Seasonal and diurnal monitoring of leaf polyamine content in Quercus ilex L. resprouts after fire in relation to changes in irradiation and photosynthetic parameters

Abstract

Seasonal variations in free putrescine, spermidine and spermine content, gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were followed during winter and summer on leaves of a similar age from undisturbed holm oak trees (control, C) and resprouts (R) originated after fire. We observed a general trend of putrescine content decrease with increasing irradiance. Putrescine content decreased markedly from winter to summer, especially in R, which were located on a site with much higher irradiation. Daily summer variations in putrescine showed a decline at midday from morning values, and they were also more accentuated in R. Measurement of gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed marked differences between C and R under their respective light conditions. R showed higher values of PSII quantum yield (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching (qP) and intrinsic efficiency of open PSII centres (\(F^\prime _{\rm v} /F^\prime _{\rm m} \)) The ΦPSII/PPFD response curve showed that under the same irradiance, ΦPSII was enhanced in R and mainly under high light conditions. In spite of increasing irradiance from winter to summer, and especially in burned areas, the mentioned chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were maintained indicating the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus. Results derived from A/C i and A/PPFD response curves showed enhanced photosynthetic capacity and lower non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis in R during summer stress. The contribution of putrescine decline in the photoadaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of species growing in natural forest habitats is considered.