Physiology-phenology interactions in a productive semi-arid pine forest

This study explored possible advantages conferred by the phase shift between leaf phenology and photosynthesis seasonality in a semi-arid Pinus halepensis forest system, not seen in temperate sites. Leaf-scale measurements of gas exchange, nitrogen and phenology were used on daily, seasonal and annual time-scales. Peak photosynthesis was in late winter, when high soil moisture, mild temperatures and low leaf vapour pressure deficit (D(L)) allowed high rates associated with high water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies. Self-sustained new needle growth through the dry and hot summer maximized photosynthesis in the following wet season, without straining carbon storage. Low rates of water loss were associated with increasing sensitivity of stomatal conductance (g(s)) to soil moisture below a relative extractable water (REW) of 0.4, and decreased g(s )sensitivity to D(L) below REW of approx. 0.2. This response was captured by the modified Ball-Berry (Leuning) model. While most physiological parameters and responses measured were typical of temperate pines, the photosynthesis-phenological phasing contributed to high productivity under warm-dry conditions. This contrasts with reported effects of short-term periodical droughts and could lead to different predictions of the effect of warming and drying climate on pine forest productivity.     

A plastid protein crucial for Ca2+-regulated stomatal responses

* Guard cell movements are regulated by environmental cues including, for example, elevations in extracellular Ca(2+) concentration. Here, the subcellular localization and physiological function of the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor (CAS) protein was investigated. * CAS protein localization was ascertained by microscopic analyses of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins and biochemical fractionation assays. Comparative guard cell movement investigations were performed in wild-type and cas loss-of-function mutant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana. Cytoplasmic Ca(2+) dynamics were addressed in plants expressing the yellow cameleon reporter protein YC3.6. * This study identified CAS as a chloroplast-localized protein that is crucial for proper stomatal regulation in response to elevations of external Ca(2+). CAS fulfils this role through modulation of the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration. * This work reveals a novel role of the chloroplast in cellular Ca(2+) signal transduction.     

Photosynthesis and water-use efficiency of some mangroves from Sundarbans, India

We studied seasonal fluctuations in the rates of photosynthesis, transpiration, PAR, and stomatal conductance for 16 species of true mangroves from the Sundarbans region of West Bengal. Soil salinity and pH were also measured. Leaf temperatures were almost always higher than the ambient temperature. We observed considerable seasonal (summer vs winter) as well as interspecific variations in photosynthesis, with the highest rates occurring inHeritiera fomes (13.21 pmol m^-2s^-1) andAvicennia marina (11.8 mol m^-2s^-1), and the lowest inNypa fruticans (1.56 mol m^-2s^-1) andCeriops decandra (2.32 pmol m^-2s^-1), in many species, an abrupt rise in leaf temperature retarded the photosyn-thetic process. In winter, the rate of transpiration and stomatal conductance reached their maxima inA. marina (4.83 mmol ra^-2s^-1 and 124.23 m mol m^-2s^-1, respectively) and their mimima inExcoecaria agallocha (1.85 mmol m^-2s^-1 and 49.19 mmol m^-2s^-1, respectively). In contrast, the maximum summer readings were recorded in E.agallocha (6.07 mmol m^-2s^-1 and 192.74 mmol m^-2s^-1 respectively).     

Tree water dynamics in a drying and warming world

Disentangling the relative impacts of precipitation reduction and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) on plant water dynamics and determining whether acclimation may influence these patterns in the future is an important challenge. Here, we report sap flux density (F_D), stomatal conductance (G_s), hydraulic conductivity (K_L) and xylem anatomy in piñon pine (Pinus edulis) and juniper (Juniperus monosperma) trees subjected to five years of precipitation reduction, atmospheric warming (elevated VPD) and their combined effects. No acclimation occurred under precipitation reduction: lower G_s and F_D were found for both species compared to ambient conditions. Warming reduced the sensibility of stomata to VPD for both species but resulted in the maintenance of G_s and F_D to ambient levels only for piñon. For juniper, reduced soil moisture under warming negated benefits of stomatal adjustments and resulted in reduced F_D, G_s and K_L. Although reduced stomatal sensitivity to VPD also occurred under combined stresses, reductions in G_s, F_D and K_L took place to similar levels as under single stresses for both species. Our results show that stomatal conductance adjustments to high VPD could minimize but not entirely prevent additive effects of warming and drying on water use and carbon acquisition of trees in semi‐arid regions.     

Ozone‐induced foliar damage and release of stress volatiles is highly dependent on stomatal openness and priming by low‐level ozone exposure in Phaseolus vulgaris

Acute ozone exposure triggers major emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but quantitatively, it is unclear how different ozone doses alter the start and the total amount of these emissions, and the induction rate of different stress volatiles. It is also unclear whether priming (i.e. pre‐exposure to lower O₃ concentrations) can modify the magnitude and kinetics of volatile emissions. We investigated photosynthetic characteristics and VOC emissions in Phaseolus vulgaris following acute ozone exposure (600 nmol mol^?1 for 30 min) under illumination and in darkness and after priming with 200 nmol mol^?1 O₃ for 30 min. Methanol and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway product emissions were induced rapidly, followed by moderate emissions of methyl salicylate (MeSA). Stomatal conductance prior to acute exposure was lower in darkness and after low O₃ priming than in light and without priming. After low O₃ priming, no MeSA and lower LOX emissions were detected under acute exposure. Overall, maximum emission rates and the total amount of emitted LOX products and methanol were quantitatively correlated with total stomatal ozone uptake. These results indicate that different stress volatiles scale differently with ozone dose and highlight the key role of stomatal conductance in controlling ozone uptake, leaf injury and volatile release.     

西藏东达山3种嵩草属植物气孔特征沿海拔的变化

嵩草属(Kobresia)植物是藏东南高山草甸的优势种和建群种,对该区畜牧业发展和维持生态系统平衡起着重要作用。选择西藏左贡县东达山为研究地点,从林线开始,海拔每升高约100m设置1个样带直至高山草甸分布边缘,共8个样带,调查各样带中物种的组成及盖度,并依据相对盖度和相对频度计算3种嵩草植物矮生嵩草(K.humilis)、线叶嵩草(K.capillifolia)和大花嵩草(K.macrantha)在群落中的重要值,同时取样观察它们叶片远、近轴面表皮细胞形态,测量气孔长度及保卫细胞宽度,计算气孔密度,探讨嵩草属植物对海拔梯度的适应性。结果表明:(1)3种嵩草属植物叶表皮细胞均呈波浪状,气孔器仅分布于远轴面,近轴面无气孔器分布。(2)3种嵩草属植物气孔密度沿海拔梯度的变化均呈单峰曲线分布格局,且在海拔4 537m样带处达到最大值,并表现为矮生嵩草(777.6个/mm2)线叶嵩草(476.4个/mm2)大花嵩草(414.3个/mm2)。(3)随海拔的增加,矮生嵩草和线叶嵩草气孔长度显著增大(P0.05),而保卫细胞宽度显著减小;但大花嵩草气孔长度随海拔的升高而显著减小,保卫细胞宽度基本保持不变。(4)矮生嵩草和线叶嵩草气孔密度、长度和保卫细胞宽度与海拔梯度均显著相关,气孔特征对海拔梯度变化的敏感程度高,与其在群落中重要值高的分布特征一致;而大花嵩草仅气孔密度和长度与海拔梯度显著相关,气孔特征对海拔梯度变化的敏感性低,与其在群落中重要值低的分布特征一致;嵩草属植物气孔密度、长度和保护细胞宽度与海拔梯度之间的相关性,反映出它们在海拔梯度上对生境的适应程度。可见,3种嵩草属植物气孔特征对海拔梯度上生境变化的适应性不同,从而影响它们在群落中的分布范围和物种优势度,其中矮生嵩草和线叶嵩草对环境变化敏感,而大花嵩草对环境变化相对不敏感;保卫细胞宽度与气孔长度同样对植物适应环境变化起重要作用。     

Characteristics and partitioning of ozone dry deposition measured by eddy-covariance technology in a winter wheat field

Aims Anthropogenic pollutants cause an increase in ground-level ozone concentration, which is a known threat to plant growth and yield and has been extensively observed worldwide. Since ozone is only slightly soluble in water, it is deposited mainly through dry deposition in terrestrial ecosystem. The object of this study was to analyze the characteristics of ozone dry deposition and to estimate the contribution of stomatal and non-stomatal ozone deposition pathways to total ozone deposition in a winter wheat field.Methods The research site was a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) field located in Yongfeng experimental station of Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology. The data used in this study were collected from March 16, 2016 to May 30, 2016. We observed ozone dry deposition with an eddy-covariance system. This system mainly included a 3D sonic anemometer, an open-path infrared absorption spectrometer, a fast-response ozone chemiluminescent analyzer and a slow-response ozone monitor. We simultaneously measured meteorological data including solar radiation (SR), air temperature (T), air relativity humidity (RH), wind speed, net radiation, and rainfall. All raw data were recorded with data-logger and averaged every 30 min.Important findings Half hourly means of ozone concentrations (C_O3), ozone flux (F_O3) and ozone dry deposition velocity (V_d) in the winter wheat field were 32.9 nL·L^-1, -5.09 nmol·m^-2·s^-1, 0.39 cm·s^-1, and the ranges of them were 16-58 nL·L^-1, -2.9- -11.7 nmol·m^-2·s^-1, 0.17-0.63 cm·s^-1, respectively. F_O3 and C_O3/V_d were found to be mismatched with phase peaks occurring at different time intervals. The ecosystem was more effective on ozone dry deposition, under conditions of moderate to high SR (SR ≥ 400 W·m^-2), moderate T and humility (T = 18 °C and RH > 40%). The relationship between V_dmax and SR was this function (y = 1.06 -exp (-0.0094 - x)). V_dmax increased with SR When SR < 400 W·m^-2, and V_dmax reached its maximum when SR =400 W·m^-2. V_dmax maintained its maximum when SR ≥ 400 W·m^-2. The relationship between V_dmax and T was “bell” curve (y = 1.06 - (x - 18)²/169). V_dmax reached its maximum when T = 18 °C. V_dmax decreased with RH when RH < 40 % (y = 0.030x - 0.106). The variation of V_d might uncertainty when RH was high. There was a liner positive relationship between friction velocity (u*) and V_d, but this relationship was not significant. The mean day-to-day and daytime contributions of stomatal and non-stomatal ozone deposition pathway to total ozone deposition were 32%, 68% and 42%, 58%, respectively, during the whole experimental period.     

Environmental and species‐specific controls on δ13C and δ15N in dominant woody plants from central‐western Argentinian drylands

Spatial variation in mean annual precipitation is the principal driver of plant water and nitrogen status in drylands. The natural abundance of carbon stable isotopes (δ¹³C) in photosynthetic tissues of C3 plants is an indicator of time‐integrated behaviour of stomatal conductance; while that of nitrogen stable isotopes (δ¹⁵N) is an indicator of the main source of plant N (soil N vs. atmospheric N₂). Previous studies in drylands have documented that plant δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values increase with decreasing mean annual precipitation due to reductions in stomatal conductance, and soil enriched in ¹⁵N, respectively. However, evidence for this comes from studies focused on stable isotopes measurements integrated at the plant community level or on dominant plants at the site level, but little effort has been made to study C and N isotope variations within a species growing along rainfall gradients. We analysed plant δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and C/N values of three woody species having different phenological leaf traits (deciduous, perennial and aphyllous) along a regional mean annual precipitation gradient from the central‐western Argentinian drylands. Noticeably, plant δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in the three woody species did not increase towards sites with low precipitation or at the start of the growing season (drier period), as we expected. These results suggest that environmental factors other than mean annual precipitation may be affecting plant δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N. The short‐term environmental conditions may interact with species‐specific plant traits related to water and nitrogen use strategies and override the predictive influence of the mean annual precipitation on plant δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N widely reported in drylands.