Higher Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency Research Articles

Responses of leaf gas exchange and metabolites to drought stress in different organs of sugarcane and its closely related species Erianthus arundinaceus

Main conclusionThe high intrinsic water-use efficiency of Erianthus may be due to the low abaxial stomatal density and the accumulation of leaf metabolites such as betaine and gamma-aminobutyric acid.Sugarcane is an important crop that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Because drought is among the main impediments limiting sugarcane production in these regions, breeding of drought-tolerant sugarcane varieties is important for sustainable production. Erianthus arundinaceus, a species closely related to sugarcane, exhibits high intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE), the underlying mechanisms for which remain unknown. To improve the genetic base for conferring drought tolerance in sugarcane, in the present study, we performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of leaf gas exchange and metabolites in different organs of sugarcane and Erianthus under wet and dry soil-moisture conditions. Erianthus exhibited lower stomatal conductance under both conditions, which resulted in a higher iWUE than in sugarcane. Organ-specific metabolites showed gradations between continuous parts and organs, suggesting linkages between them. Cluster analysis of organ-specific metabolites revealed the effects of the species and treatments in the leaves. Principal component analysis of leaf metabolites confirmed a rough ordering of the factors affecting their accumulations. Compared to sugarcane leaf, Erianthus leaf accumulated more raffinose, betaine, glutamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and S-adenosylmethionine, which function as osmolytes and stress-response compounds, under both the conditions. Our extensive analyses reveal that the high iWUE of Erianthus may be due to the specific accumulation of such metabolites in the leaves, in addition to the low stomatal density on the abaxial side of leaves. The identification of drought-tolerance traits of Erianthus will benefit the generation of sugarcane varieties capable of withstanding drought stress.Graphical abstract

Intra and interspecific variability of Quercus suber and Quercus canariensis, an intrinsic water-use efficiency approach for differentiation

In Tunisia, the oak forest is essentially restricted to the north-west (Kroumirie and Mogods), which is the wettest zone of the country. It forms ecosystems of great ecological and socio-economic interest. This is a significant source of income for local population. In addition, it contributes to soil conservation and is home to a rich and diversified fauna and flora and offers the region a picturesque landscape. This precious and fragile forest capital is currently threatened under the effect of various pressures, mainly the browsing of young plants being reconstituted and vegetative competition regarding resources of the environment. Hence the interest in studying the intra and interspecific variability of the oak, this study is essentially based on the morphological and physiological comparison of the two species of oak, Quercus suber and Quercus canariensis with their cohabitation in the same area, this variability was carried out by multivariate biostatistical analyzes using a set of data including morphological traits, isotopic analysis of the leaves, water use efficiency, as well as the phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of the leaves extracts. The results showed that leaf morphology and water use efficiency are discriminating factors for differentiation to choose the right specie that will be used for reforestation. The Q. canariensis specie growing in the Bni Mtir region was characterized by a high intrinsic water-use efficiency and high biomass recovery. These results let us suppose that Q. canariensis was the perfect specie for reforestation given its ability to produce a large amount of biomass with less water, which is what environmentalists demand.

Dynamics of photosynthetic induction and relaxation within the canopy of rice and two wild relatives.

Wild rice species are a source of genetic material for improving cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) and a means to understand its evolutionary history. Renewed interest in non‐steady‐state photosynthesis in crops has taken place due its potential in improving sustainable productivity. Variation was characterized for photosynthetic induction and relaxation at two leaf canopy levels in three rice species. The wild rice accessions had 16%–40% higher rates of leaf CO2 uptake (A) during photosynthetic induction relative to the O. sativa accession. However, O. sativa had an overall higher photosynthetic capacity when compared to accessions of its wild progenitors. Additionally, O. sativa had a faster stomatal closing response, resulting in higher intrinsic water‐use efficiency during high‐to‐low light transitions. Leaf position in the canopy had a significant effect on non‐steady‐state photosynthesis, but not steady‐state photosynthesis. The results show potential to utilize wild material to refine plant models and improve non‐steady‐state photosynthesis in cultivated rice for increased productivity.

Photosynthesis response to severe water deficit in terminal stems of Myriolimon ferulaceum

Myriolimon ferulaceum is a leafless species and close relative to Limonium inhabiting the same harsh environments in the rocky coast and salt marshes, with discontinuous distribution in western and central coast of the Mediterranean Basin and southern Iberian Peninsula. In order to test for the drought adaptive importance of photosynthesis in stems, and to decipher advantages and drawbacks of stem vs. leaf photosynthesis under drought conditions, M. ferulaceum was grown under the well-watered and severe water deficit conditions used in previous experiments with Limonium. Growth, stem anatomy, photosynthesis and gas exchange, and Rubisco-related traits were measured. Growth capacity in M. ferulaceum was higher than that of many Limonium under well-watered conditions, where limitations to photosynthesis were mostly biochemical. However, severe water deficit conditions had a higher impact in the leafless species, where the main photosynthesis limitation was stomatal conductance. High intrinsic water-use efficiency under well-watered conditions and high mesophyll conductance to stomatal conductance ratio under severe water deficit conditions were the main drivers of growth capacity in M. ferulaceum.

Consistent Differences in Field Leaf Water-Use Efficiency among Soybean Cultivars.

High intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi), the ratio of leaf photosynthesis to stomatal conductance, may be a useful trait in adapting crops to water-limited environments. In soybean, cultivar differences in stomatal response to vapor pressure deficit have not consistently translated into differences in WUEi in the field. In this study, six cultivars of soybeans previously shown to differ in WUEi in indoor experiments were grown in the field in Beltsville, Maryland, and tested for mid-day WUEi on nine clear days during the mid-seasons of two years. Measurement dates were chosen for diverse temperatures, and air temperatures ranged from 21 to 34 °C on the different dates. Air saturation deficits for water vapor ranged from 0.9 to 2.2 kPa. Corrected carbon isotope delta values for 13C (CID) were determined on mature, upper canopy leaves harvested during early pod filling each year. WUEi differed among cultivars in both years and the differences were consistent across measurement dates. Correlations between mean WUEi and CID were not significant in either year. It is concluded that consistent cultivar differences in WUEi exist in these soybean cultivars under field conditions, but that carbon isotope ratios may not be useful in identifying them because of cultivar differences in mesophyll conductance.

Photosynthetic regulation in seed heads and flag leaves of sagebrush-steppe bunchgrasses.

Native sagebrush-steppe bunchgrass populations are threatened by the spread and dominance of exotic invasive annual grasses, in part due to low, episodic seed production. In contrast, the widespread exotic bunchgrass, crested wheatgrass, readily produces viable seed cohorts. The mechanisms underlying these differences are unclear. To address this, we measured seed head specific mass (gm-2) and net photosynthetic assimilation (A net) as a function of internal [CO2] (A/Ci curves) in pre- and post-anthesis seed heads and flag leaves of crested wheatgrass and four native bunchgrasses to determine if differences in allocation and photosynthetic characteristics of seed heads was consistent with differential reproductive success. Crested wheatgrass seed heads had 2-fold greater specific mass compared to the native grasses, concurrent with greater CO2-saturated photosynthesis (A max), mesophyll carboxylation efficiency (CE), and higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE i ; A net/stomatal conductance (g s)), but with similar relative stomatal limitations to photosynthesis (RSL). Post-anthesis seed head A max, CE, RSL and g s decreased in native grasses, while crested wheatgrass RSL decreased and CE increased dramatically, likely due to tighter coordination between seed head structural changes with stomatal and biochemical dynamics. Our results suggest native sagebrush-steppe bunchgrasses have greater stomatal and structural constraints to reproductive photosynthesis, while the exotic grass has evolved seed heads functionally similar to leaves. This study shows elucidating reproduction-related ecophysiological mechanisms provide understanding of plant attributes that underlie restoration success and could help guide the development of native plant materials with functional attributes needed to overcome demographic bottlenecks that limit their restoration into degraded sagebrush-steppe.

Generating Plants with Improved Water Use Efficiency

To improve sustainability of agriculture, high yielding crop varieties with improved water use efficiency (WUE) are needed. Despite the feasibility of assessing WUE using different measurement techniques, breeding for WUE and high yield is a major challenge. Factors influencing the trait under field conditions are complex, including different scenarios of water availability. Plants with C3 photosynthesis are able to moderately increase WUE by restricting transpiration, resulting in higher intrinsic WUE (iWUE) at the leaf level. However, reduced CO2 uptake negatively influences photosynthesis and possibly growth and yield as well. The negative correlation of growth and WUE could be partly disconnected in model plant species with implications for crops. In this paper, we discuss recent insights obtained for Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) and the potential to translate the findings to C3 and C4 crops. Our data on Zea mays (L.) lines subjected to progressive drought show that there is potential for improvements in WUE of the maize line B73 at the whole plant level (WUEplant). However, changes in iWUE of B73 and Arabidopsis reduced the assimilation rate relatively more in maize. The trade-off observed in the C4 crop possibly limits the effectiveness of approaches aimed at improving iWUE but not necessarily efforts to improve WUEplant.

Divergent phenological and leaf gas exchange strategies of two competing tree species drive contrasting responses to drought at their altitudinal boundary.

In Mediterranean mountains, Pinus sylvestris L. is expected to be displaced under a warming climate by more drought-tolerant species such as the sub-Mediterranean Quercus pyrenaica Willd. Understanding how environmental factors drive tree physiology and phenology is, therefore, essential to assess the effect of changing climatic conditions on the performance of these species and, ultimately, their distribution. We compared the cambial and leaf phenology and leaf gas exchange of Q. pyrenaica and P. sylvestris at their altitudinal boundary in Central Spain and assessed the environmental variables involved. Results indicate that P. sylvestris cambial phenology was more sensitive to weather conditions (temperature at the onset and water deficit at the end of the growing season) than Q. pyrenaica. On the other hand, Q. pyrenaica cambial and leaf phenology were synchronized and driven by photoperiod and temperatures. Pinus sylvestris showed lower photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency and higher intrinsic water-use efficiency than Q. pyrenaica as a result of a tighter stomatal control in response to summer dry conditions, despite its less negative midday leaf water potentials. These phenological and leaf gas exchange responses evidence a stronger sensitivity to drought of P. sylvestris than that of Q. pyrenaica, which may therefore hold a competitive advantage over P. sylvestris under the predicted increase in recurrence and intensity of drought events. On the other hand, both species could benefit from warmer springs through an advanced phenology, although this effect could be limited in Q. pyrenaica if it maintains a photoperiod control over the onset of xylogenesis.

Drought Decreases Growth and Increases Mortality of Coexisting Native and Introduced Tree Species in a Temperate Floodplain Forest

Forest dieback and mortality events induced by drought stress are widely reported. However, few studies have jointly examined the role played by drought on growth and mortality in tree species inhabiting floodplain forests. Here, we focused on mortality events occurring since the early 2000s on large areas in a floodplain forest located within the Ticino regional park in Northwest Italy, where affected native (pedunculate oak, Quercus robur L.) and introduced tree species (black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia L.) coexist. We related growth with climate data and drought severity to discern if these species were similarly affected by drought. Then, we: (i) evaluated the presence of pathogens of the genus Phytophthora in recently dead oak trees since this was the most affected species and pathogens are often associated with oak decline cases; and (ii) compared xylem vessel diameter and tree-ring C isotope discrimination (δ13C) to highlight differences in water-use strategies between living and dead trees in both species. The radial growth of living and dead trees started diverging in the 1970s, although only after warm-drought periods occurred during 1990s did this divergence become significant. Growth of trees that died responded more negatively to drought than in the case of living trees. Moreover, trees that died formed smaller xylem vessels in the past than living trees and also showed more negative δ13C values in both tree species, indicating a higher intrinsic water-use efficiency in living than in dead trees. The pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands was only detected in one recently dead tree, suggesting that it is unlikely that dead oaks were predisposed to drought damage by the pathogen. We conclude that a climate shift from wet to warm-dry summer conditions in the early 1990s triggered forest dieback and induced mortality in both tree species. Temperate floodplain forests are susceptible to drought-induced dieback. The drought-sensitivity of both species could lead to successional shifts driven by a reduction of N inputs through N-fixing by black locust and the replacement of oak by drought-tolerant species.

Polyploidy influences plant-environment interactions in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.).

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), a widespread and keystone tree species in North America, experienced heat and drought stress in the years 2002 and 2003 in the southwestern United States. This led to widespread aspen mortality that has altered the composition of forests, and is expected to occur again if climate change continues. Understanding interactions between aspen and its environments is essential to understanding future mortality risk in forests. Polyploidy, which is common in aspen, can modify plant structure and function and therefore plant-environment interactions, but the influence of polyploidy on aspen physiology is still not well understood. Furthermore, the ploidy types of aspen have different biogeographies, with triploids being most frequent at lower latitudes in generally warmer and drier climates, while the northerly populations are virtually 100% diploid. This suggests that ploidy-environment interactions differ, and could mean that the ploidy types have different vulnerabilities to environmental stress. In this study, to understand aspen ploidy-environment interactions, we measured 38 different traits important to carbon uptake, water loss and water-use efficiency in diploid and triploid aspen in Colorado. We found that triploid aspen had lower stand density, and greater leaf area, leaf mass, leaf mass per area, percent nitrogen content, chlorophyll content and stomatal size. These differences corresponded to greater potential net carbon assimilation (A, measured using A/Ci curves, and chlorophyll fluorescence) and stomatal conductance (gs) in triploids than diploids. While triploid aspen had higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE, calculated from measurements of δ13C in leaf tissue), they also had greater potential water loss from higher measured gs and lower stomatal sensitivity to increasing vapor pressure deficit. Therefore, despite greater iWUE, triploids may have lower resilience to climate-induced stress. We conclude that ploidy type strongly influences physiological traits and function, and mediates drought stress responses in quaking aspen.

Effects of Drought on Xylem Anatomy and Water-Use Efficiency of Two Co-Occurring Pine Species

Exploring how drought influences growth, performance, and survival in different species is crucial to understanding the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. Here, we investigate the responses of two co-occurring pines (Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris) to interannual drought in east-central Spain by dendrochronological and wood anatomical features integrated with isotopic ratios of carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) in tree rings. Our results showed that drought induces both species to allocate less carbon to build tracheid cell-walls but increases tracheid lumen diameters, particularly in the transition wood between early and latewood, potentially maximizing hydraulic conductivity but reducing resistance to embolism at a critical phase during the growing season. The thicker cell-wall-to-lumen ratio in P. nigra could imply that its xylem may be more resistant to bending stress and drought-induced cavitation than P. sylvestris. In contrast, the higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) in P. sylvestris suggests that it relies more on a water-saving strategy. Our results suggest that narrower cell-walls and reduced growth under drought are not necessarily linked to increased iWUE. At our site P. nigra showed a higher growth plasticity, grew faster and was more competitive than P. sylvestris. In the long term, these sustained differences in iWUE and anatomical characters could affect forest species performance and composition, particularly under increased drought stress.

Thermotolerance and heat stress responses of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine seedling populations from contrasting climates.

Temperature and the frequency and intensity of heat waves are predicted to increase throughout the 21st century. Germinant seedlings are expected to be particularly vulnerable to heat stress because they are in the boundary layer close to the soil surface where intense heating occurs in open habitats. We quantified leaf thermotolerance and whole-plant physiological responses to heat stress in first-year germinant seedlings in two populations each of Pinus ponderosa P. and C. Lawson (PIPO) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (PSME) from climates with contrasting precipitation and temperature regimes. Thermotolerance of detached needles was evaluated using chlorophyll fluorescence (FV/FM, FO) and electrolyte leakage. PSME was more heat tolerant than PIPO according to both independent assessments of thermotolerance. Following exposure of whole seedlings to a simulated heat wave at 45 °C for 1 h in a growth chamber, we monitored FV/FM, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) for 14 days. Heat treatment induced significant reductions in FV/FM in both species and a transient reduction in photosynthetic gas exchange only in PIPO 1 day after treatment. Heat treatment induced an increase in glucose + fructose concurrent with a decrease in starch in both species, whereas total NSC and sucrose were not affected by heat treatment. The negative relationship between glucose + fructose and starch observed in treated plants may be due to the conversion of starch to glucose + fructose to aid recovery from heat-induced damage. Populations from drier sites displayed greater δ13C values than those from wetter sites, consistent with higher intrinsic water-use efficiency and drought resistance of populations from drier climates. Thermotolerance and heat stress responses appeared to be phenotypically plastic and representative of the environment in which plants were grown, whereas intrinsic water-use efficiency appeared to reflect ecotypic differentiation and the climate of origin.

Effects of fertilization on the growth, photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation in juvenile plants of three coffee (Coffea arabica L.) cultivars

We carried out a field experiment in order to study effects of fertilization in juvenile plants of three coffee (Coffea arabica) cultivars in Yunnan, SW China. Fertilization treatments included a control without fertilizer (CK), combinations of three NPK fertilization rates [high fertilization (FH), medium fertilization (FM), and low fertilization (FL) with 135, 90, and 45 g per plant per year, respectively], and at two N:P2O5:K2O ratios (R1, 1:0.5:0.8; R2, 1:0.8:0.5). The growth in juvenile plants was not altered by fertilization, with two clear growth peaks being observed in both the height and stem growth rates (RGRs) throughout a year. Both FM and FH resulted in significantly higher RGRs in both height and stem diameter compared to FL and CK in all three cultivars. At the same fertilization rate, the leaf area, branch number, longest branch length, internode number, and biomass of R2 were higher than those of R1, and P significantly affected the root biomass and root to shoot ratio. Compared to the FL treatment, both FM and FH treatments resulted in higher net photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance across seasons, and in higher intrinsic water-use efficiency during the dry season and at the middle of the wet season. Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency at R2 was higher than that at R1, but no significant differences were observed between the different fertilization rates. Among the three coffee cultivars, Caturra exhibited the highest height, stem diameter, longest branch length, and internode number. Our results indicated that the optimal N:P2O5:K2O ratio was 1:0.8:0.5 for the juvenile growth of coffee plants. Both FM and FH could help optimize the growth and photosynthetic rate of coffee plants, but FM is suitable for the ecological friendly agriculture and economic sustainability at coffee plantations.

Physiological response to drought in seedlings of Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree)

Drought is often an important constraint on plant regeneration in the Mediterranean. Pistacia lentiscus is of particular interest in restoration actions in fire-prone areas. This study addressed the current knowledge gap on the physiological response of this species to drought during its initial development. We hypothesized that the seedlings would have a high resistance to drought. In addition, we expected that seedlings from two sources with contrasting climate conditions would perform distinctly under drought. Seeds were collected from two populations in north and south Portugal. Seedlings were subjected to a progressively lower osmotic potential during 25 days, through increasing PEG concentration in the hydroponic solution. The physiological response of the seedlings was assessed by measuring gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence after 15 and 25 days of drought exposure, when the osmotic potential was −2.47 and −5.17 MPa, respectively. Shoot growth, net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration were significantly reduced under drought conditions, whilst intrinsic water-use efficiency (IWUE) remained unaffected. This response partially agreed with the known strategy of P. lentiscus to cope with drought, typically maintaining high IWUE, however the observed reduction in stomatal conductance was not as pronounced as expected. Drought induced a decrease in leaf pigments that could be linked to photo-protective mechanisms. Seed source did not have a significant effect on drought response. P. lentiscus showed a high resistance to drought, which clearly supported its use in restoration actions in the Mediterranean, but these findings require further testing under field conditions.

Do litter manipulations affect leaf functional traits of savanna woody plants?

Plant litter is the layer composed of dead plant material that covers soil surfaces in terrestrial ecosystems. It is an important pool of essential nutrients for soil and plants, serving also as a protective layer on the soil surface. In this study, we investigated the effects of litter addition and removal on leaf functional traits of woody Neotropical savanna trees. We measured maximum photosynthesis (A max), stomatal conductance (g s), leaf transpiration (E), intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE), specific leaf area (SLA), and chlorophyll content (CCI) in 15 species belonging to three different phenological groups (evergreen, briefly deciduous, and deciduous species) that were subjected to three distinct litter availability treatments (addition, removal, and control plots) in a Neotropical Savanna site in Brazil. Although SLA and CCI differed among phenology groups, they were not affected by the litter treatments. In contrast, when considered at the community level, we found that the availability of litter affected the leaf traits linked with the water status of the plants (E, g s and IWUE). Plants in the litter removal plots exhibited lower g s and E (25 % of reduction in comparison with control group) but higher IWUE, while plants in the litter addition plots had a 10 % decrease in IWUE but a 12 % increase in g s and E compared with plants in control plots. Savanna woody plants responded promptly to litter manipulation by adjusting leaf water loss, which suggests that in the short term, changes in the amount of litter in Cerrado ecosystems can affect the soil water availability to the plant community.

Assessment of summer drought tolerance variability in Mediterranean alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars under Moroccan fields conditions

This study was undertaken to assess levels of tolerance to summer drought in Medicago sativa genotypes and to comment on their abilities to adapt to Moroccan conditions. Sixteen alfalfa cultivars originating from the Mediterranean basin were tested at an experimental station in Morocco, located in the semi-arid bioclimatic area. Trials were conducted over three years and consisted of one continuously irrigated treatment and another irrigated treatment in which summer watering was withheld for 9 weeks. Results showed that summer water stress significantly reduced aboveground biomass in all of the cultivars tested. This reduction ranged between 23.9 and 42.6% compared with fully irrigated treatment. At the end of stress period, mean summer leaf senescence rate was 83.3%, with a significant difference between cultivars. Ground cover, estimated at the end of summer in the third year, decreased dramatically and ranged between 12 and 30.7%, depending on the cultivar. High intrinsic water-use efficiency was associated with a decrease in stomatal conductance rather than an increase in photosynthesis.

Changes in photosynthetic activity in five common hybrids of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings under water deficit

The leaf water potential, gas-exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated in five common oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) tenera hybrids 913X1988, 1425X2277, 748X1988, 7418X1988, and 690X1988 under water deficit with an aim to identify hybrids which can cope up better under such conditions and understand possible differences among hybrids in relation to the physiological mechanisms triggered by water deficit. Our findings indicate oil palm hybrids 913X1988, 1425X2277, and 7418X1988 maintained higher leaf water potentials than the other hybrids. Hybrids 7418X1988 and 1425X2277 recorded lower stomatal conductance after water deficit, which resulted in higher intrinsic water-use efficiency. The excess light energy produced due to decreased photosynthesis in 7418X1988 and 690X1988 hybrids under water deficit was dissipated as heat by higher nonphotochemical quenching. The maximum efficiency of photosystem II was not affected, even after withholding water for 24 days, suggesting an increased efficiency of photoprotection mechanisms in all these oil palm hybrids.

Carbon assimilation, 𝛅13C and water relations of Elaeagnus angustifolia grown at two groundwater depths in the Minqin desert, China

We investigated the physiological responses of Elaeagnus angustifolia to variation in groundwater depth. Elaeagnus angustifolia seedlings were grown in the Minqin desert in lysimeters supplied with underground water at the soil depth of 1.40 m and 3.40 m. Results showed that constant access to groundwater allowed plants supplied with water at the lower soil layer to meet their water requirement and, consequently, they were not affected by water stress. There were no differences in A max (the net CO2 assimilation rate under conditions of photosynthetically photon flux density and CO2 saturation), J max (maximum rate of electron transport) and stomatal conductance between the two underground water treatments. However, plants with deeper groundwater had a significantly higher V cmax (i.e. a higher carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco) and mesophyll conductance resulting in increased photosynthesis measured at the CO2 growth condition (A) and, consequently higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE). However, respiration was also increased in plants grown with deeper groundwater. This may have offset the increased A and led to a similar long-term WUE, as expressed by carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C), between the two ground water treatments. In the present study, we also found a high foliage nitrogen concentration in the E. angustifolia plants (3.75% on average), that may be very significant ecologically in improving soil properties. The physiological traits of E. angustifolia found in this study confirm that the use of perennial phreatophytic, nitrogen fixing species has significant potential to positively impact soil fertility and carbon sequestration under environmental conditions found in the Minqin desert.

Quantification of Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency along a Moisture Gradient in Northeastern China

Water use efficiency (WUE) is an important ecophysiological characteristic of plants, especially in semiarid and arid regions. At the scale of community or ecosystem, WUE is difficult to quantify because the amount of water used per unit dry mass production is a function of microclimatic variables and species composition. In this study, we analyzed corrected intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE(s)) of grass and shrub species along the western segment of the Northeast China Transect (NECT) and the relationship between IWUE(s) and mean annual rainfall, habitat degradation status, vegetation type, and plant functional type (C3 versus C4) at 22 survey sites. Site intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE(v)) and its relationship with the aforementioned site variables were analyzed based on species frequencies at each site. First, it was concluded that photosynthetic pathway played a very important role in determining species IWUE(s). Mean IWUE(s) for C4 species was approximately double that of C3 species. Second, mean annual rainfall, vegetation type, and site degradation status significantly affected IWUE(s) (p < 0.01). Mean IWUE(s) at degraded sites was twice as high as that at nondegraded sites. The mean IWUE(s) for meadows was significantly higher than those for other vegetation types (p < 0.05). Third, the frequency of occurrence of C4 plants explained 36% of the variance in IWUE(v) across the survey sites. The mean frequency of C4 occurrence at degraded sites was more than double that at nondegraded sites. Consequently, mean IWUE(v) at degraded sites was more than double that at nondegraded sites. Dominant C4 species in saline-alkaline areas tended to have higher intrinsic WUE than dominant C4 species in sandy shrub communities.

Influence of mechanical root restriction on gas-exchange of four papaya genotypes

Four papaya genotypes, two from the ‘Solo’ group (Sunrise Solo TJ and Improved Sunrise Solo line 72/12) and two from the ‘Formosa’ group (Tainung 02 and Know You 01) grown in ultisol under field conditions in Macaé, RJ, Brazil, were used in this study. Two different effective depths (ED) were determined in the area using a penetrographer with average soil moisture of 11.2%. The area with ED of 0.35 m with a maximum pressure of 4.12 MPa for penetration was defined as an area with restriction (WR) to root growth, while, the area with minimum ED of 0.60 m and a pressure lower than 2.30 MPa as an area with no restriction (NR). The net CO2 assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (g s), leaf temperature (Tl), intercellular partial pressure of CO2 (c i) and intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE) were evaluated for three consecutive days after irrigation. Mechanical root restriction affected gas exchange of the four papaya genotypes. All genotypes grown in the WR area had lower A, g s and c i and higher Tl than the same genotypes in the NR area. All genotypes grown in the WR area had high IWUE and Sunrise Solo TJ had the highest IWUE.