Leaf Gas Exchange Rates Research Articles

Leaf Gas Exchange, Water Status, Spatial Dispersion, and Gender in Gynodioecious Bidens sandvicensis (Asteraceae)

How the cost of reproduction is paid in dimorphic populations is a fundamental question in plant reproductive biology, and females of dioecious species in arid environments often show lowered drought tolerance and survivorship attributable to higher reproductive allocation. The cost of reproduction in gynodioecious populations is less understood but can provide information on the selective advantages of dimorphism. Leaf gas exchange rates, water status, and spatial dispersion were measured in the two sex morphs of gynodioecious Bidens sandvicensis from two neighboring populations during typical seasonal drought on Kauai, Hawaii, in which females produce on average 33% more seeds per flowering head. Both females and hermaphrodites showed instantaneous and integrated gas exchange behavior typical of mesophytic, herbaceous, heliophytic dicots, with values for Rubisco carboxylation capacity, electron transport capacity, stomatal limitation, maximum net carbon uptake, maximum water use efficiency, and carbon isotopic fractionation within the midrange of values reported for these species. Midday water potentials during the period of flowering and fruiting approached the limit of drought tolerance reported for mesophytic species. Overall, females had marginally significantly lower photosynthetic function and water use efficiency than hermaphrodites, consistent with a passive trade‐off between leaf function and reproductive allocation. The sex morphs were dispersed at random in relation to each other, with no evidence of niche partitioning on soil moisture or elevation between the sex morphs within the two populations, and thus no evidence of a fitness difference attributable to physiological costs. The absence of large physiological differences or niche partitioning in B. sandvicensis and other gynodioecious species may be due to less pronounced sex differences in reproductive allocation as well as the less derived status of gynodioecy relative to dioecy. The correlation between gynodioecy and drought in Hawaiian Bidens may result from higher self‐fertilization in larger floral displays, leading to an outcrossing advantage for unisexual females in arid habitats.

Photosynthetic properties of C4 plants growing in an African savanna/wetland mosaic

Photosynthesis rates and photosynthesis-leaf nutrient relationships were analysed in nine tropical grass and sedge species growing in three different ecosystems: a rain-fed grassland, a seasonal floodplain, and a permanent swamp, located along a hydrological gradient in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. These investigations were conducted during the rainy season, at a time of the year when differences in growth conditions between the sites were relatively uniform. At the permanent swamp, the largest variations were found for area-based leaf nitrogen contents, from 20 mmol m(-2) to 140 mmol m(-2), nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE), from 0.2 mmol (C) mol(-1) (N) s(-1) to 2.0 mmol (C) mol(-1) (N) s(-1), and specific leaf areas (SLA), from 50 cm(2) g(-1) to 400 cm(2) g(-1). For the vegetation growing at the rain-fed grassland, the highest leaf gas exchange rates, high leaf nutrient levels, a low ratio of intercellular to ambient CO(2) concentration, and high carboxylation efficiency were found. Taken together, these observations indicate a very efficient growth strategy that is required for survival and reproduction during the relatively brief period of water availability. The overall lowest values of light-saturated photosynthesis (A(sat)) were observed at the seasonal floodplain; around 25 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and 30 micromol m(-2) s(-1). To place these observations into the broader context of functional leaf trait analysis, relationships of photosynthesis rates, specific leaf area, and foliar nutrient levels were plotted, in the same way as was done for previously published 'scaling relationships' that are based largely on C(3) plants, noting the differences in the analyses between this study and the previous study. The within- and across-species variation in both A(sat) and SLA appeared better predicted by foliar phosphorus content (dry mass or area basis) rather than by foliar nitrogen concentrations, possibly because the availability of phosphorus is even more critical than the availability of nitrogen in the studied relatively oligotrophic ecosystems.

Influence of overstory density on ecophysiology of red oak (Quercus rubra) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings in central Ontario shelterwoods

A field experiment was established in a second-growth hardwood forest dominated by red oak (Quercus rubra L.) to examine the effects of shelterwood overstory density on leaf gas exchange and seedling water status of planted red oak, naturally regenerated red oak and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedlings during the first growing season following harvest. Canopy cover of uncut control stands and moderate and light shelterwoods averaged 97, 80 and 49%, respectively. Understory light and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) strongly influenced gas exchange responses to overstory reduction. Increased irradiance beneath the shelterwoods significantly increased net photosynthesis (P(n)) and leaf conductance to water vapor (G(wv)) of red oak and maple seedlings; however, P(n) and G(wv) of planted and naturally regenerated red oak seedlings were two to three times higher than those of sugar maple seedlings in both partial harvest treatments, due in large part to decreased stomatal limitation of gas exchange in red oak as a result of increased VPD in the shelterwoods. In both species, seedling water status was higher in the partial harvest treatments, as reflected by the higher predawn leaf water potential and seedling water-use efficiency in seedlings in shelterwoods than in uncut stands. Within a treatment, planted and natural red oak seedlings exhibited similar leaf gas exchange rates and water status, indicating little adverse physiological effect of transplanting. We conclude that the use of shelterwoods favors photosynthetic potential of red oak over sugar maple, and should improve red oak regeneration in Ontario.

Effects of Ozone on the Growth, Yield and Leaf Gas Exchange Rates of Two Japanese Cultivars of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

To obtain basic information concerning the evaluation of the effects of O3 on the yield of Japanese rice (Oryza sativa L.), we investigated the effects of O3 on the growth, yield and leaf gas exchange rates of rice. Two Japanese cultivars of rice (Koshihikari and Kinuhikari) were grown in plastic boxes filled with flooded Andisol in 9 chambers, and were daily exposed to charcoal-filtered air or O3 at 60 or 100 nl l-1 (ppb) (10:00-17:00) from 30 May to 20 September, 2007.The whole-plant dry mass and grain yield per plant of the two cultivars at the final harvest were significantly reduced by the exposure to O3. The reduction rates of the grain yield by the exposure to O3 at 60 and 100 ppb were 3% and 23% in Koshihikari, respectively, and 18% and 34% in Kinuhikari, respectively. The sensitivity of growth and yield to O3 was not significantly different between Koshihikari and Kinuhikari.The exposure to O3 significantly reduced the panicle number per plant, and the dry mass per panicle and filled grain number per panicle due to the increase in sterility, but did not reduce 1000 grain weight. The O3-induced reduction in the yield of the two cultivars was mainly attributed to that in the whole-plant growth during the early vegetative period and the biomass allocation to panicle during the reproductive period. During the early vegetative period, the exposure to O3 significantly reduced net photosynthetic rate and stomatal diffusive conductance, regardless of the leaf position. Therefore, the O3-induced reduction in the whole-plant growth of the two cultivars during the early vegetative period was mainly due to that in net photosynthetic rate, partially caused by the stomatal closure. Furthermore, the sensitivity to O3 of the yield components, growth parameters and leaf gas exchange rate were not significantly different between Koshihikari and Kinuhikari.

Effects of Ozone on Growth, Yield and Leaf Gas Exchange Rates of Two Cultivars of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Effects of Ozone on Growth, Yield and Leaf Gas Exchange Rates of Two Cultivars of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

SEASONAL WATER STRESS TOLERANCE AND HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN FOUR NEOTROPICAL TREE GENERA

We investigated the relationship between habitat association and physiological performance in four congeneric species pairs exhibiting contrasting distributions between seasonally flooded and terra firme habitats in lowland tropical rain forests of French Guiana, including Virola and Iryanthera (Myristicaceae), Symphonia (Clusiaceae), and Eperua (Caesalpiniaceae). We analyzed 10-year data sets of mapped and measured saplings (stems >150 cm in height and <10 cm diameter at breast height [dbh]) and trees (stems > or =10 cm dbh) across 37.5 ha of permanent plots covering a 300-ha zone, within which seasonally flooded areas (where the water table never descends below 1 m) have been mapped. Additionally, we tested the response of growth, survival, and leaf functional traits of these species to drought and flood stress in a controlled experiment. We tested for habitat preference using a modification of the torus translation method. Strong contrasting associations of the species pairs of Iryanthera, Virola, and Symphonia were observed at the sapling stage, and these associations strengthened for the tree stage. Neither species of Eperua was significantly associated with flooded habitats at the sapling stage, but E. falcata was significantly and positively associated with flooded forests at the tree stage, and trees of E. grandiflora were found almost exclusively in nonflooded habitats. Differential performance provided limited explanatory support for the observed habitat associations, with only congeners of Iryanthera exhibiting divergent sapling survival and tree growth. Seedlings of species associated with flooded forest tended to have higher photosynthetic capacity than their congeners at field capacity. In addition, they tended to have the largest reductions in leaf gas exchange and growth rate in response to experimental drought stress and the least reductions in response to experimental inundation. The corroboration of habitat association with differences in functional traits and, to a lesser extent, measures of performance provides an explanation for the regional coexistence of these species pairs. We suggest that specialization to seasonally flooded habitats may explain patterns of adaptive radiation in many tropical tree genera and thereby provide a substantial contribution to regional tree diversity.

Ecophysiology of Two Native Invasive Woody Species and Two Dominant Warm‐Season Grasses in the Semiarid Grasslands of the Nebraska Sandhills

Populations of Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus virginiana are expanding into semiarid Sandhills grasslands in Nebraska. To evaluate the physiological basis of their success, we measured the seasonal course of leaf gas exchange, plant water status, and carbon isotope discrimination in these two native trees and two native C4 grasses (Schizachyrium scoparium and Panicum virgatum). Compared to the trees, grasses had higher net photosynthetic rates (Anet) and water use efficiency (WUE) and more negative predawn and midday water potentials (Ψ) in June and July. While leaf Ψ and rates of leaf gas exchange declined for all four species during August, the Ψmid of the grasses were significantly more negative than those of the two trees. The deeply rooted trees maintained water status during summer, in contrast to the grasses, which senesced. Juniperus virginiana in particular was well adapted to xeric conditions, with low stomatal conductance, high WUE, and positive Anet at low Ψ. The highest values of Anet were observed in May for J. virginiana and in May and September for P. ponderosa. Both species maintained low but positive Anet throughout the winter at temperatures above 0°C. Leaf carbon isotopic signature differed between tree and grass species but did not exhibit significant within‐species seasonal variability. The semiarid grassland climate of Nebraska does not appear to limit P. ponderosa and J. virginiana, which use growth during the nongrowing season and access to deep soil moisture to compensate for growing‐season drought.

Leaf turnover and growth responses of shade-grown saplings of four Shorea rain forest species to a sudden increase in light

We tested the hypothesis that sapling growth following a sudden increase in solar irradiance is related to recovery from photoinhibition and the balance between rate of production of new leaves and rate of abscision of old leaves. Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and relative growth rate (RGR) of stem basal area were measured following the sudden exposure of shade-grown (7% of full sunlight) saplings of four Shorea species to full sunlight. Sudden exposure to full sunlight resulted in an immediate and substantial reduction in dark-adapted quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), followed by a gradual recovery in all species. Near light-saturated net assimilation rate (A max) and area-based leaf chlorophyll concentration ([Chl area]) also declined immediately after exposure. Eleven days after exposure, A max had recovered to pre-exposure values in all species, whereas [Chl area] had not recovered. Across species, RGR of stem basal area increased with increasing RGR of the number of leaves following exposure to full sunlight. The interspecific variations in RGR of stem basal area suggest that new leaf production is crucial for determining the potential growth of saplings following gap formation.

Higher rates of leaf gas exchange are associated with higher leaf hydrodynamic pressure gradients

Steady-state leaf gas-exchange parameters and leaf hydraulic conductance were measured on 10 vascular plant species, grown under high light and well-watered conditions, in order to test for evidence of a departure from hydraulic homeostasis within leaves as hydraulic conductance varied across species. The plants ranged from herbaceous crop plants to mature forest trees. Across species, under standardized environmental conditions (saturating light, well watered), mean steady-state stomatal conductance to water vapour (g(w)) was highly correlated with mean rate of CO2 assimilation (A) and mean leaf hydraulic conductance normalized to leaf area (k(leaf)). The relationship between A and g(w) was well described by a power function, while that between A and k(leaf) was highly linear. Non-linearity in the relationship between g(w) and k(leaf) contributed to an increase in the hydrodynamic (transpiration-induced) water potential drawdown across the leaf (delta psi(leaf)) as k(leaf) increased across species, although across the 10 species the total increase in delta psi(leaf) was slightly more than twofold for an almost 30-fold increase in g(w). Higher rates of leaf gas exchange were therefore associated with higher k(leaf) and higher leaf hydrodynamic pressure gradients. A mechanistic model incorporating the stomatal hydromechanical feedback loop is used to predict the relationship between delta psi(leaf) and k(leaf), and to explore the coordination of stomatal and leaf hydraulic properties in supporting higher rates of leaf gas exchange.

The effect of take-all disease on gas-exchange rates and biomass in two winter wheat lines with different drought response

There have been no studies of the effect of take-all on leaf gas-exchange rates, despite the fact that take-all severely restricts plant water and nutrient uptake, which results in significant biomass and grain yield reduction. Here we describe the effect of inoculation with Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) var. tritici (Ggt) on carbon assimilation rate (A) and biomass production of wheat plants grown under two water regimes. We show that the impact of Ggt inoculation on plant growth and leaf A may be through reduced photosynthetic capacity of the leaves and not water stress per se. The nature of this reduced photosynthetic capacity remains uncertain but may involve nutrient deficiency and different enzymes produced by the fungus. In each of the 3 years the experiment was conducted, Ggt significantly reduced A, i.e. at anthesis by 18% in 2000, 15% in 2001, and 12% in 2002. In agreement with other field studies, Ggt reduced tiller number and production of all plant components, mostly root dry mass and grain mass per plant. Highly significant negative correlations were found between disease rating and A in all years, showing that at disease ratings equal or higher than 3 (on a scale from 1 to 4) A could practically be zero. While A decreased, intercellular CO2 concentration increased or did not change, and stomatal conductance was relatively high. In addition, A was more reduced under high than under low soil moisture content. These results support the idea that water stress per se did not contribute to the observed reduction of A. The mechanism of photosynthetic capacity reduction due to the Ggt root-rotting fungus is of interest as it may lead to the molecular mechanisms of plant resistance and ultimately to the development of take-all resistant plants.

Effects of an Experimental Increase of Temperature and Drought on the Photosynthetic Performance of Two Ericaceous Shrub Species Along a North?South European Gradient

Plant ecophysiological changes in response to climatic change may be different in northern and southern European countries because different abiotic factors constrain plant physiological activity. We studied the effects of experimental warming and drought on the photosynthetic performance of two ericaceous shrubs (Erica multiflora and Calluna vulgaris) along a European gradient of temperature and precipitation (UK, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Spain). At each site, a passive warming treatment was applied during the night throughout the whole year, whereas the drought treatment excluded rain events over 6–10 weeks during the growing season. We measured leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and leaf carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) during the growing seasons of 1999 and 2000. Leaf net photosynthetic rates clearly followed a gradient from northern to southern countries in agreement with the geographical gradient in water availability. Accordingly, there was a strong correlation between net photosynthetic rates and the accumulated rainfall over the growing season. Droughted plants showed lower leaf gas exchange rates than control plants in the four sites. Interestingly, although leaf photosynthetic rates decreased along the precipitation gradient and in response to drought treatment, droughted plants were able to maintain higher leaf photosynthetic rates than control plants in relation to the accumulated rainfall over the months previous to the measurements. Droughted plants also showed higher values of potential photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in relation to controls, mainly at midday. The warming treatment did not affect significantly any of the studied instantaneous ecophysiological variables.

Influence of initial root length on physiological responses of cherrybark oak and Shumard oak seedlings to field drought conditions

One-year-old bareroot seedlings of cherrybark oak ( Quercus pagoda Raf.) and Shumard oak ( Quercus shumardii Buckley) were studied to describe their sensitivity to changes in environmental moisture in relation to initial root characteristics at the time of planting. Shumard oak seedlings with greater initial lateral root lengths and shoot heights sustained higher leaf gas exchange rates during both non-drought and drought periods. On the contrary, cherrybark oak seedlings had high leaf water potential ( Ψ) and water use efficiency (WUE) and maintained low stomatal conductance ( g s). This strategy generally allows for adequate gas exchange while minimizing water loss during drought. Initial lateral root:shoot ratio (LRSR) was negatively related to leaf gas exchange and water status, suggesting that excessive water loss of large seedlings with large root volume may negatively affect their drought hardiness. The responses of these floodplain oak species to drought was likely mediated by the absolute development of root systems at the time of planting and the balance between functioning root absorbing surface and transpirational leaf area. Responses of both species to drought in the subsequent growing seasons must be studied to determine their unique responses to water stress.

Decline in photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency with leaf age and nitrogen resorption as determinants of leaf life span

1 Cost-benefit models predict that leaf life span depends on its initial photosynthetic rate and construction cost and on the rate of decline in photosynthesis with age. Leaf gas exchange rates and N contents were measured in nine woody evergreen Mediterranean species with different leaf life spans to determine the effects of leaf ageing on photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE). N costs of leaf construction were assumed to be in part dependent on N resorption from senescing leaves. 2 Leaf ageing had significant negative effects on photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area. As N content per unit leaf area did not decline until the end of leaf life, PNUE also decreased with age. PNUE generally declined faster in species with a shorter leaf life span. There were no significant interspecific differences in maximum CO2 assimilation rates per unit leaf area and in N resorption that could be related to differences in leaf life span. 3 As PNUE decreases with leaf age, shedding of the older leaves and retranslocation of N to the current year's leaf biomass would result in an increase in the mean instantaneous efficiency of use of the N retranslocated. However, total CO2 assimilation can be improved by such shedding only when the increase in the efficiency of use of the remobilized N compensates for the remaining N lost in the shed leaves. 4 The photosynthesis of the old leaf cohorts exceeded the increase in photosynthesis that would be obtained from the N retranslocated to the younger leaves, given the observed efficiencies of N resorption. The retention of old leaves thus resulted in a higher whole-canopy CO2 assimilation, despite their low PNUE.

Ecophysiological responses of two Mediterranean shrubs, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum, to experimentally drier and warmer conditions

A new approach was used to experimentally dry and warm a Mediterranean shrubland. By means of automatically sliding curtains, the drought period was extended by excluding rain over the two growing seasons (spring and autumn), and passive warming was created by avoiding infra‐red dissipation at night over the whole year. The aim of the study was to test how a future extended drought period and an increase in temperatures could affect the photosynthetic and water use strategies of two co‐occurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum, which are common species of the dry coastal shrublands. The shoot water potential, leaf gas exchange rates and chlorophyll a fluorescence of plants was monitored seasonally during two years (1999–2001). In addition we measured the photosynthetic response curves to light and CO2 in autumn 2001 and the foliar N concentration and leaf C and N stable isotopes in summer 1999 and 2000. Droughted plants of both shrub species showed lower shoot water potentials, transpiration rates and stomatal conductances than control plants, although there was a high seasonal variability. Drought treatment reduced significantly the overall leaf net photosynthetic rates of E. multiflora, but not of G. alypum. Droughted plants of E. multiflora also showed lower leaf net photosynthetic rates in response to light and CO2 and lower carboxylation efficiency than controls, but there was no significant effect of drought on its overall photosystem II (PSII) photochemical efficiency. Although warming treatment did not affect the leaf net photosynthetic rates of the two species overall the study, it increased significantly the carboxylation efficiency and leaf net photosynthetic rates of G. alypum plants in response to CO2 levels in autumn 2001. In addition, warming treatment increased the potential photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) of both species (but especially of G. alypum) at predawn or midday and mainly in autumn and winter. Thus, the results suggest that drier conditions might decrease the annual productivity of these Mediterranean shrubs, particularly of E. multiflora, and that future warming could alleviate the present low temperature constraints of the photosynthetic performance of the two studied species, but especially of G. alypum, during the colder seasons. Ultimately, drier and warmer conditions in the near future may change the competitive relationship among these species in such Mediterranean ecosystems.

Diurnal and seasonal variations in the photosynthetic performance and water relations of two co-occurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum.

Diurnal and seasonal fluctuations in the photosynthetic performance and water relations of two co-occurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica multiflora and Globularia alypum were monitored throughout two consecutive years at Garraf Natural Park in north-east Spain. Leaf gas exchange rates, chlorophyll fluorescence and shoot water potentials were measured once each season. Leaf nitrogen and carbon concentrations, leaf delta13C and delta15N and specific leaf area (SLA) were also measured once a year (August) on well developed mature leaves. Globularia alypum experienced seasonal fluctuations in their water potential, with the lowest values recorded in summer, whereas E. multiflora did not show significant differences in water potential among seasons. Moreover, lower water potentials were found in G. alypum than in E. multiflora throughout the entire study, suggesting that the latter behaved as a drought-avoiding species, whereas the former tolerated lower water potentials. In both species, maximum leaf gas exchange rates were observed in autumn and secondarily in spring; in contrast, photosynthetic and transpiration rates reached absolute minima in summer. The stronger fluctuations in water potential and leaf gas exchange rates found in G. alypum compared to E. multiflora, suggest that G. alypum is, sensu Levitt (1980), a water spender, whereas E. multiflora is a water conservative. This hypothesis is further supported by a higher integrated water-use efficiency (higher delta13C values) and a higher degree of sclerophylly (lower SLA) in E. multiflora in comparison with G. alypum. Globularia alypum showed higher leaf gas exchange rates and higher predawn potential photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) than E. multiflora during most of the study. In spring and autumn, predawn Fv/Fm values were within the optimal range, whereas chronic photoinhibition in summer and winter was detected in both species. However, whereas both species could maintain positive photosynthetic rates in winter, frequent negative values were found in summer, suggesting higher levels of stress during the drought period. These results together with the high correlations that were found between the net photosynthetic rates and several parameters of water availability (accumulated rainfall, soil moisture or midday water potential) provided further evidence of the key role of water availability in the regulation of the photosynthetic rates in these Mediterranean species. Warmer and drier conditions in future decades, as a consequence of climate change, may alter the present, slight competitive advantage of G. alypum and the fitness of both shrub species within semi-arid Mediterranean environments.

Dominant cold desert plants do not partition warm season precipitation by event size.

We conducted experiments to examine the quantitative relationships between rainfall event size and rainwater uptake and use by four common native plant species of the Colorado Plateau, including two perennial grasses, Hilaria jamesii (C(4)) and Oryzopsis hymenoides (C(3)), and two shrubs, Ceratoides lanata (C(3)), and Gutierrezia sarothrae (C(3)). Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that grasses use small rainfall events more efficiently than shrubs and lose this advantage when events are large. Rainfall events between 2 and 20 mm were simulated in spring and summer by applying pulses of deuterium-labeled irrigation water. Afterwards, pulse water fractions in stems and the rates of leaf gas exchange were monitored for 9 days. Cumulative pulse water uptake over this interval (estimated by integrating the product of pulse fraction in stem water and daytime transpiration rate over time) was approximately linearly related to the amount of pulse water added to the ground in all four species. Across species, consistently more pulse water was taken up in summer than in spring. Relative to their leaf areas, the two grass species took up more pulse water than the two shrub species, across all event sizes and in both seasons, thus refuting the initial hypothesis. In spring, pulse water uptake did not significantly increase photosynthetic rates and in summer, pulse water uptake had similar, but relatively small effects on the photosynthetic rates of the three C(3) plants, and a larger effect on the C(4) plant H. jamesii. Based on these data, we introduce an alternative hypothesis for the responses of plant functional types to rainfall events of different sizes, building on cost-benefit considerations for active physiological responses to sudden, unpredictable changes in water availability.

Seasonal variation of carbon assimilation in mango (cv. Kensington Pride): effect of flowering treatments

In the tropics of northern Australia the mango cultivar Kensington Pride exhibits erratic flowering and fruiting and low productivity. Two treatments to manipulate flowering were applied. The first, mango flowering treatment (MFT), involved cutting a cincture through the bark around the circumference of the tree trunk and tying into the cincture a length of twine soaked in a solution of morphactin, CF125. The second involved applying paclobutrazol (PBZ) as a soil drench around the trunk of the tree. Phenology, leaf gas exchange, and fruit yield were assessed over 2 seasons in 3 separate groups of trees in commercial orchards near Darwin.Both MFT and PBZ supported earlier and/or more intense flowering in the season of application than did control trees. The PBZ was re-applied annually and the beneficial effect on flowering occurred in successive years. The MFT was applied once only at the start of the experiment and the effect of MFT was not evident in the second season.The effect of MFT on gas exchange was characterised by a severe reduction in net carbon assimilation (Amax), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration (E) for up to 4 months following treatment. Trees receiving PBZ generally had higher rates of leaf gas exchange than MFT trees but similar to control trees. During the dry season, leaves of MFT, control, and PBZ trees had similar rates of Amax. In the year of application, chlorophyll content of MFT trees was lower than that of the other treatments, but in the second year it was very similar to control trees. PBZ trees had the highest chlorophyll content during the study. Commercial fruit yield of PBZ-treated trees was 2–3 times higher than that of control or MFT trees. Independent of the flowering treatments, Amax followed a seasonal trend with an average rate of 9.05 μmol/m2.s (min. 4.42, max. 13.2) during the wet season (January–April), and 4.2 μmol/m2.s (min. 1.11, max. 8.7) during the dry season (May–October). Regression analysis demonstrated that 82% of the variation in gs and 76% of the variation in Amax could be explained by the effect of vapour pressure deficit of the leaf (VPDL) in field-grown mango trees.

Developmental Instability and Gas Exchange Responses of a Heathland Shrub to Experimental Drought and Warming

The effects of predicted climatic changes on the physiological stress of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) were investigated in a field experiment in a heathland of northern Wales (U.K.). In the experiment, drought was increased during the growing season by excluding precipitation, and night warming was created by reducing heat loss. To assess physiological stress, leaf size and leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as integrative measures of stress during leaf development and leaf gas exchange as a classical instantaneous method to detect physiological stress, were measured. Since leaf FA increased with increasing size, comparisons of asymmetries were made for relative rather than absolute asymmetry. Relative leaf FA was calculated as the absolute difference between leaf size (area or width) of left and right halves, corrected for trait size. Drought treatment increased the relative leaf area FA in 2000 and not in 1999, in agreement with a stronger treatment in 2000. Conversely, the warming treatment decreased the relative leaf area FA in 1999 and not in 2000, coinciding with the lower minimum temperatures in the growing season of 1999. Differences in water availability and temperature between years were related with changes in the relative leaf area FA, which were consistent with the treatment effects. In contrast, leaf gas exchange rates and leaf size showed no significant response to the environmental manipulations, although there was a slight decrease of photosynthetic values and leaf size in drought treatments in both years. Leaf FA therefore appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of physiological stress than leaf size or gas exchange measurements. Our results indicate that a future increase in the severity of drought during the growing season will increase physiological stress of V. myrtillus, whereas warming will decrease physiological stress during leaf development because of the alleviation of temperature constraints.

Deuterium enriched irrigation indicates different forms of rain use in shrub/grass species of the Colorado Plateau.

We contrasted the seasonal use of simulated large rain events (24mm) by three native species of the arid Colorado Plateau: the perennial grass Hilaria jamesii and two shrubs Artemesia filifolia and Coleogyne ramosissima. Deuterium-enriched water was used to distinguish shallow "pulse" water from water in deeper soil layers that were unaffected by the water input. We also measured the leaf gas exchange rates of watered and unwatered control plants for 5days after the rain event. H. jamesii had twice the pulse water proportion in its xylem than the two shrubs in spring (approx. 70% vs 35%). In summer, the pulse water proportions of all species were around 70%. The increase in the relative pulse water uptake of the two shrubs was caused primarily by a reduction in the rate of water uptake from deeper sources, consistent with the decrease in the availability of stored winter water. Rain increased the rates of gas exchange in C. ramosissima in both seasons, in H. jamesii only in summer and had no significant effect on A. filifolia. In H. jamesii, summer rain also increased water use efficiency. This suggests three principle mechanisms for rainwater use: (1) immediate increase in gas exchange via stomatal opening (C. ramisissima), (2) immediate increase in water use efficiency through restoration of the photosynthetic apparatus (H. jamesii) and (3) conservation of deeper soil water, potentially extending photosynthetic activity into later drought periods (A. filifolia). On a ground-area basis, A. filifolia was by far the largest consumer of spring and summer rain, due to its greater ground cover, while rain use by H. jamesii was negligible. We hypothesize that a population's fraction of the total community Leaf Area Index, more than species identity, determines which species takes up most of the spring and summer precipitation and we discuss this idea in the context of Walter and Stadelmann's (1974, In: Brown JW Jr (ed) Desert biology. Academic Press, New York, pp 213-310) water partitioning hypothesis.

Transpiration efficiency and carbon-isotope discrimination of grapevines grown under well-watered conditions in either glasshouse or vineyard

This paper describes variation in transpiration efficiency ‘W’ (where W = dry matter produced/water transpired) among grapevine genotypes grown under well-watered conditions in either a glasshouse or a vineyard. Nineteen genotypes were grown in a glasshouse where growth and transpiration were measured. W ranged from 2.5 to 3.4 g dm/kg H2O transpired. Carbon-isotope discrimination (Δ) of laminae dry matter ranged from 20.8 to 22.7%o and there was a negative relationship (R2= 0.58) between W and Δ. A large proportion of variation in W could be attributed to variation in stomatal conductance. Genotypic variation in photosynthetic capacity was also an important component of variation in W. In a second experiment, lamina Δ was measured for mature field-grown Shiraz and Chardonnay, grown either on their own roots or grafted to five different rootstocks, and maintained at three sites under well-watered conditions. At all sites and regardless of rootstock, the laminae of Chardonnay had Δ values 1 to 2%o lower than Shiraz. There was also a 1 to 2%o variation among the sites. Rootstock variety affected Δ values inconsistently and by a maximum of 0.5%o. Leaf gas exchange measurements were performed at a single site on sun-exposed leaves of Chardonnay and Shiraz on either their own roots or 1103 Paulsen, a moderate to high vigour rootstock. There was no significant effect of rootstock on leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic rates did not differ between scion varieties. However, Chardonnay had a 20% lower stomatal conductance and a 1.4-fold higher ratio of CO2assimilation/H2O transpiration (A/T) indicating a potentially higher W, at a leaf level, for Chardonnay compared with Shiraz. We conclude that photosynthetic capacity was also higher for Chardonnay. Δ values, predicted from the Ci/Ca ratio calculated from leaf gas exchange measurements, did not differ significantly from measured values for laminae Δ. This similarity for Δ, in conjunction with the fact that the lower Δ of Chardonnay was reflected in a higher A/T ratio, suggests that Δ may be a reliable predictor of comparative W under vineyard conditions.