynthetic activity of temperate semi-desert sand grassland species can help somewhat in slowing the general CO(2) rise in winter and function as a potential carbon sink of the investigated semi-desert Hungarian grassland species.