Photosynthetic performances of five Cypripedium species after transplanting

Photosynthesis and leaf traits of five species in genus Cypripedium were compared in natural habitats and transplant nursery to develop effective strategy for cultivation and conservation. Among five species, C. guttatum had the highest photosynthetic capacity (P _Nmax) in the natural habitat and nursery, while C. lichiangense the lowest. The differences in P _Nmax among species were correlated with leaf N content (LNC) and leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA). After transplanting from natural habitats to nursery, the P _Nmax of C. lichiangense and C. yunnanense decreased, that of C. guttatum increased, while those of C. flavum and C. tibeticum remained relatively constant. The variations in LNC and biochemical efficiency would be responsible for the differences in P _Nmax between plants in natural habitats and in the nursery, but not the relative stomatal limitation. After transplanting, the F_v/F_m of C. lichiangense and C. yunnanense were declined. Meanwhile, the temperature ranges maintaining 90 % P _Nmax of C. lichiangense and C. yunnanense were narrower than those of the other three species. Thus the biochemical process in five species played a major role in the differences of P _Nmax after transplanting, and the widespread species had higher photosynthetic adaptability than the narrow-spread species.