Low temperature stress modifies the photochemical efficiency of a tropical tree species Hevea brasiliensis: effects of varying concentration of CO<sub>2</sub> and photon flux density

Abstract

Two clones of Hevea brasiliensis (RRII 105 and PB 235) were grown for one year in two distinct agroclimatic locations (warmer and colder, W and C) in peninsular India. We simultaneously measured gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence on fully mature intact leaves at different photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) and ambient CO2 concentrations (Ca) and at constant ambient O2 concentration (21 %). Net photosynthetic rate (PN), apparent quantum yield for CO2 assimilation (Φc), in vivo carboxylation efficiency (CE), and photosystem 2 quantum yield (ΦPS2) were low in plants grown in C climate and these reductions were more predominant in RRII 105 than in PB 235 which was also reflected in their growth. We estimated in these clones the partitioning of photosynthetic electrons between CO2 reduction (JA) and processes other than CO2 reduction (J*) at low and high PPFDs and Ca. At high Ca (700 µmol mol-1) most of the photosynthetic electrons were used for CO2 assimilation and negligible amount went for other processes when PPFD was low (200-300 µmol m-2 s-1) both in the C and W climates. But at high PPFD (900-1 100 µmol m-2 s-1), J* was appreciably high even at a high Ca. Hence at normal ambient Ca and high irradiance, electrons can be generated in the photosynthetic apparatus far in excess of what can be safely utilised for photosynthetic CO2 reduction. However, at high Ca there was increased diversion of electrons to photosynthetic CO2 reduction which resulted in improved photosynthetic parameters even in plants grown in C climate.