木棉叶片叶绿素荧光参数和SPAD值对干旱胁迫的响应

采用盆栽控水干旱法模拟干旱逆境,对1年生木棉(Bombax ceiba)盆栽苗进行不同程度的胁迫处理,测定干旱胁迫时其叶片叶绿素SPAD值和荧光参数动态变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,木棉叶片叶绿素相对含量逐渐降低;初始荧光(Fo)随着干旱程度的加剧而呈上升趋势,而最大荧光(Fm)、潜在光化学效率(Fv /Fo)、最大光化学效率(Fv /Fm)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)下降,在中度和重度干旱胁迫时差异显著(P＜0.05);非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)变化不显著。干旱胁迫导致木棉植株出现光抑制,植株可通过降低光化学淬灭、增加热耗散的形式增强对干旱的适应能力。     

濒危植物长序榆(Ulmus elongata)幼苗叶绿素荧光特性的初步研究

用Li-6400XT便携式光合作用仪对濒危植物长序榆幼苗的各叶绿素荧光参数的日变化和快速光响应曲线进行了测定。结果发现,光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、电子传递速率(ETR)在整个白天阶段较稳定,下午18:00显著下降。光化学淬灭(qP)先增大后减小。非光化学淬灭(NPQ)呈现出与光化学淬灭(qP)相反的变化趋势,中午最低,说明长序榆幼苗光能利用率较高。快速光曲线表明实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学淬灭(qP)随着光合有效辐射(PAR)的增大而减小,电子传递速率(ETR)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)随着光合有效辐射(PAR)的增大而增大。使用幂函数能够很好的拟合实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和电子传递速率(ETR)随光强的变化,而对数函数能较好的拟合实际光化学淬灭(qP)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)随光强的变化。     

西南丘陵地区紫色土酸性对无患子幼树生长和光合特性的影响

探讨无患子(Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.)生长和光合作用对酸性土壤胁迫的响应机制,为其高效种植提供理论依据。采用随机区组实验设计,以重庆市紫色土不同程度酸性区(pH分别为7.56、5.65、4.41)3年生无患子幼树为研究对象,分析紫色土酸性对无患子幼树生长、叶性状指标和光合作用的影响。结果表明:中性区土壤速效氮(AN)、速效磷(AP)含量极显著低于酸性区,中性区叶片全氮(TN)、全钾(TK)含量极显著高于酸性区(P0.01)。与中性区相比,酸性区幼树的株高、净光合速率(P_n)、总叶绿素(Chls)、叶绿素a(Chl a)、类胡萝卜素(Cars)含量、叶绿素a/b(Chl a/b)比值极显著减小(P0.01),最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)和非光化学淬灭系数(qN)显著减少(P0.05),而叶绿素b(Chl b)含量和叶绿素/类胡萝卜素(Chls/Cars)比值极显著增加(P0.01),冠幅、电子传递效率(ETR)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)、实际原初光能捕获效率(Y(Ⅱ))显著增大(P0.05);与中性区相比,强酸性区叶片光饱和点(LSP)极显著下降(P0.01),表观量子效率(AQY)、光补偿点(LCP)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)最高,弱酸性区最低;弱酸性区的地径、比叶面积(SLA)、叶面积(LA)、气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)在3个试验区中均最大,且显著高于强酸性区(P0.05)。紫色土酸性通过影响土壤养分转化、根系吸收能力,显著降低了酸性区无患子幼树的光合能力,而弱酸性区幼树叶片通过增大光能捕获面积,提高PSⅡ光合电子传递速率和光能捕获效率,降低有机物质消耗,表现出较强的生态适应性。因此,无患子在重庆紫色土区种植的pH适宜范围为5.5—7.5,而在pH值低于5.5的紫色土种植时,生长发育不良。     

珙桐苗木叶片光合特性对土壤干旱胁迫的响应

通过控制土壤含水量,研究了土壤干旱胁迫对2年生珙桐(Davidia involucrata Baill.)幼苗叶面积、叶绿素含量、光合作用及叶绿素荧光参数的影响,以探讨珙桐光合作用对土壤干旱胁迫的响应机理.结果表明,干旱胁迫后,珙桐叶片失水脱落,各干旱胁迫处理叶面积比对照显著降低23%～98%,但单位面积的叶绿素含量却无显著变化;干旱处理的珙桐幼苗净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用效率(WUE)显著低于对照(P<0.05);干旱胁迫对珙桐幼苗叶片的初始荧光产量(F0)及最大荧光产量(Fm)没有产生显著影响,却显著降低了PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量(Yield)、电子传递速率(ETR)及光化学淬灭系数(qP),使非光化学淬灭系数(qN)显著升高(P<0.05).研究发现,土壤水分亏缺对珙桐叶片的光合系统造成了不可逆的伤害,严重抑制了其正常的光合作用和生长发育;珙桐幼苗对土壤干旱胁迫极为敏感.     

硝基苯酚胁迫下外源褪黑素对水稻幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

采用液体培养实验方法,研究硝基苯酚胁迫对水稻(Oryza sativa L.)幼苗生长、抗氧化特性、光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)光合特性的影响,以及添加外源褪黑素对缓解硝基苯酚胁迫的作用。结果显示,随着硝基苯酚胁迫浓度的升高,水稻幼苗株高、根长、地下部干重、地上部干重、全株干重和叶片PSⅡ实际光化学效率[Y(Ⅱ)]、光化学淬灭系数(q P)、PSⅡ电子传递速率(ETR)、叶绿素含量均有所下降,而叶片非光化学淬灭系数(qN、NPQ)上升;同时,根系活性氧[过氧化氢(H_2O_2)和超氧阴离子(O·-2)]积累量、抗氧化酶[超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)]活性,以及渗透调节物质(可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖)含量呈先升高后降低的趋势。在非硝基苯酚胁迫下,与对照组相比,添加外源褪黑素显著提高了幼苗地下部干重、根系可溶性糖含量和SOD活性、叶片PSⅡ光化学效率和叶绿素含量。与单独添加硝基苯酚处理相比,硝基苯酚+褪黑素复合处理显著缓解了硝基苯酚胁迫对幼苗生长、叶片PSⅡ光化学效率和叶绿素合成的抑制作用;降低了根系活性氧水平、抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量。研究结果表明添加外源褪黑素能够显著缓解硝基苯酚胁迫对水稻幼苗生长、根系活性氧水平、抗氧化酶活性、叶片PSⅡ光化学效率及叶绿素合成的不良影响,提高水稻幼苗对硝基苯酚胁迫的适应性。     

连作土壤中施加球毛壳ND35菌肥对杨树生理特性的影响

在山东农业大学林学实验站杨树连作土壤中施加不同剂量(0.17、0.33、0.67、1.00、1.33和1.67 g·kg^-1)的球毛壳ND35菌肥,测定不同处理下一年生杨树叶片的光响应过程、叶绿素荧光以及叶黄素循环等光合生理生化指标,研究球毛壳ND35菌肥对杨树根系和光合生理性能的影响.结果表明: 随连作土壤中菌肥含量的增加,杨树叶片的叶绿素含量(Chl)呈增加趋势,电子传递速率(ETR)、净光合速率(P_n)、量子效率(Φ)、硝酸还原酶(NR)活性以及根系活力等生理指标均呈先增加后降低的趋势,依赖于叶黄素循环的光合热耗散呈降低趋势,而非光化学淬灭(NPQ)呈先降低后增加的趋势.在土壤施加菌肥剂量0.67和1.00 g·kg^-1处理时,光合机构的过剩光能减少,向光化学反应方向分配的光能增多,光能利用效率提高.在连作土壤中施加适量(0.67～1.00 g·kg^-1)的球毛壳ND35菌肥,能在一定程度上提高杨树的根系生理活性,提高杨树叶片对光能的利用效率,有利于改善杨树叶片的光合机构运转状态,提高叶片的光合作用效率.     

高温胁迫下苋菜的叶绿素荧光特性

为了探明高温胁迫对苋菜(Amaranthus tricolor L.)光合过程的影响,用不同温度(25、30、35、40、45℃)处理苋菜植株1h后,随即测定了其叶绿素荧光动力学参数和快速光响应曲线特征参数的变化.结果表明:40℃以上高温胁迫下,苋菜叶片的光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)潜在光化学效率(Fv/Fo)、最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)下降;最大荧光(Fm)、光合电子传递速率(ETR)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Yield)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)也均有所下降;而初始荧光(F.)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)在40℃以上高温胁迫下显著上升.叶绿素荧光快速光响应曲线测定结果表明,初始斜率α、最大相对电子传递速率ETRmax和半饱和光强Ik在40℃以上高温胁迫下有所下降.研究表明,40℃以上高温胁迫对苋菜的光能的吸收、转换、光合电子传递和强光耐受能力等均有一定的影响.     

链霉素处理对玉米叶片叶绿素荧光参数和叶黄素脱环氧化水平的影响

利用叶绿素荧光分析技术和高效液相色谱研究了链霉素(SM,叶绿体基因编码蛋白的抑制剂)处理玉米叶片的叶黄素循环及依赖叶黄素循环的热耗散。与对照相比,强光下SM处理叶片的最大光化学效率(Fv／Fm)降低且不能完全恢复,同时电子传递速率(ETR)显著下降。而且,SM处理叶片的非光化学淬灭(NPQ)和叶黄素循环的脱环氧化水平增加。但是,NPQ的主要组分高能态(qE)淬灭减小。因此,推测qE的降低可能与电子传递速率降低有关。     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗光合作用的影响

采用营养液栽培,研究了外源亚精胺对50mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗植株生长、叶片叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数和叶绿素荧光参数(PSⅡ光化学效率)的影响。结果表明:NaCl胁迫显著降低了黄瓜植株生长量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)(P<0.05),但对PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ФPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭(qP)、有效光化学效率(Fv′/Fm′)、非光化学淬灭(qN)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)无显著影响(P>0.05);外源亚精胺显著提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜植株生长量、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度,增加了ФPSⅡ、qP、Fv′/Fm′,降低了qN(P<0.05);外源亚精胺对Fv/Fm影响不显著(P>0.05)。外源施加亚精胺可增强盐胁迫下黄瓜植株的光合能力,主要是由于减弱了盐胁迫对植株的气孔限制,但对PSⅡ实际光化学效率影响较小,且叶面喷施比根施处理对改善盐胁迫下植株的生长和光合作用更有效。     

延长光照时间对烟草叶片生长发育及光合特性的影响

以烤烟品种‘云烟87’为材料,采用夜间人工补光的方式,以自然光照时间为对照,设置增加1h、2h和3h光照3个处理,研究延长光照时间对烟草生长发育、叶绿素含量及光合作用、叶绿素荧光参数和光响应曲线的影响。结果表明:(1)与对照相比,延长光照时间2h处理下烟株叶长、叶宽、株高显著增加,1h、3h处理影响不显著。(2)延长光照处理显著降低比叶面积,提高叶片叶绿素a、b、叶绿素a+b、类胡萝卜素含量,但1h、3h处理的变化幅度小于2h处理。(3)延长光照时间1h和2h处理下叶片净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)显著升高,3h处理影响不大;延长光照处理显著提高了PSⅡ最大光化学量子效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭系数(qP),降低了非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ),其中2h处理影响幅度最大,但对初始荧光强度F0影响不显著;延长光照处理下烟草叶片的最大净光合速率(Pmax)和光饱和点(Isat)均升高,但光补偿点(Ic)没有明显的变化。研究表明,适当延长光照时间有利于叶片生长发育和干物质积累,提高叶绿素含量,促进光合作用,缓解光抑制现象,充分利用光能,提高叶片光合同化效率。     

黄菖蒲适生环境筛选

对黄菖蒲（Iris pseudacorus L．）在旱生（CK）、湿生及水深10、30、60、100和150cm 7个不同栽培环境下的株高、叶干重、通气组织及部分生理指标的变化进行了比较分析。发现从旱生至30cm水深环境中,黄菖蒲的株高和叶干重均逐渐增加,而在水深60cm至150cm的环境中则呈降低趋势。在水深30cm的环境中处理40d,黄菖蒲叶片通气道与横截面积比及叶片SOD活性显著高于对照和其他处理组;相对电导率及脯氨酸含量随水深及处理时间的增加基本呈上升趋势。结果表明,黄菖蒲在水深约30cm的环境中生长状况最佳;在旱生、湿生和水深10cm的环境中能够生长良好;在60cm水深环境生长比较适宜;水深超过60cm,黄菖蒲不能正常生长。     

Long-term anoxia tolerance in leaves of Acorus calamus L. and Iris pseudacorus L

Mature green leaves of Acorus calamus and Iris pseudacorus have been shown to survive at least 28 d of total anoxia in the dark during the growing season, increasing up to 75 d and 60 d in overwintering leaves in A. calamus and I. pseudacorus, respectively. During the period of anaerobic incubation the glycolytic rate is reduced, carbohydrate reserves are conserved and ethanol levels in the tissues reached an equilibrium. Prolonged anoxia significantly suppressed leaf capacity for respiration and photosynthesis. After 28 d of anoxia, respiratory capacity was reduced in A. calamus and I. pseudacorus by 80% and 90%, respectively. The photosynthetic capacity of leaves decreased by 83% in A. calamus and by 97% in I. pseudacorus after 28 d of anoxia. This reduction in photosynthetic capacity was accompanied by a modification of the chlorophyll fluorescence pattern indicating damage to the PSII reaction centre and subsequent electron transport. Chlorophyll content was only slightly reduced after 28 d under anoxia and darkness in A. calamus, whereas there was a 50% reduction in I. pseudacorus. On return to air A. calamus leaves that endured 28 d of anoxia recovered full photosynthetic activity within 7 d while those of I. pseudacorus had a lag phase of 3-10 d. This well-developed ability to endure prolonged periods of oxygen deprivation in both these species is associated with a down-regulation in metabolic activity in response to the imposition of anaerobiosis. It is suggested that when leaf damage eventually does take place in these species after protracted oxygen deprivation, it is anoxic rather than post-anoxic stress that is responsible.     

Comparison of carbohydrate utilization and energy charge in the yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and garden iris (Iris germanica) under anoxia

Carbohydrate and energy metabolism of the flooding- and anoxia-tolerant Iris pseudacorus and the intolerant Iris germanica rhizomes were investigated under experimental anoxic conditions. Rhizomes of I. pseudacorus and I. Germanica were incubated in the absence of oxygen from 0 to 60 and 16 days, respectively. Amounts of glucose, total reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars (starch, fructan and oligosaccharides) in the rhizomes were measured. Ethanol concentration and adenylate energy charge were determined enzymatically. Glucose content of I. pseudacorus rhizomes decreased gradually during the first 30 days under anoxia and then increased at the same time as adenylate energy charge values started to decline. In I. germanica rhizomes the changes were more dramatic and the time scale was much shorter than in I. pseudacorus but the changes were similar. Non-reducing sugar content of I. pseudacorus rhizomes decreased rapidly during the first 15 days under oxygen deprivation and then increased again, to near starting levels at 35 days. In I. germanica the amount of non-reducing sugars decreased gradually during the anoxic incubation. Under aerobic control conditions, adenylate energy charge (AEC) of I. pseudacorus and I. germanica rhizome tissue was 0.87±0.01 and 0.81±0.01, respectively. In I. pseudacorus AEC remained high until 30 days under anoxia. In contrast, the energy charge of I. germanica rhizome tissue remained above 0.6 for 4 days only. Large amounts of ethanol were found in anoxic rhizome tissues of I. pseudacorus (up to 0.21 M ) and I. germanica (0.06 M ) after 45 days and 8 days, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to flooding tolerance of these species.     

黄菖蒲叶片对水分的生物学响应及其净化水质作用

为解决漓江流域水质下降和生态系统退化的关键问题,开展黄菖蒲抗逆性以及水质净化作用研究,为漓江水陆交错带生态修复的植物选择提供科学依据。采用盆栽试验,研究了黄菖蒲在不同基质内不同淹水胁迫下的叶片生长情况,共设5个处理,并在全土基质中开展净化水质实验。结果表明:随着水淹深度的增加,黄菖蒲叶片数明显下降;半淹处理对黄菖蒲生长最有利;水淹时间对黄菖蒲叶片数、叶长、叶宽与叶面积有极显著影响;黄菖蒲叶片长度、宽度和叶片数随淹水处理没有明显差异,基质对黄菖蒲的生长无显著差异;水分比基质对黄菖蒲生长影响大;种植黄菖蒲处理后pH减小为中性,在一定程度上可以净化水质,但对氮磷的净化效果不明显。     

岷江上游干旱河谷矮探春叶片特征与环境因子的关系

对岷江上游干旱河谷矮探春(Jasminumhumile L.)的叶片形态解剖特征进行了显微观察,分析了海拔梯度上叶片形态与环境因子的关系。结果表明,矮探春叶片呈长椭圆形,叶肉组织分化明显;随着海拔升高,叶面积、厚度、干重、饱和含水量、海绵组织厚度,中脉厚度以及厚角组织厚度/中脉厚度之比(M/C)等呈增大趋势,而栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度之比(P/S)则减小;叶片长/宽比、表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度和比叶重在海拔梯度上无明显差异。叶面积、干重、饱和含水量、叶厚度和海绵组织厚度等参数两两之间呈显著正相关,而它们与P/S均呈显著负相关。叶面积、干重、海绵组织厚度和M/C等主要受土壤含水量的影响,并随着土壤含水量增加而增大;P/S随着土壤含水量和年降水量增加而减小;叶片厚度、饱和含水量和中脉厚度均随着温和度的降低而增大。岷江上游干旱河谷区土壤水份和生长季温度可能是影响矮探春叶片形态解剖特征的主要因子。     

Functional traits composition predict macrophytes community productivity along a water depth gradient in a freshwater lake

Functional trait composition of plant communities has been proposed as a helpful key for understanding the mechanisms of biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. In this study, we applied a step‐wise modeling procedure to test the relative effects of taxonomic diversity, functional identity, and functional diversity on macrophytes community productivity along water depth gradient. We sampled 42 plots and 1513 individual plants and measured 16 functional traits and abundance of 17 macrophyte species. Results showed that there was a significant decrease in taxonomic diversity, functional identity (i.e., stem dry mass content, leaf [C] and leaf [N]), and functional diversity (i.e., floating leaf, mean Julian flowering date and rooting depth) with increasing water depth. For the multiple‐trait functional diversity (FD) indices, functional richness decreased, while functional divergence increased with water depth gradient. Macrophyte community productivity was strongly determined by functional trait composition within community, but not significantly affected by taxonomic diversity. Community‐weighted means (CWM) showed a two times higher explanatory power relative to FD indices in determining variations in community productivity. For nine of sixteen traits, CWM and FD showed significant correlations with community productivity, although the strength and direction of those relations depended on selected trait. Furthermore, functional composition in a community affected productivity through either additive or opposite effects of CWM and FD, depending on the particular traits being considered. Our results suggested both mechanisms of mass ratio and niche complementarity can operate simultaneously on variations in community productivity, and considering both CWM and FD would lead to a more profound understanding of traits–productivity relationships.     

Morphological responses of two plant species from different elevations in the Dongting Lake wetlands,China, to variation in water levels

The vegetation of wetlands show strong zonation patterns, but the mechanisms determining these patterns are not fully understood. In the present study, growth and morphological responses to a water level gradient (–20 cm (i.e. water level 20 cm below soil surface), –10 cm, 0 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm) were compared between a higher elevation plant (Imperata cylindrica) and a lower elevation plant (Carex brevicuspis) in the Dongting Lake wetlands of China. For both species, the aboveground, belowground, and total biomass were greater at –10 cm than at any other water level.. However, when the water level increased from –10 cm to 0 cm, there was a greater decrease in the biomass of I. cylindrica than in that of C. brevicuspis. Plant height, tiller number, leaf length, leaf width and leaf area showed greater variation along the water level gradient in I. cylindrica than in C. brevicuspis. Generally, with increasing water level, root length, rhizome number, and adventitious root biomass and number all decreased in I. cylindrica. However, in C. brevicuspis, neither the rhizome number nor the primary adventitious root biomass differed significantly among the five water levels. These results indicate that I. cylindrica have a lower tolerance for flooding and higher water sensitivity than C. brevicuspis and these differences may explain why I. cylindrica is found at relatively higher elevations that are not prone to flooding, while C. brevicuspis is found at comparatively lower elevations in the Dongting Lake wetlands.     

水深对苦草生长及叶片PSⅡ光化学特性的影响

利用植物效率仪(Handy-PEA)测定水深0.6、1.3、2.0 m下苦草叶片的快速荧光诱导动力学曲线(OJIP曲线),并采用JIP test方法分析和处理数据,研究水深对苦草生长和叶片光合机理的影响.结果表明: 随着水深增加,水下光强显著衰减,苦草生物量、无性系分株数、叶片数、根系总长度、根系表面积等形态指标显著降低,而最大叶长、平均叶长、最大叶宽无显著变化,2.0 m水深对苦草的生长产生了负面影响;单位反应中心吸收、捕获、电子传递、传递到电子传递末端的量子效率(ABS/RC、TR₀/RC、ET₀/RC、RE₀/RC)显著降低,单位反应中心的耗散量子效率(DI₀/RC)也显著下降,导致3种水深处理下单位反应中心吸收的能传递电子链末端的效率(φ_R0)以及用于电子传递的能量成功传递到电子链末端的效率(δ_R0)差异不显著,表明水深梯度对单位反应中心光合效率影响不显著;单位面积反应中心数(RC/CS₀)显著增加,相同受光面积时水深2.0 m处叶片光合作用显著强于水深0.6 m处;性能参数PI_abs、PI_cs和PI_abs,total显著提高,表明低光胁迫有利于光能向活跃化学能转变.苦草叶片通过激活未激活的反应中心,而不是提高单位反应中心光能利用效率来适应弱光强,且水深1.3 m较适合苦草生长.
     

An alternative mechanism for shade adaptation: implication of allometric responses of three submersed macrophytes to water depth

Allometric scaling models describing size-dependent biological relationships are important for understanding the adaptive responses of plants to environmental variation. In this study, allometric analysis was used to investigate the biomass allocation and morphology of three submerged macrophytes (Potamogeton maackianus, Potamogeton malaianus and Vallisneria natans) in response to water depth (1.0 and 2.5?m) in an in situ experiment. The three macrophytes exhibited different allometric strategies associated with distinct adjustments in morphology and biomass allocation in response to varying water depths. In deeper water, after accounting for the effects of plant size, P. maackianus and P. malaianus tended to enhance light harvesting by allocating more biomass to the stem, increasing shoot height and specific leaf area. V. natans tended to allocate more biomass to the leaf than to the basal stem (rosette), showing a higher leaf mass ratio and shoot height in deeper water. The three species decreased biomass allocation to roots as water depth increased. The main effect of water depth treatments was reduced light availability, which induced plastic shoot or leaf elongation. This shows that macrophytes have evolved responses to light limitation similar to those of terrestrial plants.     

Photosynthetic Electron Transport in Shoots of Sitka Spruce from Different Levels in a Forest Canopy

Shoots from the lower levels of a Sitka forest canopy [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.] have much lower photosynthetic capacities per unit leaf area than do those from the top of the canopy. Chloroplast fragments have been isolated from the needles at three levels in the canopy and Photosystem I and Photosystem II activities measured. Measurements were made at eight photon flux densities giving light response curves for photosystem activity in the three canopy levels. Expressed per unit leaf area, light-saturated activities of Photosystem I and II were lower at the bottom of the canopy than at the top suggesting that photosystem activity might be limiting photosynthesis in the shoots from the bottom of the canopy. Chlorophyll concentration per unit fresh weight did not vary amongst the three levels, but specific leaf area increased and dry weight fraction decreased with increasing depth in the canopy, leading to a large reduction with depth in chlorophyll content per unit leaf area.