春小麦水分利用效率日变化及其生理生态基础的研究

采用光合速率和蒸腾速率之比 (Pn/Tr)表示植物水分利用效率 (WUE) ,发现在两种不同水分处理下春小麦拔节期 .WUE日变化中都有上午高于下午值 ,且 8∶0 0～ 1 0∶0 0为明显峰值的特征 ,这种特征与Pn、Tr日变化存在的上、下午值不对称性和反向性 (Pn为上午高于下午 ,Tr相反 )紧密相关 ,水分胁迫处理中 ,Pn、Tr值均有降低 ,但不同品种的WUE反应不一 .研究表明 ,叶水势 ( ψw)、气孔阻力 (Rs)等生理因素和空气相对湿度 (RH)、光照 (Q)及冠层温度 (Tc)等生态因子 ,通过对Tr和Pn的不同影响而同WUE显著相关 ,40 %RH是WUE变化的一个重要阈值 .     

塔里木河上游胡杨与灰杨光合水分生理特性

在自然条件下对塔里木河上游优势树种-胡杨、灰杨的光合水分生理特性进行比较研究.结果表明,整个生长季胡杨、灰杨的光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr,除8月份)日进程均为单峰曲线,水分利用效率(WUE)变化无明显规律性.胡杨与灰杨12:00后Pn的下降主要取决于非气孔因素限制.胡杨Pn、WUE高于灰杨,而Tr低于灰杨,表明胡杨属高光合、低蒸腾、高WUE型树种,灰杨属低光合、高蒸腾、低WUE型树种.胡杨、灰杨枝水势(Ψw)、清晨与正午水势日进程均呈"V"字型曲线,胡杨水势日变幅、正午水势月变幅均小于灰杨,但两树种水势间无显著差异.胡杨与灰杨具有较强的水分吸收和减少水分丧失的能力,但胡杨调节气孔导度(Gs)控制蒸腾失水的能力较强,对干旱环境表现出更强的生态适应性,从而导致两树种产生了种群地理分化.     

骆驼刺在不同遮阴下的水分状况变化及其生理响应

为了研究骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)在不同遮阴环境下的生理适应性, 以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲外围骆驼刺为试验材料, 设置正常光照、中度遮阴(70%自然光)、重度遮阴(30%自然光) 3种光照环境, 观测了遮阴90天后土壤含水率, 骆驼刺水势、气孔导度(G_s)、叶形态、叶绿素(Chl)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量等在不同遮阴条件下的变化特征。结果显示: 随着遮阴强度的增大, 土壤含水率, 骆驼刺水势、G_s、比叶面积、Chl含量、类胡萝卜素含量有一定程度的增加; 骆驼刺叶片厚度、Pro含量、MDA含量、可溶性糖含量以及Chl a/Chl b有不同幅度的减少。结果表明: 一段时间内适度的遮阴在一定程度上降温增湿, 能够改善骆驼刺的生境, 从而避免高温强光和低水势对植物造成的伤害, 促进植物的生长, 但长期遮阴对植物的生长不利。因此建议通过短期的遮阴, 特别是在温度较高、光照较强的夏季正午前后对骆驼刺进行遮阴处理, 以达到对骆驼刺的逆境防护, 促进骆驼刺的生长。     

遮阴对疏叶骆驼刺叶形态和光合参数的影响

通过设置自然光与遮阴(60%自然光)两种光环境, 观测了遮阴60天后疏叶骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)叶形态、光合生理参数和脯氨酸(Pro)含量的变化。结果表明: 与自然光照下的叶片相比, 遮阴叶的比叶面积显著增大(p < 0.01), 比叶干重、比叶鲜重和叶片厚度明显降低(p < 0.01); 叶绿素(a + b)和类胡萝卜素含量有所增加, 其中叶绿素a含量增加显著(p < 0.01); 光补偿点、光饱和点和暗呼吸速率降低, 表观量子效率提高, 最大净光合速率明显增大, 光能利用效率高于自然光叶; 强光照下遮阴叶的净光合速率明显降低, 易发生光合光抑制现象。上述结果说明: 遮阴处理后, 疏叶骆驼刺在叶形态和光合生理上表现出对遮阴弱光条件的一定程度的驯化适应。另外, 遮阴叶片Pro的大量积累, 说明Pro在疏叶骆驼刺驯化适应弱光环境中起着重要作用。遮蔽环境下疏叶骆驼刺植株死亡率明显偏高, 表明塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘荒漠区的疏叶骆驼刺属于专性阳生植物不耐阴品种。     

塔里木河中游胡杨与灰叶胡杨气体交换特性对比研究

在自然条件下利用Li-6400光合作用系统对塔里木河中游地区的天然胡杨、灰叶胡杨净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和水分利用效率(WUE)等生理指标进行测定分析,探讨它们对外界干旱环境适应的生理特性,为进一步研究胡杨、灰叶胡杨的光合水分生理特性,以及保护恢复塔里木河流域的天然胡杨林提供依据。结果表明:(1)在整个光合日变化进程中,胡杨的日平均Pn、Gs、Tr以及WUE均高于灰叶胡杨。(2)胡杨和灰叶胡杨的净光合速率日变化均呈"双峰"曲线并存在光合"休眠"现象。(3)胡杨、灰叶胡杨在正午时分出现的Pn下降主要是受到气孔限制的影响既气孔限制值增大、胞间CO2浓度减小;傍晚时分出现的光合速率下降主要是因受到外界光照强度减弱,既受非气孔限制影响较大。(4)决定胡杨和灰叶胡杨Pn日变化的环境因子作用大小均为:光量子通量密度(PPFD)>气孔导度(Gs)>空气相对湿度(RH)>气温(Tair);决定胡杨与灰叶胡杨Tr日变化的环境因子作用大小顺序分别为:气温(Tair)>光量子通量密度(PPFD)>气孔导度(Gs)>空气相对湿度(RH)和光量子通量密度(PPFD)>气温(Tair)>气孔导度(Gs)>空气相对湿度(RH)。研究认为,胡杨与灰叶胡杨为适应干旱半干旱区的环境,在长期适应过程中形成了不同的生理生态对策,胡杨主要是通过调节Gs来有效控制蒸腾失水,提高WUE,进而适应干旱环境;灰叶胡杨主要是通过高蒸腾耗水,降低WUE来减少干旱环境对自身的伤害。     

塔里木荒漠优势树种气体交换特性与环境因子的关系研究

在自然条件下对塔里木荒漠区优势树种--胡杨、灰叶胡杨的气体交换特性及其与环境因子的关系进行研究.结果表明:(1)在6～9月生长季,胡杨和灰叶胡杨的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr,除8月)日进程均为单峰曲线,胞间CO2浓度(GI)呈"V"字型曲线,Pn的峰值出现在12:00,Tr峰值明显滞后于Pn.生长季内胡杨各月份的Pn、水分利用率(WUE)、光能利用率(LUE)均高于灰叶胡杨,而Tr低于灰叶胡杨,气孔导度(Gs)相近.(2)气体交换与环境因子的统计分析表明,光量子通量密度(PPFD)是决定胡杨和灰叶胡杨Pn和Tr的主要环境因子,其次为气温(Tair).(3)灰叶胡杨对PPFD、Tair,、空气相对湿度(RH)的敏感性强于胡杨,通过高蒸腾耗水、低WUE来减轻高温干旱的伤害;胡杨通过主动调节Gs来控制蒸腾失水、提高光合效率,以较高的WUE和LUE适应日益干旱的荒漠环境,表现出较强的生态适应性.     

风蚀和沙埋对塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘骆驼刺水分和光合作用的影响

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘风沙活动十分频繁, 风蚀和沙埋是该地区自然植被生长发育的重要影响因子。该文以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带为研究区, 以该区域主要建群种植物骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)为研究对象, 对一次强沙尘天气过后沙丘表面5种不同风蚀沙埋状况的骆驼刺植物进行标定(包括10 cm风蚀、5 cm风蚀、不蚀不积、10 cm沙埋、30 cm沙埋), 天晴后测定其叶水势、叶片含水量、光合参数和叶绿素荧光等参数, 分析研究自然环境条件下风蚀和沙埋对骆驼刺水分和光合作用的影响。结果表明: (1)风蚀显著降低了骆驼刺叶水势和叶片含水量, 进而导致植物气孔导度降低, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的下降。风蚀的植物水分利用效率低于沙埋, 特别是在10 cm风蚀深度明显降低。 (2)沙埋增加了骆驼刺的叶水势、叶片含水量和气孔导度, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的上升, 水分利用效率也得到提升。(3)风蚀条件下骆驼刺所受胁迫增加, 但可以通过增加活性反应中心的数量和光化学效率来抵消胁迫造成的不利影响。沙埋条件下骆驼刺受胁迫减轻, 反应中心吸收的光能和用于光化学反应的能量随着沙埋程度增加而减小, 这是骆驼刺适应风沙环境的一种生存策略。(4)与5 cm风蚀以及10 cm沙埋相比, 10 cm风蚀显著抑制骆驼刺的生长, 30 cm沙埋则会显著促进骆驼刺的生长。     

漓江上游毛竹生理生态特征对不同土壤水分的响应

漓江上游毛竹林面积大,是我国毛竹最南端产区。该研究针对当地季节性干旱问题,通过模拟降水使土壤水分变化,共设立了5个毛竹水分处理小区(CK.对照;A.无降水+覆膜;B.降水5 mm+覆膜;C.降水10mm+覆膜;D.降水20 mm+覆膜),并与HM(木荷Schima superba)(自然状态)进行对比。结果表明:土壤水分变化影响了毛竹叶片水势和叶绿素的变化,叶片白天水势下降,傍晚均可恢复到凌晨水势。C处理的毛竹午间水势下降值最小,叶绿素含量也最高。本研究区位于最南端产区,毛竹的光合生产力也属偏低水平。适当的土壤水分亏缺,毛竹表现出相对的高净光合速率(P_(n))、高蒸腾速率(Tr)、低水分利用效率(WUE)的特点;过多或过少土壤水分,则为低P_(n)和Tr,但高WUE。毛竹叶片的P_(n)与气孔导度Gs呈极显著的正相关关系,说明毛竹的光合速率受气孔调节明显;Tr与午时叶水势呈负相关(符合二项式函数)关系,土壤水分问题造成的叶片水分不足同时也影响了毛竹的Tr。水分亏缺,P_(n)主要由气孔调节,但水分过多导致P_(n)的下降应该是由气孔导度的下降和叶肉细胞光合能力的下降共同作用的结果。水分过少或过多均对毛竹生理生态过程产生负效应。相对于木荷,毛竹的P_(n)较高,但同时也消耗更多的水分。     

Effects of wind erosion and sand burial on water relations and photosynthesis in Alhagi sparsifolia in the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘风沙活动十分频繁, 风蚀和沙埋是该地区自然植被生长发育的重要影响因子。该文以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带为研究区, 以该区域主要建群种植物骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)为研究对象, 对一次强沙尘天气过后沙丘表面5种不同风蚀沙埋状况的骆驼刺植物进行标定(包括10 cm风蚀、5 cm风蚀、不蚀不积、10 cm沙埋、30 cm沙埋), 天晴后测定其叶水势、叶片含水量、光合参数和叶绿素荧光等参数, 分析研究自然环境条件下风蚀和沙埋对骆驼刺水分和光合作用的影响。结果表明: (1)风蚀显著降低了骆驼刺叶水势和叶片含水量, 进而导致植物气孔导度降低, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的下降。风蚀的植物水分利用效率低于沙埋, 特别是在10 cm风蚀深度明显降低。 (2)沙埋增加了骆驼刺的叶水势、叶片含水量和气孔导度, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的上升, 水分利用效率也得到提升。(3)风蚀条件下骆驼刺所受胁迫增加, 但可以通过增加活性反应中心的数量和光化学效率来抵消胁迫造成的不利影响。沙埋条件下骆驼刺受胁迫减轻, 反应中心吸收的光能和用于光化学反应的能量随着沙埋程度增加而减小, 这是骆驼刺适应风沙环境的一种生存策略。(4)与5 cm风蚀以及10 cm沙埋相比, 10 cm风蚀显著抑制骆驼刺的生长, 30 cm沙埋则会显著促进骆驼刺的生长。     

平茬措施对天然沙冬青生理特性的影响

沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolicus(Maxim.)Cheng f.)是我国二级珍稀濒危植物,由于自然条件的不断恶化使这一古老残遗物种种群受到威胁。本文以西鄂尔多斯国家级自然保护区内生长的天然沙冬青为材料,对平茬后经过3年恢复生长的萌蘖灌丛和未平茬的沙冬青灌丛的地上部生物量、叶片相对含水量(RWC)、叶水势(WPB)、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用效率(WUE)、气孔导度(Gs)和胞间CO2浓度(Ci)等指标进行了测定,并对平茬处理的各项生理指标变化进行了研究。结果显示:平茬后的沙冬青萌蘖灌丛经过3年的生长能恢复到平茬前的生物量;平茬与未平茬(对照)沙冬青叶片相对含水量差异不显著(P0.05),但平茬后的沙冬青叶水势日间(7∶00-19∶00)均显著高于对照(P0.05);平茬与未平茬沙冬青日间净光合速率、蒸腾速率均出现两个高峰值,且均有"午休"现象,平茬后的沙冬青萌蘖丛Pn日均值比对照升高了15.73%、Tr日均值比对照升高了15.57%、WUE日均值比对照升高了13.92%(P0.05);Gs日均值比对照也有所上升,且与Pn、Tr的变化趋势基本一致,但Ci的变化趋势与Gs、Pn和Tr相反。说明平茬处理对增加地上部生物量、提高其生理指标均有明显作用,能提高沙冬青潜在的生产力。     

狭叶红景天幼苗对水分及遮阴的生长及生理生化响应

研究植物对水分和遮阴胁迫的响应及其生理机制对制定合理的栽培管理措施十分必要。以红景天属植物为研究对象,设置土壤含水量分别为田间持水量的80%(过湿水分)、70%(正常水分)、60%(轻度干旱)、40%(中度干旱)、20%(重度干旱)5个水分梯度;设置2个遮阴处理,以全光照(遮阴率为0)为对照、黑色遮阴网遮阴(遮阴率为85%),研究狭叶红景天生长及生理生化指标的变化特征。结果表明:在不同水分处理下,与对照相比,叶绿素含量、茎干重和茎重比(SMR)显著增加(P0.05),株高、总生物量、叶面积、叶干重、叶重比(LMR)、比叶面积(SLA)、叶面积比(LAR)和叶面积根干重比(LARMR)增加,根冠比和根重比(RMR)减少;随着干旱程度加剧,丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性糖(Ss)含量增加,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性总体呈先增加后减小的趋势。在遮阴处理下,株高、SMR、SLA、LAR和LARMR显著增加(P0.05),叶绿素SPAD值和叶面积增加,总生物量、根干重、根冠比和LMR显著减少(P0.05),茎干重和叶干重减少,MDA含量显著增加,Pro含量略有下降,Ss含量减少。在水分胁迫下,狭叶红景天中度干旱时通过增加酶活性抵御伤害,重度干旱超过其阈值,SOD活性下降,植物体受到伤害,Ss可能是主要的渗透调节物质。在遮阴处理下,狭叶红景天通过增加SLA避免遮阴伤害。狭叶红景天在受到环境胁迫时会通过形态改变、调节MDA含量、抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质来保证自身正常的生长发育。     

Plasticity in seedling morphology,biomass allocation and physiology among ten temperate tree species in response to shade is related to shade tolerance and not leaf habit

• Mechanisms of shade tolerance in tree seedlings, and thus growth in shade, may differ by leaf habit and vary with ontogeny following seed germination. To examine early responses of seedlings to shade in relation to morphological, physiological and biomass allocation traits, we compared seedlings of 10 temperate species, varying in their leaf habit (broadleaved versus needle‐leaved) and observed tolerance to shade, when growing in two contrasting light treatments – open (about 20% of full sunlight) and shade (about 5% of full sunlight).
• We analyzed biomass allocation and its response to shade using allometric relationships. We also measured leaf gas exchange rates and leaf N in the two light treatments.
• Compared to the open treatment, shading significantly increased traits typically associated with high relative growth rate (RGR) – leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), and allocation of biomass into leaves, and reduced seedling mass and allocation to roots, and net assimilation rate (NAR). Interestingly, RGR was not affected by light treatment, likely because of morphological and physiological adjustments in shaded plants that offset reductions of in situ net assimilation of carbon in shade. Leaf area‐based rates of light‐saturated leaf gas exchange differed among species groups, but not between light treatments, as leaf N concentration increased in concert with increased SLA in shade.
• We found little evidence to support the hypothesis of a increased plasticity of broadleaved species compared to needle‐leaved conifers in response to shade. However, an expectation of higher plasticity in shade‐intolerant species than in shade‐tolerant ones, and in leaf and plant morphology than in biomass allocation was supported across species of contrasting leaf habit.

     

短期环割对骆驼刺气孔导度及叶绿素荧光的影响

为研究骆驼刺对不同环割的生理响应,以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲外围骆驼刺为试验材料,设置了对照(CK),韧皮部半割(PS),韧皮部全割(PF),木质部半割(XS)4种处理,研究了骆驼刺的气孔导度、光合色素含量、Chl a/b、叶绿素荧光参数和曲线在不同环割处理下的变化特征。结果表明:短期韧皮部半割对骆驼刺各项生理指标影响不明显;韧皮部全割下,骆驼刺气孔导度、光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数有了不同程度的下降;木质部半割显著降低了骆驼刺气孔导度但光合色素含量和大部分荧光参数没有发生变化。处理后第5天和第10天各项参数相差不大,短期内环割对骆驼刺的伤害程度随时间推移变化较小。总体来看,短期环割处理对骆驼刺伤害程度是PFXSPSCK。在荒漠化防治过程中,应尽量避免骆驼刺的韧皮部被全部剥蚀。     

观赏灌木小枝和叶性状在林下庇荫环境中的权衡关系

小枝与叶片间的关系能够很好地反映植物对环境的适应策略。目前,从枝叶间权衡关系的角度研究树木对庇荫环境适应性的报道尚少,其中主要包括"生长-生长"权衡和"生长-生存"权衡两种假说。因此,为了探讨灌木在庇荫环境中,是否会在小枝和叶性状间采取权衡策略,来提高光照资源的利用能力或增强生存和防御能力,在城市绿地的林隙和林冠下两种光环境中,选择了没有人工修枝、整形等经营措施的金银木(Lonicera maackii)、小花溲疏(Deutzia parviflora)和连翘(Forsythia suspensa)等11种、79株观赏灌木作为研究对象,采集其当年生小枝,观测并计算了每棵灌木所处环境的有效光合辐射(PAR)相对累积光量和红光/远红光(R/FR),以及灌木的小枝干重(TDW)、单位小枝叶干重(LDW)、出叶强度(LN/TDW)、叶面积支持效率(LA/TDW)、比枝长(TL/TDW)和单叶面积(ILA) 6个性状。对数据进行标准化和数据转换后,运用Pearson相关检验分析光环境指标和灌木枝叶性状间的相关性;采用标准化主轴估计法进行异速生长方程的参数估计;使用多元回归分析不同光强下各性状的相互关系。结果表明:(1) PAR相对累积光量和R/FR与TDW和LDW呈极显著(P0.01或P0.001)正相关,与TL/TDW、LA/TDW、LN/TDW呈极显著(P0.001)负相关,与ILA相关性不显著(P 0.05)。整体上,R/FR与各灌木性状的相关性大于PAR相对累积光量;(2) TDW和LDW存在极显著(P0.001)的异速生长正相关关系。随着光强的减小,灌木当年生小枝和叶片的生物量都趋于减小,但是表现出相对偏向于叶片生物量的投资偏好;(3) LA/TDW和TL/TDW存在极显著(P0.001)的等速生长正相关关系。但随着光强的减小,比枝长随叶面积支持效率增加而增加的速率却减小,说明灌木在庇荫条件下,更倾向于采取忍耐型的光资源利用策略;(4) ILA和LN/TDW呈极显著(P0.001)异速生长负相关关系。随着光强的减小,灌木趋向于表现出单位小枝上着生大量小叶的现象。所以总体上,庇荫环境下的观赏灌木存在投资偏好和权衡,倾向于通过枝叶生长提高光截获能力来适应弱光环境,与"生长-生长"的权衡假说相符,但整体上,观赏灌木的耐阴性较差,故不建议种植在庇荫环境中。     

Chlorophyll a fluorescence of typical desert plant Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. at two light levels

Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. is exposed to a high-irradiance environment as the main vegetation found in the forelands of the Taklamakan Desert. We investigated chlorophyll a fluorescence emission of A. sparsifolia seedlings grown under ambient (HL) and shade (LL) conditions. Our results indicated that the fluorescence intensity in the leaves was significantly higher for LL-grown plants than that under HL. High values of the maximum quantum yield of PSII for primary photochemistry (φP_o) and the quantum yield that an electron moves further than Q_A - (φE_o) in the plants under LL conditions suggested that the electron flow from Q_A - (primary quinone electron acceptors of PSII) to Q_B (secondary quinone acceptor of PSII) or Q_B - was enhanced at LL compared to natural HL conditions. The efficiency/probability with which an electron from the intersystem electron carriers was transferred to reduce end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side and the quantum yield for the reduction of end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side were opposite to φP_o, and φE_o. Thus, we concluded that the electron transport on the donor side of PSII was blocked under LL conditions, while acceptor side was inhibited at the HL conditions. The PSII activity of electron transport in the plants grown in shade was enhanced, while the energy transport from PSII to PSI was blocked compared to the plants grown at HL conditions. Furthermore, PSII activity under HL was seriously affected in midday, while the plants grown in shade enhanced their energy transport.     

Patterns of root architecture adaptation of a phreatophytic perennial desert plant in a hyperarid desert

Plant root systems can respond to nutrient availability and distribution by changing the three-dimensional deployment of their root architecture. The year after year variation of root architecture was investigated in a perennial phreatophyte in the controlled condition vegetation situated in the oasis in the Chinese Taklamakan desert with the goal to elucidate their adaptation to hyperarid environment. The whole plants of an indigenous perennial legume Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. with intact root systems were excavated at the end of each growing season from 2007 to 2009 and analyzed for architecture, above and belowground biomass, root/shoot ratio, root depth, seed yields and ramet. Changes in water availability were found to have stupendous effects on taproot depth, lateral root length and ramet quantity. Relative to shoot dry weight, taproot depth decreased with increasing water availability. In contrast, lateral root elongation was promoted by higher water availability.We tested the hypothesis that (1) irrigation increases root biomass and the quantity of ramets, and (2) A. sparsifolia Shap. develops an efficient root architecture that could absorb soil water and nutrition.     

Does shading explain variation in morphophysiological traits of tropical epiphytic orchids grown in artificial conditions?

Light is one of the main factors of physical environment and it controls plant growth and development by interfering with photosynthesis, especially concerning CO₂ assimilation. Photosynthetic characteristics and growth of C3 epiphytic orchids Miltonia flavescens and Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana were analyzed under four radiation regimens (25, 50 and 75?% of global radiation and full sunlight). Anatomical characterizations were performed on plants grown at 25?% shade. Artificial shading was obtained using different shading nylon nets. The highest values of light-saturated photosynthetic, dark respiration, net photosynthetic and leaf transpiration rates, stomatal conductance and intercellular to atmospheric CO₂ concentration ratio were observed at full sunlight and 25?% shade. Moreover, both species allocated greater amount of leaf dry weight in those treatments. On the other hand, it was observed a greater investment in pseudobulb biomass in more shaded conditions (50 and 75?%), corroborating with the highest values of intrinsic water-use efficiency observed in those treatments. It was found a significant effect of shading on leaf area and specific leaf area. The anatomical features reflected strategies to save water. The phenotypic plasticity and principal component analysis suggested that the physiological traits were more responsive to light levels than the morphological traits. The results indicate that those species appear to be adapted to high irradiances conditions and are capable of adjusting, via morphophysiological changes, to light availability.     

Bundle sheath extensions affect leaf structural and physiological plasticity in response to irradiance

Coordination between structural and physiological traits is key to plants' responses to environmental fluctuations. In heterobaric leaves, bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) increase photosynthetic performance (light‐saturated rates of photosynthesis, A_max) and water transport capacity (leaf hydraulic conductance, K_leaf). However, it is not clear how BSEs affect these and other leaf developmental and physiological parameters in response to environmental conditions. The obscuravenosa (obv) mutation, found in many commercial tomato varieties, leads to absence of BSEs. We examined structural and physiological traits of tomato heterobaric and homobaric (obv) near‐isogenic lines grown at two different irradiance levels. K_leaf, minor vein density, and stomatal pore area index decreased with shading in heterobaric but not in homobaric leaves, which show similarly lower values in both conditions. Homobaric plants, on the other hand, showed increased A_max, leaf intercellular air spaces, and mesophyll surface area exposed to intercellular airspace (S_mes) in comparison with heterobaric plants when both were grown in the shade. BSEs further affected carbon isotope discrimination, a proxy for long‐term water‐use efficiency. BSEs confer plasticity in traits related to leaf structure and function in response to irradiance levels and might act as a hub integrating leaf structure, photosynthetic function, and water supply and demand.     

Photosystem II activity in the leaves and assimilative branches of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. under brief elevated temperature

Leaves and assimilative branches are crucial to the life cycle of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. that is one of the main shrubs in the southern fringe of the Taklamakan desert. They reduce photosynthesis at midday during summer and exhibit different degrees of adaptability to severe environments. We investigated the changes in the PSII activity of leaves and assimilative branches of under elevated temperature and whether they have the same response and level of tolerance to different temperatures, thus to understand the roles of leaves and assimilative branches of A. sparsifolia in global warming. In this study, the kinetics of induced chlorophyll a fluorescence under heat-stress-induced inhibition of photosystem II in leaves and assimilative branches of A. sparsifolia after 15 min of treatment was investigated. The results show that both the activity and density of reaction centers of leaves are higher than assimilative branch at 35–48 °C, and both in the leaves and assimilative branches were decreased above 45 °C, the assimilative branches adapted better to the severe environment in terms of light energy transfer, light usage efficiency, and electron transport at 52 °C. Assimilative branches had better adaptability to elevated temperature than leaves of A. sparsifolia suggesting that assimilative branches might be more adaptive to severe environment.     

Contrasting water sources and water‐use efficiency in coexisting desert plants in two saline‐sodic soils in northwest China

• Soil degradation resulting from various types of salinity is a major environmental problem, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Exploring the water‐related physiological traits of halophytes is useful for understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance. This knowledge could be used to rehabilitate degraded arid lands.
• To investigate whether different types of salinity influence the water sources and water‐use efficiency of desert plants (Karelinia caspia, Tamarix hohenackeri, Nitraria sibirica, Phragmites australis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Suaeda microphylla, Kalidium foliatum) in natural environments, we measured leaf gas exchange, leaf carbon and xylem oxygen isotope composition and soil oxygen isotope composition at neutral saline‐sodic site (NSS) and alkaline saline‐sodic site (ASS) in northwest China.
• The studied plants had different xylem water oxygen isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O) and foliar carbon isotope compositions (δ¹³C), indicating that desert plants coexist through differentiation in water use patterns. Compared to that at the NSS site, the stem water in K. caspia, A. sparsifolia and S. microphylla was depleted in ¹⁸O at the ASS site, which indicates that plants can switch to obtain water from deeper soil layers when suffering environmental stress from both salinity and alkalinisation. Alhagi sparsifolia had higher δ¹³C at the ASS site than at the NSS site, while K. caspia and S. microphylla had lower δ¹³C, which may have resulted from interspecific differences in plant alkali and salt tolerance ability.
• Our results suggest that under severe salinity and alkalinity, plants may exploit deeper soil water to avoid ion toxicity resulting from high concentrations of soluble salts in the superficial soil layer. In managed lands, it is vital to select and cultivate different salt‐tolerant or alkali‐tolerant plant species in light of local conditions.