Ecological conditions that determine when grazing stimulates grass production

Summary We report the results of a pot experiment that examined the effects of three ecologically important factors controlling plant growth rates in savanna grasslands: defoliation, soil nitrogen and soil water availability. The experiment was conducted in the Amboseli region in east Africa, and was designed to simulate natural conditions as far as possible, using local soils and a grass species that is heavily grazed by abundant large herbivores. Productivity by different plant components was reduced, stimulated or unchanged by defoliation, depending on specific watering and fertilization treatments. Total above-ground production was stimulated by defoliation and was maximized at moderate clipping intensities, but this was statistically significant only when plants were watered infrequently (every 8 days), and most important, periods between clipping events were extended (at least 24 days). Under these conditions, plant growth rates were limited by water availability at the time of clipping, and soil water conserved in clipped, compared to unclipped plants. Within a given fertilization treatment, whole-plant production was never stimulated by defoliation because root growth was unaffected or inhibited by clipping. However, when fertilization was coupled to defoliation, as they are in the field, whole-plant production by fertilized and moderately clipped plants exceeded production by infertilized, unclipped plants. Under this interpretation, maximum whole-plant production coincided with optimum conditions for herbivores (maximum nitrogen concentration in grass leaves) when watering was frequent, and plants were moderately defoliated. However, these conditions were not the same as those that maximized relative above-ground stimulation of growth (infrequent watering and clipping).The results indicate that above-ground grass production can be stimulated by grazing, and when that is likely to occur. However, the results emphasize that plant production responses to defoliation can vary widely, contigent upon a complex interaction of ecological factors.     

Compensatory growth responses to clipping defoliation in Leymus chinensis (Poaceae) under nutrient addition and water deficiency conditions

Compensatory growth responses of Leymus chinensis, a dominant species in Inner Mongolia steppe, to clipping defoliation were evaluated in a pot-cultivated experiment under different nutrient (N and P) and water availability conditions. Leymus chinensis exhibited over-compensatory growth at the light and moderate clipping intensities (20% and 40% aerial mass removed) with a greater accumulated aboveground biomass, higher relative growth rate (RGR), more rhizomatic tillers and a stimulation of compensatory photosynthesis to the remnant leaves as compared with those of the unclipped plants. Intense clipping (80% aerial mass removed), which removed most of the aboveground tissues, greatly reduced the growth of aboveground biomass in comparison with that of the unclipped plants. Nitrogen addition only slightly improved the biomass production and RGR in light and moderately clipped plants, and it did not allow plants in the intense clipping condition to over-compensate. Phosphorus addition had no obvious influences on the growth and physiological responses to clipping defoliation. These results indicated that nutrient addition could not compensate for the negative effects of severe clipping on the defoliated grass. On the other hand, there were no distinct positive responses under water deficiency condition for L. chinensis at all clipping intensities with a significant reduction of aboveground and belowground biomass, lower RGR, fewer rhizomatic tillers, and a lower net photosynthetic rate than other wet treatments. Additionally, the chlorophyll contents of remnant leaves gradually increased with the increase of clipping intensities in each treatment. In conclusion, although L. chinensis could compensate for tissues removal by some morphological and physiological responses, intense clipping and drought can result in a significant decrease of biomass and growth rate, even under enriched nutrition conditions.     

Interactive effects of clipping and nutrient availability on the compensatory growth of a grass species

Resource availability is an important factor affecting the capacity of compensatory growth after grazing. We performed a greenhouse experiment with Poa bulbosa, a small perennial grass of the Mediterranean and Central Asian grasslands, to test the importance of nutrient availability for compensatory growth after clipping. We also compared the results with predictions of the limited resource model (LRM). Plants were grown at low and high fertilization levels and subjected to a clipping treatment. Contrary to the LMR, we found that in Poa plants compensatory growth occurred under the high fertilization level, while it did not occur under the low level. The LMR predicts a higher tolerance for grazing in the stressful environment. Our plants showed a significant decrease in their relative growth rates (RGR) after clipping. Although the plants allocated a 32–188% greater fraction of the mass to lamina growth after clipping, this greater allocation to the leaves did not fully compensate for the initial reduction in leaf area ratio (LAR). A sensitivity analysis showed for the clipped plants under the high fertilization treatment, that changes in leaf allocation (f _lam) enabled the plants to compensate for a part of the potential loss caused by defoliation. Probably, the increased biomass allocation comes largely from the bulbs. We conclude that the inconsistency of the LRM with our results originates in the lack of compensatory mechanisms in the model. To better understand how environmental conditions affect tolerance to herbivory, the effects of compensatory growth should be taken into account.     

Differential effects of interspecific interactions and water availability on survival, growth and fecundity of three congeneric grassland herbs

Fitness of individual plants and of populations depends on the rates of survival, growth and fecundity. This study tested whether vital rates were differentially affected by biotic interactions and water availability. The effects of manipulations of above-ground competition (through clipping) and water availability (through water addition) on the vital rates of seedlings of three species (Viola elatior Fries, Viola pumila Chaix and Viola stagnina Kit.) were analysed in dry, mesic and wet grasslands. Water addition and grassland type had the largest effects on survival (accounting for 41 and 24% of total variation, respectively) across species. Height growth rate was positively affected by grassland type (19%) and water addition (12%) and varied among species (8%), while leaf accumulation rates and reproduction were affected by grassland type and clipping. The data suggested facilitative effects of the canopy on seedling survival in the dry grassland. This study presents evidence that environmental conditions and biotic interactions may have differential effects on seedling survival, growth and reproduction. The findings highlight the complex interplay between spatial and temporal environmental variation and biotic interactions in structuring plant communities.     

Abscisic acid mimics effects of dehydration on area expansion and photosynthetic partitioning in young soybean leaves

Abstract. Leaf area expansion, photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake and leaf dry mass accumulation were compared for expanding leaves of well-watered soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr.) plants, mildly dehydrated plants and well-watered plants treated with abscisic acid (ABA). Both ABA treatment and dehydration reduced area expansion in the light and over a 24 h period without decreasing the photosynthetic rates of expanding leaves. Dry mass accumulation during the light was less in ABA-treated and water-stressed leaves than in control leaves, with no differences among treatments in leaf mass per unit of area. ABA treatment and water stress both increased export of carbon from expanding leaves in the light. ABA applied near the end of the light period also increased export of carbon during the following dark period. However, it is unlikely that decreased availability of photosynthate caused slow expansion in the ABA and dehydration treatments, because expansion rates were not slowed in plants kept in dim light, even though photosynthetic rates and dry mass accumulation rates were greatly reduced. The data suggest that ABA may mediate the effects of mild dehydration on leaf area expansion and partitioning of photosynthate.     

Effects of dew on eco-physiological traits and leaf structures of Leymus chinensis and Agropyron cristatum grown under drought stress

Aims To investigate the effects of dew on plants, we conducted the experiment to determine the physiological characteristics and leaf structures of Leymus chinensis and Agropyron cristatum in response to increasing dew under drought stress.Methods Four treatments (no dew, three times dew and five times dew per week under drought stress, and well-watering) were designed to examine leaf relative water content, water potential, net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, biomass, and leaf structures of L. chinensis and A. cristatum. Important findings There was a significant increase in the relative water content and water potential by simulated dew increase for two plants species under drought stress (p < 0.05). For A. cristatum, simulated dew increase significantly enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of plants under drought stress (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate for L. chinensis among treatments. Simulated dew increase improved the aboveground biomass and root biomass of two species. The ratio of yellow leaves to the total leaves was decreased by simulated dew increase for two species. Dew increase also protected leaf structures against the drought stress, suggesting that the dew increase can slow down the death process of leaves resulted from drought stress. Therefore, the study demonstrated that dew increased the available water for the leaves of L. chinensis and A. cristatum grown in the drought stress and thus had positive effects on the photosynthesis, water physiology and plant development.     

Leaf compensatory growth as a tolerance strategy to resist herbivory in Pancratium sickenbergeri

We examined the effects of leaf herbivory by the dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas, on the compensatory growth of the geophyte Pancratium sickenbergeri (Amaryllidaceae) in the Negev desert, Israel. In three populations exposed to different levels of herbivory, we removed different amounts of photosynthetic leaf area from plants in five clipping treatments: 0, 25, 50%-dispersed over all leaves, 50%-entire area of half the leaves, 100%. The population with the lowest level of herbivory showed the lowest relative regrowth rate after clipping. In the population with a constantly high level of herbivory, plants in intermediate-clipping treatments overcompensated in leaf area after clipping. For all the populations, clipped plants produce more new leaves than unclipped plants. In the population with the highest level of herbivory, clipping treatments did not have a significant effect on the number of fruits per plant. In addition, we did not find a trade-off between investments in growth and reproduction in this population. Our results indicated that, in the desert lily, herbivores may select for plant mechanisms that compensate after damage as a tolerant strategy to maintain fitness.     

Dirunal leaf movement, chlorophyll fluorescence and carbon assimilation in soybean grown under different nitrogen and water availabilities

Diurnal heliotropic leaf movements, photosynthetic gas exchange, and the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of unrestrained and horizontally restrained leaves from soybean (Glycine max cv. Cumberland) plants grown in two different water and two different nitrogen treatments were measured. Leaves of plants grown in low water or low nitrogen availability treatments displayed more pronounced diaheliotropism (solar tracking) in the afternoon and a longer period of paraheliotropism (light avoiding) at midday relative to those of well-watered, high-nitrogen-grown plants. Photosaturated photosynthetic rates and the photon flux required to saturate photosynthesis were reduced by water stress and nitrogen deficiency. Compared to horizontal leaves, irradiance on orienting leaves was nearer to the breakpoint of the photosynthetic light response curve, where photosynthesis is co-limited by ribulose biphosphate regeneration and carboxylation. This would increase the carbon return on investments of nitrogen into photosynthesis. A positive linear relationship between Fv/Fm and quantum yield of photosynthesis was measured. Leaves of low-nitrogen-grown plants had earlier and more prolonged reductions in Fv/Fm at midday compared to leaves of high nitrogen grown plants of the same water treatment. Within the same water and nitrogen treatment, horizontally restrained leaves had lower midday Fv/Fm in relation to orienting leaves. Nitrogen deficiency and water stress enhanced this difference such that horizontally restrained leaves of low water and low nitrogen grown plants had earlier and longer midday depressions in Fv/Fm.     

Rainfall, nitrogen and host plant condition: consequences for the processionary caterpillar, Ochrogaster lunifer

1. At the end of November in subtropical areas of Australia, second-instar larvae of the processionary caterpillar Ochrogaster lunifer (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) initiate feeding on the peripheral shoots of acacias (first-instar larvae do not feed). Field surveys at ten localities in south-east Queensland showed that larval survival was highly variable both among and within localities. Within-locality variation in larval growth was low compared with variation among localities. Larval growth and survival rates were higher at coastal and island localities, where November rainfall was high, than at drier inland localities.
2. Potted Acacia concurrens were grown in the greenhouse under high and low watering regimes, with and without nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Plant vigour (height, foliar water content and quantity of flush growth) was significantly greater in high-water treatments than in low-water treatments. Watering also affected foliar nitrogen, with plants in the high-water/no fertilizer treatment having similar nitrogen levels to those in fertilized treatments. Fertilizer increased foliar nitrogen levels of plants in low-water treatments and increased the number of shoots in high-water treatments. Different treatments had no effect on leaf toughness. After the first 3 weeks of feeding, size and survival of larvae were significantly reduced on the small, less vigorous plants in low water treatments. These results do not support the plant stress hypothesis.
3. Early-instar larvae (instar II–IV) developed more quickly and grew larger when reared on flush leaves than when reared on senescent leaves of A. concurrens . As water uptake affects the quantity of flush growth available to early stage larvae as well as foliar quality, rainfall and water availability may have important consequences for the distribution and population dynamics of the moth at local and regional scales.     

Resource allocation and storage relative to resprouting ability in wind disturbed coastal forest trees

Many plants persist by resprouting after disturbance. However, the benefits of resprouting (survival) may be traded off against height growth and reproduction. Resources (total non-structural carbohydrates—TNC) that could be allocated to growth or reproduction are stored or mobilised to support resprouting. TNC may either be stored by accumulation where availability exceeds the requirements for growth, or by reserve formation when storage is at the expense of growth. Thus, the mechanism of storage and resource allocation may differ between good (R+) and poor (R?) resprouters in response to nutrient availability and disturbance regime. R+ species typically reserve resources to ensure a rapid resprouting response to disturbance. We test whether R+ and R? species in coastal forest, under chronic wind disturbance, differ in growth rates, biomass allocation, leaf traits, water relations and storage of TNC. Seedlings from three confamilial pairs of R+ and R? tree species were subjected to nitrogen addition, water stress and clipping (simulating herbivory) treatments under greenhouse conditions. R? species had greater height growth rates, larger specific leaf area, lower root mass ratio and lower root TNC than R+ species. These differences between R+ and R? species were maintained irrespective of the levels of nitrogen, water and clipping treatments. R+ species did not increase their TNC concentration under nutrient and water stress, indicating that TNC is stored by reserve formation. R+ species appeared to trade-off growth against storage, while R? species did not. In R+ species, reserve formation is likely a bet-hedging strategy against occasional strong selection events in addition to chronic wind stress. By trading off height growth for better resprouting ability, good resprouters may be able to persist at more frequently disturbed sites (e.g., dune crests and windward slopes), while poor resprouters that have faster height growth can dominate less disturbed sites.     

A test of compensatory photosynthesis in the field: Implications for herbivory tolerance

Summary The occurrence of compensatory photosynthesis was examined in the field for all foliage elements on two Agropyron bunchgrass species that differ in their evolutionary history of grazing pressure. This is the first reported field study of compensatory photosynthesis in individual foliage elements of graminoids. Compensatory photosynthesis was defined as an increase in the photosynthetic rates of foliage on partially defoliated plants relative to foliage of the same age on undefoliated plants. Compensatory photosynthesis did occur in many individual foliage elements during at least part of their ontogeny. For both species, compensatory photosynthesis was related primarily to delayed leaf senescence and increased soluble protein concentrations, but not to an improvement in the water status of clipped plants. Soluble protein concentration increased in all foliage elements. A delay in senescence on clipped plants was documented for the two oldest, fully-expanded leaves that were present when the plants were initially clipped, but the initiation and senescence of all other foliage elements were not affected by the clipping treatments. Photosynthetic water use efficiency and photosynthetic rates per unit soluble protein of foliage on partially defoliated plants were not increased following the clipping treatments. Although A. desertorum and A. spicatum were exposed to different levels of grazing pressure during their evolutionary history, the phenology, water status, and gas exchange rates of foliage were very similar both for undefoliated as well as partially defoliated plants. Thus, we conclude that compensatory photosynthesis does not appear to be an important ecological component of herbivory tolerance for these species.     

刈割后两种不同体型植物的补偿式样对比研究

对比了两种不同体型植物燕麦(Avena sativa)和油菜(Brassica campestris)在不同施肥水平下的刈割反应特点。结果表明:对于燕麦而言,在不施肥条件下,3个时期的轻度刈割处理与对照相比,其生物量、总生物量、果重、果数等都有增加,但只有某些指标出现超补偿;在施肥条件下,各种刈割处理后均没有发生超补偿。并且无论施肥与否,分蘖期与拔节期的补偿指数均高于抽穗期的补偿指数。可以认为,不施肥条件下营养期轻度刈割处理较有利于燕麦的补偿生长。对于油菜而言,花蕾期轻度刈割处理后植物补偿指数最大,且施肥条件下的补偿指数高于不施肥条件下的补偿指数。比较两种植物在不同资源下补偿反应的特点,可认为因休眠芽位置及其活动方式不同而所造成的体型差异对植物的补偿反应式样有很大影响。     

Oxidative stress protection and stomatal patterning as components of salinity tolerance mechanism in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Two components of salinity stress are a reduction in water availability to plants and the formation of reactive oxygen species. In this work, we have used quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), a dicotyledonous C3 halophyte species displaying optimal growth at approximately 150 mM NaCl, to study mechanisms by which halophytes cope with the afore-mentioned components of salt stress. The relative contribution of organic and inorganic osmolytes in leaves of different physiological ages (e.g. positions on the stem) was quantified and linked with the osmoprotective function of organic osmolytes. We show that the extent of the oxidative stress (UV-B irradiation) damage to photosynthetic machinery in young leaves is much less when compared with old leaves, and attribute this difference to the difference in the size of the organic osmolyte pool (1.5-fold difference under control conditions; sixfold difference in plants grown at 400 mM NaCl). Consistent with this, salt-grown plants showed higher Fv/Fm values compared with control plants after UV-B exposure. Exogenous application of physiologically relevant concentrations of glycine betaine substantially mitigated oxidative stress damage to PSII, in a dose-dependent manner. We also show that salt-grown plants showed a significant (approximately 30%) reduction in stomatal density observed in all leaves. It is concluded that accumulation of organic osmolytes plays a dual role providing, in addition to osmotic adjustment, protection of photosynthetic machinery against oxidative stress in developing leaves. It is also suggested that salinity-induced reduction in stomatal density represents a fundamental mechanism by which plants optimize water use efficiency under saline conditions.     

Methanol as a signal triggering isoprenoid emissions and photosynthetic performance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis>

Several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been reported as having a communication role between plants and also between plants and animals. We aimed to test whether methanol, a short-chain oxygenated VOC, could also have a signalling role between plants. We monitored photosynthetic performance and VOC exchange rates of Quercus ilex L. saplings before and after two different treatments: (a) clipping of some leaves to simulate an attack by herbivores and (b) fumigation with gaseous methanol for 5 h to simulate the amount of methanol a plant could receive from surrounding plants if those had been already attacked by herbivores. The clipping treatment enhanced the photosynthetic rates, the chlorophyll a to b ratio and the carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio of non-clipped leaves, suggesting an activation of plant protective metabolism. Also, a small but interesting systemic (in non-clipped leaves) increase in methanol emission rates was observed, which agrees with the possibility that methanol may act as a signalling cue. The methanol fumigation treatment induced an increase in the actual photochemical efficiency of PSII and also in the carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio. Methanol fumigation also promoted a 14% increase in the monoterpene emission rate, 1 day after the treatment, a similar response to the ones induced by other signalling VOCs. The enhanced monoterpene emissions could add to the blend of VOCs emitted after stress and be part of further signalling pathways, thus forwarding the message started by methanol. This study suggests that clipping and methanol fumigation at natural concentrations elicit significant neighbour plant physiological responses and further BVOC emissions.     

Interactive regulation of grass yield and chemical properties by defoliation,a salivary chemical,and inorganic nutrition

Summary Clones of 2 C₄ grass species, Sprobolus ioclados and S. pyramidalis, were obtained from more and less heavily grazed grasslands, respectively, in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Plants were grown in a factorial experiment to determine the effects of severe defoliation, nutrient limitation, and a salivary chemical (thiamine) on plant growth, nitrogen content, and non-structural carbohydrate content. The experimental design included: (1) species; (2) clipping, with plants either unclipped or clipped weekly to a height of 5 cm; (3) 0.2 ml of distilled water of 0.2 ml of 10 ppb aqueous thiamine sprayed on plants from an atomizer after clipping and identical treatments at the same time to unclipped plants; (4) phosphorus (P) at 0.2 or 1 mM; (5) nitrogen (N) at 3 or 15 mM. Clipping was the major variable affecting plant growth. Total and litter yields were reduced to half and residual plant yield was reduced to 30% of the values for unclipped plants. Clipping interacted strongly with other variables since they commonly had minor effects on clipped plants and major effects on unclipped plants. Exceptions to this generalization were generally due to better performance by S. ioclados under clipping. Compared to lower treatment levels, higher treatment levels promoted total yield of unclipped plants by 52% for N, 43% for thiamine, and 33% for P. In general, thiamine had greater effects than P but lesser effects than N. Thiamine promoted yield and modified the chemical balance of plants by promoting carbohydrate (CHO) concentrations and reducing N concentrations. N and P deficiencies promoted CHO accumulation. Clipping promoted the N of leaves and crowns and reduced the N levels in roots. Leaf blade water and N contents were positively correlated with very little scatter. The slope of the line was different for S. ioclados and S. pyramidalis. Leaf blade water and CHO contents were negatively related but there was more scatter and the species could not be distinguished. The species from more heavily grazed grasslands was conspicuously more sensitive to thiamine application. The results indicated that leaf treatment with thiamine, the only likely source of which in natural grasslands is saliva deposited by feeding herbivores, can have major effects on plant yield and metabolic balances at very low application levels. But under defoliation levels as severe as those imposed in this experiment, which reduced above ground plant biomass to a fourth of the level produced by unclipped plants, growth was so strongly limited by defoliation that neither thiamine nor inorganic nutrients affected plant yield residual from clipping. Therefore, whether chemicals such as thiamine that may be introduced onto grass foliage by grazing ungulates and other herbivores will influence the growth of grazed plants will depend upon the grazing intensity associated with the transfer.     

不同光合类型牧草对干旱-复水的光合生理响应及生长适应策略

基于干旱频率增加、强度增大这一全球降水变化背景, 探究干旱-复水条件下不同功能群(C₃和C₄)植物的光合生理响应及生长适应策略有助于预测降水格局变化条件下草地的植被组成和生态系统功能。该研究采用盆栽实验, 以松嫩草地生长的一年生C₃ (4种)和C₄ (3种)牧草为实验材料, 设置了对照、中度干旱和重度干旱3个水分处理水平, 在干旱末期及复水期对植物进行气体交换、生物量和比叶质量的测量。在干旱条件下, 各物种净光合速率和气孔导度均呈下降趋势, 水分利用效率呈上升趋势。干旱对不同植物光合指标的影响存在功能群差异, 随干旱程度的增加C₄植物逐渐丧失光合优势, 重度干旱对C₄植物净光合速率的影响较C₃植物更加明显。由于干旱条件下C₃植物光合固碳主要受气孔限制而C₄植物主要受代谢限制, 因此复水后C₄植物净光合速率恢复速度较C₃植物慢。干旱条件下, 各物种的生物量降低, 根冠比和比叶质量升高, 干旱对C₃植物各生长指标的影响均大于C₄植物; 复水处理后, C₃植物生物量随干旱强度增加呈下降趋势, 而C₄植物的生物量与对照相比无显著差异。     

Responses of Papaya Seedlings (Carica papaya L.) to Water Stress and Re-Hydration: Growth, Photosynthesis and Mineral Nutrient Imbalance

The effects of water stress and subsequent re-hydration on growth, leaf abscission, photosynthetic activity, leaf water potential and ion content were investigated in papaya seedlings (Carica papaya L.) cv. “Baixinho de Santa Amalia”. Water stress was imposed by suspending irrigation during 34 days. Thereafter, plants were regularly re-watered. Drought arrested plant growth, induced leaf abscission and drastically decreased photosynthetic rate. However, leaf water potential was hardly reduced. Water deficit also induced sodium, potassium and chloride accumulation in leaves and roots, and did not modify nitrogen levels in both organs. Re-hydration stimulated growth, promoted emergence of new leaves, reactivated photosynthetic machinery function and reduced ion content to control levels. The results indicated that the ability of papaya plants to improve drought tolerance is not mediated through the reduction of leaf abscission, the detention of growth or the decrease of net CO₂ assimilation. In contrast, the data suggested that under water stress conditions these plants appear to posses a certain capacity to increase ion content, which might contribute to osmotic adjustment.     

EFFECTS OF CLIPPING AND FOUR LEVELS OF NITROGEN ON THE GAS EXCHANGE,GROWTH, AND PRODUCTION OF TWO EAST AFRICAN GRAMINOIDS

Kyllinga nervosa and Themeda triandra plants were subjected to different clipping and nitrogen availability regimes. Following an extended period of growth under these conditions, total biomass, gas exchange and several morphological parameters were measured. Kyllinga nervosa showed compensatory growth to moderate levels of clipping whereas any clipping reduced the total biomass of T. triandra. Unclipped plants of either species were unable to respond to increased levels of nitrogen. Clipped plants responded in an ambiguous fashion, with increased allocation to offtake (material removed by clipping) in both species. Total biomass of K. nervosa was highest at 15 mM nitrogen levels which are equivalent to field levels. Both photosynthesis and respiration rates were unaffected by nitrogen treatments. Photosynthesis was significantly reduced by the most severe clipping regime of K. nervosa, but was unaffected by clipping of T. triandra.     

Compensatory growth and photosynthetic responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pharbitis purpurea</Emphasis> seedlings to clipped cotyledon and second leaf

Leaf tissue damaging to seedlings can limit their subsequent growth, and the effects may be more extensive. Compensatory photosynthesis responses of the remnant cotyledon and primary leaf of Pharbitis purpurea to clipping and the effect of clipping on seedling growth were evaluated in a pot-cultivated experiment. Three treatments were conducted in the experiment, which were clipped cotyledon (CC), clipped second leaf (CL), and control group (CG). The area, thickness, mass, and longevity of the remaining cotyledon of CC exhibited over-compensatory growth. In contrast, seedlings of CC had under-compensatory growth in seedling height, root length, seedling mass, and root to shoot ratio. However, the traits of remnant cotyledon and seedling in CL treatment exhibited equal-compensatory growth. Net photosynthetic rate of the cotyledon of CC was significantly higher than those of CL and CG treatments, and the diurnal changes in photosynthetic rates showed significantly different patterns which were unimodal curve (CC) and bimodal curve (CL and CG), respectively. There was no significant difference between CL and CG treatment. Net photosynthetic rate of the primary leaf of CL was significantly higher than that of CG treatment. However, the photosynthetic rates of primary leaves of CL and CG treatments showed similar photosynthetic patterns characterized by a bimodal curve. P. purpurea seedlings used a compensatory growth strategy in the remaining cotyledon or the primary leaf to resist leaf loss and minimize any adverse effects.     

Interaction between the spectral photon flux density distributions of light during growth and for measurements in net photosynthetic rates of cucumber leaves

The net photosynthetic rate of a leaf becomes acclimated to the plant's environment during growth. These rates are often measured, evaluated and compared among leaves of plants grown under different light conditions. In this study, we compared net photosynthetic rates of cucumber leaves grown under white light‐emitting diode (LED) light without and with supplemental far‐red (FR) LED light (W‐ and WFR‐leaves, respectively) under three different measuring light (ML) conditions: their respective growth light (GL), artificial sunlight (AS) and blue and red (BR) light. The difference in the measured photosynthetic rates between W‐ and WFR‐leaves was greater under BR than under GL and AS. In other words, an interaction between supplemental FR light during growth and the spectral photon flux density distribution (SPD) of ML affected the measured net photosynthetic rates. We showed that the comparison and evaluation of leaf photosynthetic rates and characteristics can be biased depending on the SPD of ML, especially for plants grown under different photon flux densities in the FR waveband. We also investigated the mechanism of the interaction. We confirmed that the distribution of excitation energy between the two photosystems (PSs) changed in response to the SPD of GL, and that this change resulted in the interaction, as suggested in previous reports. However, changes in PS stoichiometry could not completely explain the adjustment in excitation energy distribution observed in this study, suggesting that other mechanisms may be involved in the interaction.