Developmental history affects the susceptibility of spinach leaves to in vivo low temperature photoinhibition

Room temperature chlorophyll a fluorescence was used to determine the effects of developmental history, developmental stage, and leaf age on susceptibility of spinach to in vivo low temperature (5°C) induced photoinhibition. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv Savoy) leaves expanded at cold hardening temperatures (5°C day/night), an irradiance of 250 micromoles per square meter per second of photosynthetic proton flux density, and a photoperiod of 16 hours were less sensitive than leaves expanded at nonhardening temperatures (16 or 25°C day/night) and the same irradiance and photoperiod. This differential sensitivity to low-temperature photoinhibition was observed at high (1200) but not lower (500 or 800 micromoles per square meter per second) irradiance treatment. In spite of a differential sensitivity to photoinhibition, both cold-hardened and nonhardened spinach exhibited similar recovery kinetics at either 20 or 5°C. Shifting plants grown at 16°C (day/night) to 5°C (day/night) for 12 days after full leaf expansion did not alter the sensitivity to photoinhibition at 5°C. Conversely, shifting plants grown at 5°C (day/night) to 16°C (day/night) for 12 days produced a sensitivity to photoinhibition at 5°C similar to control plants grown at 16°C. Thus, any resistance to low-temperature photoinhibition acquired during growth at 5°C was lost in 12 days at 16°C. We conclude that leaf developmental history, developmental stage, and leaf age contribute significantly to the in vivo photoinhibitory response of spinach. Thus, these characteristics must be defined clearly in studies of plant susceptibility to photoinhibition.     

Sensitivity of Altitudinal Ecotypes of the Wild Tomato Lycopersicon hirsutum to Chilling Injury

The transition temperature of the leaf polar lipids and the critical temperature for chill-induced inhibition of photosynthesis was determined for three altitudinal ecotypes of the wild tomato Lycopersicon hirsutum. Photosynthesis was measured as CO₂-dependent O₂ evolution at 25°C after leaf slices were exposed to chilling temperatures for 2 hours at a moderate photon flux density of 450 micromoles per square meter per second. The transition temperature of the leaf polar lipids was detected from the change in the temperature coefficient of the fluorescence intensity of trans-parinaric acid. Chill-induced photoinhibition was evident in the three tomato ecotypes when they were chilled below a critical temperature of 10°, 11°, and 13°C, respectively, for the high (LA1777), mid (LA1625), and low (LA1361) altitudinal ecotypes. The temperature differential, below the critical temperature, required to produce a 50% inhibition was also similar for the three ecotypes. A transition was detected in the leaf polar lipids of these plants at a temperature similar to that of the critical temperature for photoinhibition. The results show that the three tomato ecotypes are similar with respect to their critical temperature for chilling-induced photoinhibition and the rate of their response to the chilling stress. They are, thus, similarly sensitive to chilling.     

Evaluation of Polyamine and Proline Levels during Low Temperature Acclimation of Citrus

The polyamines (PA) putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) were measured during 3 weeks exposure to cold hardening (15.6°C day and 4.4°C night) and nonhardening (32.2°C day and 21.1°C night) temperature regimes in three citrus cultivars: sour orange (SO) (Citrus aurantium L.), `valencia' (VAL) (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), and rough lemon (RL) (Citrus jambhiri Lush). The changes in PA were compared to the amount of free proline, percent wood kill and percent leaf kill. A 2- to 3-fold increase in Spd concentrations were observed in hardened RL, SO, and VAL leaves compared to nonhardened leaves. Spermidine reached its highest level of approximately 200 nanomoles per gram fresh weight after 1 week of acclimation in both SO and VAL leaves, while RL spermidine content continued to increase up to the third week of acclimation. Spm levels in acclimated VAL and RL leaves increased 1- to 4-fold. However, SO leaves Spm content decreased with acclimation. Putrescine levels in SO and VAL increased 20 to 60% during the first 2 weeks of acclimation then declined after 3 weeks. RL putrescine content was not affected by cold acclimation. The data presented here provided direct relationship between increased Spd concentration and citrus cold hardiness. Free proline was 3- to 6-fold higher in acclimated than in nonacclimated trees. Results also demonstrate that in acclimated versus nonacclimated citrus trees the absolute amount rather than the ratio of increase in free proline is more important in predicting their ability to survive freezing stress.     

Physical Properties of Mitochondrial Lipids from Lycopersicon hirsutum

Mitochondrial lipids from Lycopersicon hirsutum undergo a broad thermal transition beginning well below 0°C and ending at approximately 25°C. Differential thermal analysis of mitochondrial lipids isolated from ecotypes of L. hirsutum that differ in chilling sensitivity indicates that these lipid preparations have physically similar properties. This was confirmed by electron-spin-resonance experiments, although this technique failed to detect the broad transition detected by differential thermal analysis. No quantitative differences were observed between the percentages of individual lipid classes (based on polar head group) or between the fatty acid compositions of mitochondrial lipids from the two ecotypes investigated. These results suggest that the observed differences between the responses of these ecotypes to prolonged exposure to 5°C may not be related to differences between the physical properties of their mitochondrial lipids.     

Involvement of abscisic Acid in potato cold acclimation

Upon exposure to 2°C day/night (D/N), leaves of Solanum commersonii (Sc) began acclimating on the 4th day from a −5°C (killing temperature) hardy level to −12°C by the 15th day. Leaves of S. tuberosum L. (St) cv `Red Pontiac' typically failed to acclimate and were always killed at −3°C. Leaves of control (20/15°C, D/N) and treated plants (2°C, D/N) of St showed similar levels of free abscisic acid (ABA) during a 15-day sampling period. In treated Sc plants, however, free ABA contents increased 3-fold on the 4th day and then declined to their initial level thereafter. The increase was not observed in leaves of Sc control plants.

Treated St plants showed a slightly higher content of leaf soluble protein than controls. In Sc, leaves of controls maintained relatively constant soluble proteins, but leaves of treated plants showed a distinct increase. This significant increase was initiated on the 4th day, peaked on the 5th day, and remained at a high level throughout the 15-day sampling period.

Exogenously applied ABA induced frost hardiness in leaves of Sc plants whether plants were grown under a 20°C or 2°C temperature regime. When cycloheximide was added to the medium of stem-cultured plants at the beginning of 2°C acclimation, or at the beginning of the ABA treatment in the 20°C regime, it completely inhibited the development of frost hardiness. However, when cycloheximide was added to plants on the 5th day during 2°C acclimation, the induction of frost hardiness was not inhibited. The role of ABA in triggering protein synthesis needed to induce frost hardiness is discussed.

     

Effect of growth temperature and temperature shifts on spinach leaf morphology and photosynthesis

The growth kinetics of spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L. cv Savoy) grown at 5°C or 16°C were determined to allow us to compare leaf tissues of the same developmental stage rather than chronological age. The second leaf pairs reached full expansion at a plant age of 32 and 92 days for the 16°C and 5°C plants, respectively. Growth at 5°C resulted in an increased leaf area, dry weight, dry weight per area, and leaf thickness. Despite these changes, pigment content and composition, room temperature in vivo fluorescence, and apparent quantum yield and light-saturated rates of CO₂ exchange or O₂ evolution were not affected by the growth temperature. Furthermore, 5°C expanded leaves were found to be more resistant to photoinhibition at 5°C than were 16°C expanded leaves. Thus, it is concluded that spinach grown at low temperature is not stressed. However, shifting spinach leaves from 5°C to 16°C or from 16°C to 5°C for 12 days after full leaf expansion had occurred resulted in a 20 to 25% reduction in apparent quantum yields and 50 to 60% reduction in light saturated rates of both CO₂ exchange and O₂ evolution. This was not accompanied by a change in the pigment content or composition or in the room temperature in vivo fluorescence. It appears that leaf aging during the temperature shift period can account for the reduction in photosynthesis. Comparison of cold-hardened and non-hardened winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv Muskateer) with spinach by in vivo fluorescence indicated that rye is more sensitive to both short term and longer duration temperature shifts than is spinach. Thus, susceptibility to an abrupt temperature shift appears to be species dependent.     

Concomitant changes in high temperature tolerance and heat-shock proteins in desert succulents

Raising the day/night air temperatures from 30°C/20°C to 50°C/40°C increases the high temperature tolerated by Agave deserti, Carnegiea gigantea, and Ferocactus acanthodes by 6°C to 8°C; the increase is about half completed in 3 days and fully completed in 10 days. A 25 to 27 kilodalton protein concomitantly accumulates for all three desert succulents upon transfer to 50°C/40°C, while accumulation of other heat “heat-shock” proteins is species specific. Some of the induced proteins are more abundant at 3 days, while others (including the 25-27 kilodalton protein) remain after completion of high temperature acclimation.     

Effects of chilling on the biochemical and functional properties of thylakoid membranes

The mechanism of chilling resistance was investigated in 4-week-old plants of the chilling-sensitive cultivated tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv H722, and rooted cuttings of its chilling-resistant wild relative, L. hirsutum Humb. and Bonpl., which were chilled for 3 days at 2°C with a 14-hour photoperiod and light intensity of 250 micromoles per square meter per second. This chilling stress reduced the chlorophyll fluorescence ratio, stomatal conductance, and dry matter accumulation more in the sensitive L. esculentum than in the resistant L. hirsutum. Photosynthetic CO₂ uptake at the end of the chilling treatment was reduced more in the resistant L. hirsutum than in L. esculentum, but recovered at a faster rate when the plants were returned to 25°C. The reduction of the spin trap, Tiron, by isolated thylakoids at 750 micromoles per square meter per second light intensity was taken as a relative indication of the tendency for the thylakoids to produce activated oxygen. Thylakoids isolated from the resistant L. hirsutum with or without chilling treatment were essentially similar, whereas those from chilled leaves of L. esculentum reduced more Tiron than the nonchilled controls. Whole chain photosynthetic electron transport was measured on thylakoids isolated from chilled and control leaves of the two species at a range of assay temperatures from 5 to 25°C. In both species, electron transport of the thylakoids from chilled leaves was lower than the controls when measured at 25°C, and electron transport declined as the assay temperature was reduced. However, the temperature sensitivity of thylakoids from chilled L. esculentum was altered such that at all temperatures below 20°C, the rate of electron transport exceeded the control values. In contrast, the thylakoids from chilled L. hirsutum maintained their temperature sensitivity, and the electron transport rates were proportionately reduced at all temperatures. This sublethal chilling stress caused no significant changes in thylakoid galactolipid, phospholipid, or protein levels in either species. Nonchilled thylakoid membranes from L. hirsutum had fourfold higher levels of the fatty acid 16:1, than those from L. esculentum. Chilling caused retailoring of the acyl chains in L. hirsutum but not in L. esculentum. The chilling resistance of L. hirsutum may be related to an ability to reduce the potential for free radical production by close regulation of electron transport within the chloroplast.     

Artificial asymmetric warming reduces nectar yield in a Tibetan alpine species of Asteraceae

Background and Aims Asymmetric warming is one of the distinguishing features of global climate change, in which winter and night-time temperatures are predicted to increase more than summer and diurnal temperatures. Winter warming weakens vernalization and hence decreases the potential to flower for some perennial herbs, and night warming can reduce carbohydrate concentrations in storage organs. This study therefore hypothesized that asymmetric warming should act to reduce flower number and nectar production per flower in a perennial herb, Saussurea nigrescens, a key nectar plant for pollinators in Tibetan alpine meadows.Methods A long-term (6 years) warming experiment was conducted using open-top chambers placed in a natural meadow and manipulated to achieve asymmetric increases in temperature, as follows: a mean annual increase of 0·7 and 2·7 °C during the growing and non-growing seasons, respectively, combined with an increase of 1·6 and 2·8 °C in the daytime and night-time, respectively, from June to August. Measurements were taken of nectar volume and concentration (sucrose content), and also of leaf non-structural carbohydrate content and plant morphology.Key Results Six years of experimental warming resulted in reductions in nectar volume per floret (64·7 % of control), floret number per capitulum (8·7 %) and capitulum number per plant (32·5 %), whereas nectar concentration remained unchanged. Depletion of leaf non-structural carbohydrates was significantly higher in the warmed than in the ambient condition. Overall plant density was also reduced by warming, which, when combined with reductions in flower development and nectar volumes, led to a reduction of ∼90 % in nectar production per unit area.Conclusions The negative effect of asymmetric warming on nectar yields in S. nigrescens may be explained by a concomitant depletion of leaf non-structural carbohydrates. The results thus highlight a novel aspect of how climate change might affect plant–pollinator interactions and plant reproduction via induction of allocation shifts for plants growing in communities subject to asymmetric warming.     

Ethylene-induced leaf abscission in cotton seedlings : the physiological bases for age-dependent differences in sensitivity

The speed of ethylene-induced leaf abscission in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv LG-102) seedlings is dependent on leaf position (i.e. physiological age). Fumigation of intact seedlings for 18 hours with 10 microliters per liter of ethylene resulted in 40% abscission of the still-expanding third true (3°) leaves but had no effect on the fully expanded first true (1°) leaves. After 42 hours of fumigation with 50 microliters per liter of ethylene, total abscission of the 3° leaves occurred while <50% abscission of the 1° leaves was observed. On a leaf basis, endogenous levels of free IAA in 1° leaves were approximately twice those of 3° leaves. Free IAA levels were reduced equally (approximately 55%) in both leaf types after 18 hours of ethylene (10 microliters per liter) treatment. Ethylene treatment of intact seedlings inhibited the basipetal movement of [¹⁴C]IAA in petiole segments isolated from both leaf types in a dose-dependent manner. The auxin transport inhibitor N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid increased the rate and extent of ethylene-induced leaf abscission at both leaf positions but did not alter the relative pattern of abscission. Abscission-zone explants prepared from 3° leaves abscised faster than 1° leaf explants when exposed to ethylene. Ethyleneinduced abscission of 3° explants was not appreciably inhibited by exogenous IAA while 1° explants exhibited a pronounced and protracted inhibition. The synthetic auxins 2,4-D and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid completely inhibited ethylene-induced abscission of both 1° and 3° explants for 40 hours. It is proposed that the differential abscission response of cotton seedling leaves is primarily a result of the limited abscission-inhibiting effects of IAA in the abscission zone of the younger leaves.     

Fructan metabolism in wheat in alternating warm and cold temperatures

The objective of this research was to develop a system in which the direction of fructan metabolism could be controlled. Three-week-old wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L. cv Caldwell) grown at 25°C were transferred to cold temperature (10°C) to induce fructan synthesis and then were transferred to continuous darkness at 25°C after defoliation and fructan degradation monitored. The total fructan content increased significantly 1 day after transferring from 25°C to 10°C in both leaf blades and the remainder of the shoot tissue, 90% of which was leaf sheath tissue. Leaf sheaths contained higher concentrations of fructan and greater portions of high molecular weight fructan than did leaf blades. Fructan content in leaf sheaths declined rapidly and was gone completely within 48 hours following transfer to 25°C in darkness. In leaf blades the invertase activity fluctuated during cold treatment. The activity of sucrose:sucrose fructosyl transferase increased markedly during cold treatment, while fructan hydrolase activity decreased slightly. In leaf sheaths, however, the activity of invertase decreased rapidly upon transfer to cold temperature and remained low. Trends in sucrose:sucrose fructosyl transferase and hydrolase activity in sheaths were the same as those of leaf blades. Sheath invertase and hydrolase activity increased when plants were transferred back to darkness at 25°C, while sucrose:sucrose fructosyl transferase activity decreased. These results indicate that changing leaf sheath temperature can be utilized to control the direction of fructan metabolism and thus provide a system in which the synthesis or degradation of fructan can be examined.     

Persistence of Viruses in Desert Soils Amended with Anaerobically Digested Sewage Sludge

Pima County, Ariz., is currently investigating the potential benefits of land application of sewage sludge. To assess risks associated with the presence of pathogenic enteric viruses present in the sludge, laboratory studies were conducted to measure the inactivation rate (k = log₁₀ reduction per day) of poliovirus type 1 and bacteriophages MS2 and PRD-1 in two sludge-amended desert agricultural soils (Brazito Sandy Loam and Pima Clay Loam). Under constant moisture (approximately -0.05 × 10⁵ Pa for both soils) and temperatures of 15, 27, and 40°C, the main factors controlling the inactivation of these viruses were soil temperature and texture. As the temperature increased from 15 to 40°C, the inactivation rate increased significantly for poliovirus and MS2, whereas, for PRD-1, a significant increase in the inactivation rate was observed only at 40°C. Clay loam soils afforded more protection to all three viruses than sandy soils. At 15°C, the inactivation rate for MS2 ranged from 0.366 to 0.394 log₁₀ reduction per day in clay loam and sandy loam soils, respectively. At 27°C, this rate increased to 0.629 log₁₀ reduction per day in clay loam soil and to 0.652 in sandy loam soil. A similar trend was observed for poliovirus at 15°C (k = 0.064 log₁₀ reduction per day, clay loam; k = 0.095 log₁₀ reduction per day, sandy loam) and 27°C (k = 0.133 log₁₀ reduction per day, clay loam; k = 0.154 log₁₀ reduction per day, sandy loam). Neither MS2 nor poliovirus was recovered after 24 h at 40°C. No reduction of PRD-1 was observed after 28 days at 15°C and after 16 days at 27°C. At 40°C, the inactivation rates were 0.208 log₁₀ reduction per day in amended clay loam soil and 0.282 log₁₀ reduction per day in sandy loam soil. Evaporation to less than 5% soil moisture completely inactivated all three viruses within 7 days at 15°C, within 3 days at 27°C, and within 2 days at 40°C regardless of soil type. This suggests that a combination of high soil temperature and rapid loss of soil moisture will significantly reduce risks caused by viruses in sludge.     

Effect of temperature on nitrogenase functioning in cowpea nodules

Nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity of a cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp cv Caloona) symbiosis formed with a Rhizobium strain (176A27) lacking uptake hydrogenase and maintained under conditions of a 12-hour day at an air temperature of 30°C (800-1000 microeinsteins per square meter per second) and a 12-hour night at an air temperature of 20°C showed a marked diurnal variation in ratio of nitrogen fixed to hydrogen evolved. As little as 0.3 micromole nitrogen was fixed per micromole hydrogen evolved in the photoperiod versus up to 0.6 in the dark period. In plants maintained under the same diurnal illumination regime but at constant (day and night) air temperature (30°C), this difference was abolished and a relatively constant ratio of nitrogen fixed to hydrogen evolved (around 0.3 micromole per micromole) was observed day and night. Exposure of nodulated roots to a range of temperatures maintained for 2 hours in a single photoperiod indicated that, whereas hydrogen evolution increased with increasing temperature from 15°C to a maximum around 35°C, nitrogen fixation was largely unaffected over this temperature range. Both functions of the enzyme declined sharply at temperatures above 38°C. A similar general response of nitrogen fixation to root temperature was observed in glasshouse-grown, sand-cultured plants maintained under a range of temperatures (from 15 to 35°C) for a 14-day period in mid vegetative growth. The effect of temperature on the proportion of electrons allocated to proton reduction compared with nitrogen reduction showed a linearly increasing relationship (correlation coefficient = 0.96) between 15°C and 47°C.     

THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE ON THE UTILIZATION OF FOOD ENERGY IN BABY CHICKS

1. An optimum of environmental temperature is to be expected for the utilization of food energy in warm blooded animals if their food intake is determined by their appetite. 2. Baby chicks were kept in groups of five chicks in a climatic cabinet at environmental temperatures of 21°, 27°, 32°, 38°, and 40°C. during the period of 6 to 15 days of age. The intake of qualitatively complete food was determined by their appetite. Food intake, excretion, and respiratory exchange were measured. Control chicks from the same hatch as the experimental groups were raised in a brooder and were given the same food as the experimental chicks. The basal metabolism of each experimental group was determined from 24 to 36 hours without food at the age of 16 days. 3. The daily rate of growth increased with decreasing environmental temperature from 2.74 gm. at 40°C. to 4.88 gm. at 21°C. This was 4.2 to 6.5 per cent of their body weight. 4. The amount of food consumed increased in proportion to the decrease in temperature. 5. The availability of the food, used for birds instead of the digestibility and defined as See PDF for Structure showed an optimum at 38°C. 6. The CO₂ production increased from 2.95 liters CO₂ per day per chick at 40°C. to 6.25 liters at 21°C. Per unit of the 3/4 power of the body weight, 23.0 liters CO₂ per kilo^3/4 was produced at 40°C. and 43.4 liters per kilo^3/4 at 21°C. The CO₂ production per unit of 3/4 power of the weight increased at an average rate of approximately 1 per cent per day increase in age. The R.Q. was, on the average, 1.04 during the day and 0.92 during the night. 7. The net energy is calculated on the basis of C and N balances. A maximum of 11.8 Cal. net energy per chick per day was found at 32°C. At 21°C. only 6.9 Cal. net per day per chick was produced and at 40°C. an average of 6.7 Cal. 8. The composition of the gained body substance changed according to the environmental temperature. The protein stored per gram increase in body weight varied from 0.217 to 0.266 gm. protein and seemed unrelated to the temperature. The amount of fat per gram gain in weight dropped from a maximum of 0.153 gm. at 32°C. to 0.012 gm. at 21°C. and an average of 0.107 gm. at 40°C. The energy content per gram of gain in weight had its maximum of 2.95 Cal. per gm. at 38°C. and its minimum of 1.41 Cal. per gm. at 21°C. at which temperature the largest amount of water (0.763 gm. per gm. increase in body weight) was stored. 9. The basal metabolism increased from an average of 60 Cal. per kilo^3/4 at an environmental temperature of 40°C. to 128 Cal. per kilo^3/4 at 21°C. No indication of a critical temperature was found. 10. The partial efficiency, i.e. the increase in net energy per unit of the corresponding increase in food energy, seemed dependent on the environmental temperature, reaching a maximum of 72 per cent of the available energy at 38°C. and decreasing to 57 per cent at 21°C. and to an average of 60 per cent at 40°C. 11. The total efficiency, i.e. the total net energy produced per unit of food energy taken in, was maximum (34 per cent of the available energy) at 32°C., dropped to 16 per cent at 21°C., and to an average of 29 per cent at 40°C.     

Accumulation of heat shock proteins in field-grown cotton

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants grown under field water deficits exhibited an 80 to 85% reduction in leaf area index, plant height, and dry matter accumulation compared with irrigated controls. Midday photosynthetic rates of dryland plants decreased 2-fold, and canopy temperatures increased to 40°C at 80 days after planting compared with canopy temperatures of 30°C for irrigated plants. Leaves from dryland plants which had exhibited canopy temperatures of 40°C for several weeks accumulated stainable levels of polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 100, 94, 89, 75, 60, 58, 37, and 21 kilodaltons. These polypeptides did not accumulate in leaves from irrigated plants.

Addition of [³⁵S]methionine to leaves of growth chamber-grown cotton plants and subsequent incubation at 40°C for 3 hours radiolabeled polypeptides with molecular weights similar to those that accumulate in dryland cotton leaves. These data suggest that the proteins which accumulate in water-stressed cotton leaves at elevated temperatures (40°C) are heat shock proteins and that these proteins can accumulate to substantial levels in field-stressed plants.

     

Low growth temperature effects a differential inhibition of photosynthesis in spring and winter wheat

In vivo room temperature chlorophyll a fluorescence coupled with CO₂ and O₂ exchange was measured to determine photosynthetic limitation(s) for spring and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown at cold-hardening temperatures (5°C/5°C, day/night). Plants of comparable physiological stage, but grown at nonhardening temperatures (20°C/16°C, day/night) were used in comparison. Winter wheat cultivars grown at 5°C had light-saturated rates of CO₂ exchange and apparent photon yields for CO₂ exchange and O₂ evolution that were equal to or greater than those of winter cultivars grown at 20°C. In contrast, spring wheat cultivars grown at 5°C showed 35% lower apparent photon yields for CO₂ exchange and 25% lower light-saturated rates of CO₂ exchange compared to 20°C grown controls. The lower CO₂ exchange capacity is not associated with a lower efficiency of photosystem II activity measured as either the apparent photon yield for O₂ evolution, the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence, or the level of reduced primary quinone electron acceptor maintained at steady-state photosynthesis, and is most likely associated with carbon metabolism. The lower CO₂ exchange capacity of the spring cultivars developed following long-term exposure to low temperature and did not occur following over-night exposure of nonhardened plants to 5°C.     

Leaf physiological and anatomical responses of two sympatric Paphiopedilum species to temperature

Paphiopedilum dianthum and P. micranthum are two endangered orchid species, with high ornamental and conservation values. They are sympatric species, but their leaf anatomical traits and flowering period have significant differences. However, it is unclear whether the differences in leaf structure of the two species will affect their adaptabilities to temperature. Here, we investigated the leaf photosynthetic, anatomical, and flowering traits of these two species at three sites with different temperatures (Kunming, 16.7 ± 0.2 °C; Puer, 17.7 ± 0.2 °C; Menglun, 23.3 ± 0.2 °C) in southwest China. Compared with those at Puer and Kunming, the values of light-saturated photosynthetic rate (P_max), stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf thickness (LT), and stomatal density (SD) in both species were lower at Menglun. The values of P_max, g_s, LT, adaxial cuticle thickness (CT_ad) and SD in P. dianthum were higher than those of P. micranthum at the three sites. Compared with P. dianthum, there were no flowering plants of P. micranthum at Menglun. These results indicated that both species were less resistance to high temperature, and P. dianthum had a stronger adaptability to high-temperature than P. micranthum. Our findings can provide valuable information for the conservation and cultivation of Paphiopedilum species.     

Relationships among Isoprene Emission Rate, Photosynthesis, and Isoprene Synthase Activity as Influenced by Temperature

Isoprene emissions from the leaves of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L. var utilis) plants exhibited temperature response patterns that were dependent on the plant's growth temperature. Plants grown in a warm regimen (34/28°C, day/night) exhibited a temperature optimum for emissions of 45°C, whereas those grown in a cooler regimen (26/20°C, day/night) exhibited an optimum of 40°C. Several previous studies have provided evidence of a linkage between isoprene emissions and photosynthesis, and more recent studies have demonstrated that isoprene emissions are linked to the activity of isoprene synthase in plant leaves. To further explore this linkage within the context of the temperature dependence of isoprene emissions, we determined the relative temperature dependencies of photosynthetic electron transport, CO₂ assimilation, and isoprene synthase activity. When measured over a broad range of temperatures, the temperature dependence of isoprene emission rate was not closely correlated with either the electron transport rate or the CO₂ assimilation rate. The temperature optima for electron transport rate and CO₂ assimilation rate were 5 to 10°C lower than that for the isoprene emission rate. The dependence of isoprene emissions on photon flux density was also affected by measurement temperature in a pattern independent of those exhibited for electron transport rate and CO₂ assimilation rate. Thus, despite no change in the electron transport rate or CO₂ assimilation rate at 26 and 34°C, the isoprene emission rate changed markedly. The quantum yield of isoprene emissions was stimulated by a temperature increase from 26 to 34°C, whereas the quantum yield for CO₂ assimilation was inhibited. In greenhouse-grown aspen leaves (Populus tremuloides Michaux.), the high temperature threshold for inhibition of isoprene emissions was closely correlated with the high temperature-induced decrease in the in vitro activity of isoprene synthase. When taken together, the results indicate that although there may be a linkage between isoprene emission rate and photosynthesis, the temperature dependence of isoprene emission is not determined solely by the rates of CO₂ assimilation or electron transport. Rather, we propose that regulation is accomplished primarily through the enzyme isoprene synthase.     

Changes in Osmotic Pressure and Mucilage during Low-Temperature Acclimation of Opuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia ficus-indica, a Crassulacean acid metabolism plant cultivated for its fruits and cladodes, was used to examine chemical and physiological events accompanying low-temperature acclimation. Changes in osmotic pressure, water content, low molecular weight solutes, and extracellular mucilage were monitored in the photosynthetic chlorenchyma and the water-storage parenchyma when plants maintained at day/night air temperatures of 30/20°C were shifted to 10/0°C. An increase in osmotic pressure of 0.13 megapascal occurred after 13 days at 10/0°C. Synthesis of glucose, fructose, and glycerol accounted for most of the observed increase in osmotic pressure during the low-temperature acclimation. Extracellular mucilage and the relative apoplastic water content increased by 24 and 10%, respectively, during exposure to low temperatures. These increases apparently favor the extracellular nucleation of ice closer to the equilibrium freezing temperature for plants at 10/0°C, which could make the cellular dehydration more gradual and less damaging. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies helped elucidate the cellular processes during ice formation, such as those revealed by changes in the relaxation times of two water fractions in the chlorenchyma. The latter results suggested a restricted mobility of intracellular water and an increased mobility of extracellular water for plants at 10/0°C compared with those at 30/20°C. Increased mobility of extracellular water could facilitate extracellular ice growth and thus delay the potentially lethal intracellular freezing during low-temperature acclimation.     

Chilling injury and changes in adenosine triphosphate of cotton seedlings

Young Gossypium hirsutum L. seedlings chilled at 5° showed a continual decrease in ATP concentration with time of chilling. Chilled plants returned to optimum conditions were able to restore the initial ATP concentration when chilled only 1 day, but not when chilled 2 days. The decrease in ATP with chilling was prevented by hardening the seedlings at 15° for 2 days (14-hr-day-length) immediately before chilling. The ATP level of hardened plants was higher than of unhardened plants. When hardened plants were chilled at 5°, the ATP level increased in the leaves but decreased in the roots.