The sensitivity of photosynthesis to phosphorus deficiency differs between C3 and C4 tropical grasses.

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an important determinant of plant productivity, particularly in the tropical grasslands of Australia, which contain both C3 and C4 species. Few studies have compared the responses of such species to P deficiency. Previous work led us to hypothesise that C3 photosynthesis and the three subtypes of C4 photosynthesis have different sensitivities to P deficiency. To examine their dynamic response to P deficiency in more detail, four taxonomically related tropical grasses (Panicum laxum (C3) and Panicum coloratum, Cenchrus ciliaris and Panicum maximum belonging to the C4 subtypes NAD-ME, NADP-ME and PCK, respectively) were grown under contrasting P supplies, including P withdrawal from the growing medium. Changes in photosynthesis and growth were compared with leaf carbohydrate contents and metabolic fingerprints obtained using high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The response of CO2 assimilation rates to leaf contents of inorganic phosphate ([Pi]) was linear in the C3 grass, but asymptotic for the three C4 grasses. Relative growth rate was affected most by low P in the C3 species and was correlated with the leaf content of glucose 6-phosphate more than with carbohydrates. Principal component analysis of the 1H-NMR spectra revealed distinctive profiles of carbohydrates and amino acids for the four species. Overall, the data showed that photosynthesis of the three C4 subtypes behaved similarly. Compared with the C3 counterpart, photosynthesis of the three C4 grasses had a higher P use efficiency and lower Pi requirement, and responded to a narrower range of [Pi]. Although each of the four grass species showed distinctive 1H-NMR fingerprints, there were no differences in response that could be attributed to the C4 subtypes.