Changes in morphological, photosynthetic and physiological responses of Mono Maple seedlings to enhanced UV-B and to nitrogen addition

In the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China, Mono Maple is a common species in reforestation processes. The paper mainly investigated the changes in morphological, photosynthetic and physiological responses of Mono Maple seedlings to UV-B radiation, nitrogen supply and their combination. The experimental design included two levels of UV-B treatments (ambient UV-B, 11.02 KJ m⁻² day⁻¹; enhanced UV-B, 14.33 KJ m⁻² day⁻¹) and two nitrogen levels (0; 20 g N m⁻² a⁻¹)—to determine whether the adverse effects of UV-B on plants are eased by nitrogen supply. Enhanced UV-B caused a marked decline in growth parameters, net photosynthetic rate, and photosynthetic pigments, whereas it induced an increase in reaction oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide accumulation and the rate of superoxide radical production) and malondialdehyde content. Enhance UV-B also induced an increase in antioxidant compounds of Mono Maple, such as UV-B absorbing compounds, proline content, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, superoxide dimutase and catalase). On the other hand, nitrogen supply caused an increase in some growth parameters, net photosynthetic rate, photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant compounds (peroxidase, proline content and UV-B absorbing compounds), and reduced the content of reaction oxygen species (H₂O₂ accumulation, the rate of O₂⁻ production) and malondialdehyde content under ambient UV-B. However, under enhanced UV-B, nitrogen supply inhibited some growth parameters, and increased H₂O₂ accumulation, the rate of O₂⁻ production and MDA content, though proline content, UV-B absorbing compounds and activities of POD and SOD increased. These results implied that enhanced UV-B brought harmful effects on Mono Maple seedlings and nitrogen supply made plants more sensitive to enhanced UV-B, though increased some antioxidant activity.     

Interaction Effects of Ambient UV Radiation and Nutrient Limitation on the Toxic Cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nodularia spumigena</Emphasis>

Nodularia spumigena is one of the dominating species during the extensive cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea. The blooms coincide with strong light, stable stratification, low ratios of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and dissolved inorganic phosphorus. The ability of nitrogen fixation, a high tolerance to phosphorus starvation, and different photo-protective strategies (production of mycosporine-like amino acids, MAAs) may give N. spumigena a competitive advantage over other phytoplankton during the blooms. To elucidate the interactive effects of ambient UV radiation and nutrient limitation on the performance of N. spumigena, an outdoor experiment was designed. Two radiation treatments photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and PAR +UV-A + UV-B (PAB) and three nutrient treatments were established: nutrient replete (NP), nitrogen limited (−N), and phosphorus limited (−P). Variables measured were specific growth rate, heterocyst frequency, cell volume, cell concentrations of MAAs, photosynthetic pigments, particulate carbon (POC), particulate nitrogen (PON), and particulate phosphorus (POP). Ratios of particulate organic matter were calculated: POC/PON, POC/POP, and PON/POP. There was no interactive effect between radiation and nutrient limitation on the specific growth rate of N. spumigena, but there was an overall effect of phosphorus limitation on the variables measured. Interaction effects were observed for some variables; cell size (larger cells in −P PAB compared to other treatments) and the carotenoid canthaxanthin (highest concentration in −N PAR). In addition, significantly less POC and PON (mol cell⁻¹) were found in −P PAR compared to −P PAB, and the opposite radiation effect was observed in −N. Our study shows that despite interactive effects on some of the variables studied, N. spumigena tolerate high ambient UVR also under nutrient limiting conditions and maintain positive growth rate even under severe phosphorus limitation.     

Canopy photosynthetic production in a Japanese larch forest. II. Estimation of the canopy photosynthetic production

Seasonal changes and yearly gross canopy photosynthetic production were estimated for an 18 year old Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) forest between 1982 and 1984. A canopy photosynthesis model was applied for the estimation, which took into account the effect of light interception by the non-photosynthetic organs. Seasonal changes in photosynthetic ability, amount of canopy leaf area and light environment within the canopy were also taken into account. Amount of leaf area was estimated by the leaf area growth of a single leaf. The change of light environment within the canopy during the growing season was estimated with a light penetration model and the leaf increment within the canopy. Canopy respiration and surplus production were calculated as seasonal and yearly values for the three years studied. Mean yearly estimates of canopy photosynthesis, canopy respiration and surplus production were 37, 13 and 23 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Vertical trend, seasonal changes and yearly values of the estimates were analyzed in relation to environmental and stand factors.     

Why Nitrogen Use Efficiency Decreases Under High Nitrogen Supply in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seedlings

Hydroponic experiments were conducted in a greenhouse to examine the effects of different nitrogen (N) supply (low, 20 mg L⁻¹; intermediate, 40 mg L⁻¹; and high, 100 mg L⁻¹) on the growth, nitrogen use efficiency, and photosynthetic characteristics of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L., cv. “Shanyou 63” hybrid indica. China). Leaf gas exchange was conducted to identify the photosynthetic-limiting factors in plants with high N supply. The results showed that (1) shoot biomass, leaf area, and tiller numbers per plant under low N were lower than under intermediate and high N supplies. No significant differences were observed between plants supplied with intermediate and high N. (2) About a 35% increase in leaf N content in plants fed by high N resulted in about a 15% increase in carboxylation efficiency (CE) and photosynthetic rate. (3) The noncorresponding increases in photosynthetic rate in rice seedlings fed by high N relative to low N resulted from Rubisco activity and/or CE. (4) The decreased Rubisco activity was induced by a relatively insufficient CO₂ supply under high N supply. These results indicated that insufficient CO₂ supply under high N supply accounted for the decreased Rubisco activity and the noncorresponding increases in photosynthetic rate to leaf N content, and as a result, decreased (photosynthetic) nitrogen use efficiency.     

Excess irradiance causes early symptoms of senescence during leaf expansion in photoautotrophically <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> grown tobacco plants

Photosynthetic parameters, growth, and pigment contents were determined during expansion of the fourth leaf of in vitro photoautotrophically cultured Nicotiana tabacum L. plants at three irradiances [photosynthetically active radiation (400–700 nm): low, LI 60 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹; middle, MI 180 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹; and high, HI 270 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹]. During leaf expansion, several symptoms usually accompanying leaf senescence appeared very early in HI and then in MI plants. Symptoms of senescence in developing leaves were: decreasing chlorophyll (Chl) a+b content and Chl a/b ratio, decreasing both maximum (F_V/F_M) and actual (Φ_PS2) photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2, and increasing non-photochemical quenching. Nevertheless, net photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate (P _N) did not decrease consistently with decrease in Chl content, but exhibited a typical ontogenetic course with gradual increase. P _N reached its maximum before full leaf expansion and then tended to decline. Thus excess irradiance during in vitro cultivation did not cause early start of leaf senescence, but impaired photosynthetic performance and Chl content in leaves and changed their typical ontogenetic course.     

Seasonal patterns of growth and nitrogen fixation in field-grown pea

The seasonal patterns of growth and symbiotic N₂ fixation under field conditions were studied by growth analysis and use of¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer in a determinate pea cultivar (Pisum sativum L.) grown for harvest at the dry seed stage. The patterns of fertilizer N-uptake were almost identical in pea and barley (the non-fixing reference crop), but more fertilizer-N was recovered in barley than in pea. The estimated rate of N₂ fixation in pea gradually increased during the pre-flowering and flowering growth stages and reached a maximum of 10 kg N fixed per ha per day nine to ten weeks after seedling emergence. This was the time of early pod-development (flat pod growth stage) and also the time for maximum crop growth rate and maximum green leaf area index. A steep drop in N₂ fixation rate occurred during the following week. This drop was simultaneous with lodging of the crop, pod-filling (round pod growth stage) and the initiation of mobilization of nitrogen from vegetative organs. The application of fertilizer-N inhibited the rate of N₂ fixation only during that period of growth, when the main part of fertilizer-N was taken up and shortly after. Total accumulation of fixed nitrogen was estimated to be 244, 238 and 213 kg N ha⁻¹ in pea supplied with nil, 25 or 50 kg NO ₃ ⁻ −N ha⁻¹, respectively. About one-fourth of total N₂ fixation was carried out during preflowering, one fourth during the two weeks of flowering and the remainder during post-flowering. About 55% of the amount of N present in pods at maturity was estimated to be derived from mobilization of N from vegetative organs. “Starter” N (25 or 50 kg NO ₃ ⁻ −N ha⁻¹) did not significantly influence either dry matter and nitrogen accumulation or the development of leaf area. Neither root length and root biomass determined 8 weeks after seedling emergence nor the yield of seed dry matter and nitrogen at maturity were influenced by fertilizer application.     

Enhancement of Growth and Fruit Maturity in 2-year-old Grapevines cv. Delaware by 5-Aminolevulinic Acid

The influence of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on the growth, photosynthesis, and fruit quality of gibberellin-induced seedless 2-year-old “Delaware“ grapevine was examined. The result of soil treatment (0.1–10 mg l⁻¹) and foliar spray treatment (30–300 mg l⁻¹) with ALA after flowering was significant growth improvement, up to 55% in the lateral shoot, and up to 38% in leaf area. Optimal doses were 1 mg l⁻¹ soil treatment and 100 mg l⁻¹ foliar treatment. The photosynthetic rate of plants treated with ALA increased by a significant 9.2%–22.5%. Relative to the control, based on measurements of the 5th leaf of each shoot in the ripening period, the optimum concentrations for growth and photosynthesis enhancement in grapevines were 100 mg l⁻¹ (foliar treatment) and 1 mg l⁻¹ (soil treatment). Total plant weight at harvest increased a significant 13% at the optimal treatment doses. In terms of fruit quality, the cluster fresh weight increased a significant 44.9%–53% and fruit colour showed a tendency to become darker in all plants treated with ALA. The °Brix value in the plant treated with 100 mg l⁻¹ ALA was a significant 2.7% higher than that of the control. We consider that leaf area and photosynthetic rates during cultivation are important for the acquisition of photoassimilates and that these are likely to be causally associated with improvement of total dry weight and advance of fruit quality. In addition, a possibility of advancing the harvest time of grapes by ALA treatment was shown.     

Developmental phase-dependent photosynthetic responses to ultraviolet-B radiation: damage, defence, and adaptation of primary leaves of wheat seedlings

Alterations in photosynthetic capacity of primary leaves of wheat seedlings in response to ultraviolet-B (UV-B; 280–320 nm; 60 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) exposure alone and in combination with photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400–800 nm; 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) during different phases of leaf growth and development were assessed. UV-B exposure resulted in a phase-dependent differential loss in photosynthetic pigments, photochemical potential, photosystem 2 (PS2) quantum yield, and in vivo O₂ evolution. UV-B exposure induced maximum damage to the photosynthetic apparatus during senescence phase of development. The damages were partially alleviated when UV-B exposure was accompanied by PAR. UV-B induced an enhancement in accumulation of flavonoids during all phases of development while it caused a decline in anthocyanin content during senescence. The differential changes in these parameters demonstrated the adaptation ability of leaves to UV-B stress during all phases of development and the ability was modified in UV-B+ PAR exposed samples.     

The effect of elevated CO2 concentration on leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen contents in rice during post-flowering phases

The effect of elevated CO₂ concentration (CE) on leaf chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) contents and photosynthetic rate (P_N) was evaluated during the post-flowering stages of rice grown at CE (570 ± 50 μmol mol⁻¹) in open top chamber (OTC), at ambient CO₂ concentration (∼ 365 μmol mol⁻¹) in OTC and at open field. Thirty-five day old seedlings were transplanted in OTCs or in field and allowed to grow till maturity. Chl and N contents were highest at the time of flowering and thereafter it started to decline. The rate of decline in Chl and N contents was faster in plants grown under CE mostly in later part of growth. Irrespective of treatment difference, flag leaf contained the highest amount of Chl and N than penultimate and third leaf. The higher P_N was observed in leaves under CE than in the leaves in other two growing conditions. Considering growth stage, P_N was the highest at flowering which reduced at the later part of growth due to degradation of Chl and N content of the leaf. Under CE it was 40.02 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ at flowering and it reduced to only 14.77 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ at maturity stage. The beneficial effect of CE in increasing leaf P_N may be maintained by applying extra dose of nitrogen at the later stages of plant growth.     

Leaf traits variation during leaf expansion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> L.

The morphological, anatomical and physiological variations of leaf traits were analysed during Quercus ilex L. leaf expansion. The leaf water content (LWC), leaf area relative growth rate (RGR_l) and leaf dry mass relative growth rate (RGR_m) were the highest (76±2 %, 0.413 cm² cm⁻² d⁻¹, 0.709 mg mg⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively) at the beginning of the leaf expansion process (7 days after bud break). Leaf expansion lasted 84±2 days when air temperature ranged from 13.3±0.8 to 27.6±0.9 °C. The net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), and chlorophyll content per fresh mass (Chl) increased during leaf expansion, having the highest values [12.62±1.64 μmol (CO₂) m⁻² s⁻¹, 0.090 mol (H₂O) m⁻² s⁻¹, and 1.03±0.08 mg g⁻¹, respectively] 56 days after bud break. Chl was directly correlated with leaf dry mass (DM) and P _N. The thickness of palisade parenchyma contributed to the total leaf thickness (263.1±1.5 μm) by 47 %, spongy layer thickness 38 %, adaxial epidermis and cuticle thickness 9 %, and abaxial epidermis and cuticle thickness 6 %. Variation in leaf size during leaf expansion might be attributed to a combination of cells density and length, and it is confirmed by the significant (p<0.001) correlations among these traits. Q. ilex leaves reached 90 % of their definitive structure before the most severe drought period (beginning of June — end of August). The high leaf mass area (LMA, 15.1±0.6 mg cm⁻²) at full leaf expansion was indicative of compact leaves (2028±100 cells mm⁻²). Air temperature increasing might shorten the favourable period for leaf expansion, thus changing the final amount of biomass per unit leaf area of Q. ilex.     

Growth pattern of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bidens cernua</Emphasis> L.: relationships between relative growth rate and its physiological and morphological components

Seedlings of Bidens cernua L. emerged when mean air temperature was 17.0±1.3 °C. The highest net photosynthetic rate (P _N), 13.8±0.8 μmol(CO₂) m⁻² s⁻¹, was monitored during the vegetative period (May–August), decreasing on an average by 50 % during flowering (August–September) and during fruiting (September–November) phases. The senescence phase (October–November) was characterised by 79, 58, and 18 % decrease of P _N, chlorophyll content, and leaf area (LA), respectively, from the maximum values. The time span from seedling emergence to the end of fruiting phase was 202 d. The total plant biomass was 1.58±0.05 g of which 81 % was aboveground plant portion. The total dry mass relative growth rate averaged over the assimilation period was 0.0804±0.0002 kg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹, and it was correlated to both the net assimilation rate (NAR) and the leaf area ratio (LAR).     

Entropy budgets of deciduous plant leaves and a theorem of oscillating entropy production

From an energy budget of a deciduous plant leaf in moderate conditions, entropy fluxes into or out of the leaf due to solar radiation, infrared radiation, evaporation of water and heat conduction are calculated. Net entropy flow into the leaf is negative. On the assumption that the entropy in the leaf is in a steady state, the entropy production in the typical deciduous leaf in moderate conditions [the solar energy absorbed by both sides of the leaf isE _solar=0.0602 (J cm⁻² s⁻¹)] becomesS _prod=1.8×10⁻⁴ (J cm⁻² s⁻¹ K⁻¹). The positiveness of the entropy production shows that the Second Law of Thermodynamics certainly holds in the plant leaf. Entropy productions in other conditions are also calculated. The entropy production in the leafS _prod becomes a linear function of the solar energy absorbed by the leafE _solar:S _prod≈-(29.5E _solar)×10⁻⁴. A theorem is presented: the entropy production in plant leaves oscillates during the period of one day, paralleling the daily solar energy absorbed by leaves.     

Photosynthetic light response in three carnivorous plant species: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosera rotundifolia,D. capensis and Sarracenia leucophylla</Emphasis>

Photosynthetic properties of carnivorous plants have not been well characterized and the extent to which photosynthesis contributes to carbon gain in most carnivorous plants is also largely unknown. We investigated the photosynthetic light response in three carnivorous plant species, Drosera rotundifolia L. (sundew; circumpolar and native to northern British Columbia, Canada), Sarracenia leucophylla Rafin. (‘pitcher-plant’; S.E. United States), and D. capensis L. (sundew; Cape Peninsula, South Africa), using portable gas-exchange systems to explore the capacity for photosynthetic carbon gain in carnivorous plant species. Maximal photosynthetic rates (1.32–2.22 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ on a leaf area basis) and saturating light intensities (100 to 200 μmol PAR m⁻² s⁻¹) were both low in all species and comparable to shade plants. Field or greenhouse-grown D. rotundifolia had the highest rates of photosynthesis among the three species examined. Dark respiration, ranging from −1.44 (S. leucophylla) to −3.32 (D. rotundifolia) μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ was high in comparison to photosynthesis in the species examined. Across greenhouse-grown plants, photosynthetic light compensation points scaled with light-saturated photosynthetic rates. An analysis of gas-exchange and growth data for greenhouse-grown D. capensis plants suggests that photosynthesis can account for all plant carbon gain in this species.     

Leaf anatomy during leaf development of photoautotrophically <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>-grown tobacco plants as affected by growth irradiance

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants were cultured in vitro photoautotrophically at three levels of irradiance (PAR 400–700 nm): low (LI, 60 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), middle (MI, 180 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and high (HI, 270 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Anatomy of the fourth leaf from bottom was followed during leaf development. In HI and MI plants, leaf area expansion started earlier as compared to LI plants, and both HI and MI plants developed some adaptations of sun species: leaves were thicker with higher proportion of palisade parenchyma to spongy parenchyma tissue. Furthermore, in HI and MI plants palisade and spongy parenchyma cells were larger and relative abundance of chloroplasts in parenchyma cells measured as chloroplasts cross-sectional area in the cell was lower than in LI plants. During leaf growth, chloroplasts crosssectional area in both palisade and spongy parenchyma cells in all treatments considerably decreased and finally it occupied only about 5 to 8 % of the cell cross-sectional area. Thus, leaf anatomy of photoautotrophically in vitro cultured plants showed a similar response to growth irradiance as in vivo grown plants, however, the formation of chloroplasts and therefore of photosynthetic apparatus was strongly impaired.     

Salinity effect on plant growth and leaf demography of the mangrove, Avicennia germinans L.

We assessed the effect of salinity on plant growth and leaf expansion rates, as well as the leaf life span and the dynamics of leaf production and mortality in seedlings of Avicennia germinans L. grown at 0, 170, 430, 680, and 940 mol m⁻³ NaCl. The relative growth rates (RGR) after 27 weeks reached a maximum (10.4 mg g⁻¹ d⁻¹) in 170 mol m⁻³ NaCl and decreased by 47 and 44% in plants grown at 680 and 940 mol m⁻³ NaCl. The relative leaf expansion rate (RLER) was maximal at 170 mol m⁻³ NaCl (120 cm m⁻² d⁻¹) and decreased by 57 and 52% in plants grown at 680 and 940 mol m⁻³ NaCl, respectively. In the same manner as RGR and RLER, the leaf production (P) and leaf death (D) decreased in 81 and 67% when salinity increased from 170 to 940 mol m⁻³ NaCl, respectively. Since the decrease in P with salinity was more pronounced than the decrease in D, the net accumulation of leaves per plant decreased with salinity. Additionally, an evident increase in annual mortality rates (λ) and death probability was observed with salinity. Leaf half-life (t _0.5) was 425 days in plants grown at 0 mol m⁻³ NaCl, and decreased to 75 days at 940 mol m⁻³ NaCl. Thus, increasing salinity caused an increase in mortality rate whereas production of new leaves and leaf longevity decreased and, finally, the leaf area was reduced.     

Effects of water stress on gas exchange of field grown <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L. in Southern Italy: an analysis at canopy and leaf level

Zea mays is cultivated in the Mediterranean regions where summer drought may lead to photoinhibition when irrigation is not available. In this work the response of maize to water stress was evaluated by gas exchange measurements at the canopy and leaf level. Leaf gas exchange was assessed before, during and after water stress, while canopy turbulent fluxes of mass and energy were performed on a continuous basis. In the early growth period, a linear increment of net ecosystem photosynthetic rate (P _NE) to incoming of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was found and net leaf photosynthetic rate (P _NL) showed the tendency to saturate under high irradiance. During water stress, the relationship between P _NE and PPFD became curvilinear and both P _NE and P _NL saturated in a range between 1,000 and 1,500 μmol (photons) m⁻² s⁻¹. Leaf water potential (ψ_l) dropped from −1.50 to −1.88 MPa during water stress, indicating that leaf and canopy gas exchanges were limited by stomatal conductance. With the restoration of irrigation, P _NE, P _NL and ψ_l showed a recovery, and P _NE and P _NL reached the highest values of whole study period. Leaf area index (LAI) reached a value of 3.0 m² m⁻². The relationship between P _NE and PPFD remained curvilinear and P _NE values were lower than those of a typical well-irrigated maize crop. The recovery in P _NE and P _NL after stress, and ψ_l values during stress indicate that the photosynthetic apparatus was not damaged while soil moisture stress after-effects resulted in a sub-optimal LAI values, which in turn depressed P _NE.     

The effects of parental CO2 environment on seed quality and subsequent seedling performance in Bromusrubens

Seeds were collected and compared from parent plants of Bromusrubens L. (Poaceae), an exotic Mojave Desert annual grass, grown in ambient (360 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated (700 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂ to determine if parental CO₂ growth conditions affected seed quality. Performance of seeds developed on the above plants was evaluated to determine the influence of parental CO₂ growth conditions on germination, growth rate, and leaf production. Seeds of B. rubens developed on parents grown in elevated CO₂ had a larger pericarp surface area, higher C:N ratio, and less total mass than ambient-developed seeds. Parental CO₂ environment did not have an effect on germination percentage or mean germination time, as determined by radicle emergence. Seedlings from elevated-CO₂-developed seeds had a reduced relative growth rate and achieved smaller final mass over the same growth period. Elevated-CO₂-developed seeds had smaller seed reserves than ambient seeds, as determined by growing seedlings in sterile media and monitoring senescence. It appears that increased seed C:N ratios associated with plants grown under elevated CO₂ may have a major effect on seed quality (morphology, nutrition) and seedling performance (e.g., growth rate and leaf production). Since the invasive success of B. rubens is primarily due to its ability to rapidly germinate, increase leaf area and maintain a relatively high growth rate compared to native annuals and perennial grasses, reductions in seed quality and seedling performance in elevated CO₂ may have significant impacts on future community composition in the Mojave Desert. Received: 11 April 1997 / Accepted: 20 November 1997     

Headspace gas composition in fourPrunus avium cultivars with differing photosynthetic capabilities

Summary Endogenous and exogenous volatile substances were analyzed during 30 days' incubation of four cultivars of thePrunus avium species grown in vitro on a proliferation medium. Cultivars Bigarreau Moreau and Bigarreau Burlat show photosynthetic capability at 35 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹; oxygen concentration slightly increased (22 to 24%), carbon dioxide was lowered to less than 300 μ·liter⁻¹, and low ethylene (0.8 to 1.2·liter⁻¹) accumulation was recorded. Quite different headspace evolution was observed during growth of cultivars Victoria and Casavecchia: a large oxygen concentration decrease was accompanied by a sharp carbon dioxide increase (19%) and ethylene boost (4 to 5 μl·liter⁻¹). The evolution of these gaseous metabolites has been correlated to photosynthetic incapability and respiratory stress responsible for leaf yellowing and tissue softening observed when acetaldehyde and ethanol started to form in cultivars Victoria and Casavecchia. Dry and fresh weight were measured, and no substantial difference was recorded among cultures with low and high photosynthetic capability. Evidence is reported that different genotypes within the same species may follow different metabolic pathways.     

Unusually low carbon isotope ratios in plants from hanging gardens in southern Utah

Leaf carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) and photosynthetic gas exchange were measured on plants growing in hanging garden communities in southern Utah, USA. Hanging gardens are unusual, mesic cliff communities occurring where water seeps from the sandstone bedrock in an otherwise extremely arid region; there is very limited overlap in species distributions inside and outside these gardens. Solar exposure in hanging gardens varied with orientation and one of the gardens (Ribbon Garden) was shaded throughout the day. The leaf δ¹³C values of plants in hanging gardens were significantly more negative than for plants from either nearby ephemeral wash or riparian communities. In Ribbon Garden, the observed δ¹³C values were as low as −34.8‰, placing them among the most negative values reported for any terrestrial plant species growing in a natural environment. Hanging garden plants were exposed to normal atmospheric CO₂ with an average δ¹³C value of −7.9‰ and so the low leaf δ¹³C values could not be attributed to exposure to a CO₂ source with low ¹³C content. There was a seasonal change toward more negative leaf δ¹³C values at the end of the growing season. The observed leaf δ¹³C values were consistent with photosynthetic gas exchange measurements that indicated unusually high leaf intercellular CO₂ concentrations associated with the relatively low light levels in hanging gardens. Thus, extremely negative leaf δ¹³C values would be expected if significant amounts of the seasonal carbon gain occur at light levels low enough to be near the light compensation point. Maximum observed photosynthetic rates varied with light levels at each of the gardens, with maximum rates averaging 20.3, 14.6, and 3.1 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ at Double Garden, Lost Garden, and Ribbon Garden, respectively. Leaf nitrogen contents averaged 18.5 mg g⁻¹ in species from the more shaded hanging gardens (Lost and Ribbon). When expressed on a leaf area basis, nitrogen contents averaged 117 mmol N m⁻² at Lost Garden and 65 mmol N m⁻² at Ribbon Garden (shadiest of the two gardens). Leaf nitrogen isotope ratios averaged −2.3‰ (range of −0.7 to −6.1‰), suggesting that most of the nitrogen was derived from a biological fixation source which is most likely the Nostoc growing on the sandstone walls at the seep. These values contrast with leaf nitrogen isotope ratios of 5–9‰ which have been previously reported for arid zone plants in nearby ecosystems. Received: 19 January 1997 / Accepted: 19 April 1997     

Seasonal growth and biomass ofTrapa japonica Flerov in Ojaga-Ike Pond,Chiba, Japan

In order to determine the seasonal growth and biomass ofTrapa japonica Flerov, field observations were carried out at Ojaga-ike Pond, Chiba, Japan, during 1979 and 1980. In spring, the plant showed exponential growth (c. 0.080 g g⁻¹ day⁻¹) and shoot elongation was as rapid as 10 cm day⁻¹. The plant attained its maximum biomass (380.5±35.1 g m⁻²) in late August, and about 50% of this was concentrated in the topmost 30-cm stratum (645.7±33.1 g m⁻³); maximum total stem length exceeded 6m. The plant produced large (500–800 mg per fruit), but small numbers of nut-like fruit (maximum, 5 fruits per rosette). Defoliation occurred almost linearly with time at a rate of 30.6 leaves m⁻² day⁻¹; annual net leaf production was estimated to be about twice as large as the seasonal maximum leaf biomass. While the number of leaves per rosette showed moderate seasonal change, rosette density, rosette area and leaf dry weight changed considerably during the year. From the negative log-log correlation between mean total leaf dry weight per rosette and rosette density, density-dependent rosette growth was assumed. The cause of the wide spread of this species in aquatic habitats is briefly discussed in terms of its seed size and morphology.