Net Photosynthesis Rate Research Articles

Temperature Effects on Leaf and Epiphyte Photosynthesis, Bicarbonate Use and Diel O2 Budgets of the Seagrass Zostera marina L.

Ocean warming along with nutrient enrichment are major stressors causing global seagrass decline. While the effects of global warming on metabolic parameters in seagrasses are well described, the effect of increasing temperature on the epiphytic overgrowth of seagrass leaves and the consequences for the seagrass plant are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of elevating temperature on the photosynthetic efficiency of the seagrass species Zostera marina L. and its associated epiphytes, to explore how ocean warming might affect epiphytism in seagrasses. Gas exchange and final pH measurements on bare seagrass leaves, leaves with epiphytes, and epiphytes separated from seagrass leaves were used to quantify photosynthesis and respiration rates, and the inorganic carbon extraction capacity of leaves and epiphytes as a function of photon scalar irradiance and temperature (12, 17, 22, and 27°C). Seagrass without epiphytic biofilm had a high ability to exploit the incoming irradiance regardless of the light intensity and temperature, shown as continuously high light use efficiency and maximum net photosynthesis rates. The presence of epiphytic biofilm on the seagrass leaves impaired plant photosynthesis by increasing light requirements and reducing the photosynthetic efficiency (especially at 27°C). Epiphytes showed the lowest respiration rates in darkness and had the highest oxygen surplus over diel cycles up to 22°C, whereas bare leaves had the highest diel oxygen surplus at 27°C. Both bare leaves and epiphytes lost the ability to utilize bicarbonate at 27°C, and epiphytes also did not show use of bicarbonate at 12°C. Our results indicate a competitive advantage for epiphytes in cold CO2-rich environments, whereas seagrass with bare leaves could be less affected under elevated seawater temperatures.

Effect of different digestates derived from anaerobic co-digestion of olive mill solid waste (omsw) and various microalgae as fertilizers for the cultivation of ryegrass

AimsThe aim of this work was to evaluate the fertilizing effect of three anaerobic co-digestates on the growth of the herbaceous plant Lolium rigidum.MethodsNine treatments, combining different nutritional solutions (organic and inorganic) and number of fertilizations (one or two) were evaluated. Organic nutritive solution: plants grown with different olive mill solid waste (OMSW) -microalgae co-digestates: 75% OMSW-25% Raphidocelis subcapitata, volatile solids (VS) basis (OMSW-Rs); 50% OMSW- 50% Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, VS basis (OMSW-Chl); and 75% OMSW-25% Secenedesmus quadricauda, VS basis (OMSW-Sq). Inorganic nutritive solution (INS): plants grown with inorganic Hoagland nutrient solution at 50%. After 60 days of experimentation, biometric and nutritional characteristics and photosynthetic activity were measured.ResultsThe results showed a favourable growth, development and nutritional quality of L. rigidum plants when digestates obtained from the anaerobic co-digestion of OMSW-microalgae are used as organic nutritional solutions as opposed to INS ones. The highest total biomass of L. rigidum was obtained with the treatments that involved two fertilizations. No inhibition due to excess nutrients was observed. A higher root/shoot ratio was achieved with the digestates of OMSW-Rs and OMSW-Ch as compared to that obtained with OMSW-Sq (F = 17.23 p ≤ 0.001). The nitrogen shoot biomass obtained after the organic treatments with the above-mentioned co-digestates was higher than that obtained after the inorganic treatment. Net photosynthesis rates did not present differences in the co-digestates treatments, being equal or superior to the INS treatments.ConclusionsThe use of the anaerobic co-digestates from OMSW-microalgae can be considered a viable and promising alternative to inorganic fertilization.

Variation in photosynthetic induction between super hybrid rice and inbred super rice

It is well documented that yield superiority of super hybrid rice is linked with its improved photosynthetic capacity and/or efficiency. In natural environments, the amounts of CO2 assimilated by plants was also impacted by the rapidity of leaf photosynthesis response to fluctuations of light. However, it remains unknow whether the high yield of super hybrid rice was associated with photosynthetic traits under dynamic state. Here, photosynthetic traits under steady-and dynamic state in two super hybrid rice varieties (Ylinagyou 3218 and Yliangyou 5867) with high yield and two inbred super rice varieties (Zhendao 11 and Nanjing 9108) with lower yield. Under steady state, the net photosynthetic rate (A*) in super hybrid rice was 25.3% larger compared with inbred super rice. During photosynthetic induction, there was no obvious association of the rapidity of net photosynthesis rate (A) to sunflecks with rice subpopulations. Stomatal conductance (gs) of super hybrid rice increased slower than that of inbred super rice. The cumulative CO2 fixation (CCF) during photosynthetic induction was 25.2% larger in super hybrid rice than that in inbred super rice. The primary limitation during induction was biochemical limitation rather than stomatal limitation. There was a significantly positive relationship between A* and CCF, while A* was not related with the induction response rate of A. Overall, A* and CCF in super hybrid rice have been improved together, which contributed to its yield superiority, whereas its yield potential still can be improved by increasing induction rate of A under fluctuations of irradiance.

Effects of Nutrient Management Strategies on Yield Formation of Dryland Wheat in the Loess Plateau of China

In order to explore the optimum amount of nitrogen application of winter wheat, a field experiment was conducted at Wenxi experimental site of Shanxi Agriculture Wenxi. Nitrogen application significantly increased the Net Photosynthesis Rate (PN), intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (E) of post-anthesis flag leaves. Compared to other nitrogen application rates, 210 kg ha–1 was the best compared to other nitrogen application rates, with the nitrogen of 210 kg ha–1 nitrogen application increased nitrogen accumulation in all growth stages. The content of each protein component increased. With 210 kg ha–1 of nitrogen application, the albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutenin was high in content and showed no significant with those of 240 kg ha–1 application rate. The protein yield at 210 kg ha–1 were significantly improved compared to other nitrogen application rates. The prolamin and glutenin (storage protein) were the highest at 210 kg ha–1. Significantly improved the protein yield at 210 kg ha–1 compared to other nitrogen application rates.

The Potential Roles of Unique Leaf Structure for the Adaptation of Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Leaves are essential plant organs with numerous variations in shape and size. The leaf size is generally smaller in plants that thrive in areas of higher elevation and lower annual mean temperature. The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is situated at an altitude of >4000 m with relatively low annual average temperatures. Most plant species found on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau have small leaves, with Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. being an exception. Here, we show that the large leaves of R. tanguticum with a unique three-dimensional (3D) shape are potentially an ideal solution for thermoregulation with little energy consumption. With the increase in age, the shape of R. tanguticum leaves changed from a small oval plane to a large palmatipartite 3D shape. Therefore, R. tanguticum is a highly heteroblastic species. The leaf shape change during the transition from the juvenile to the adult phase of the development in R. tanguticum is a striking example of the manifestation of plant phenotypic plasticity. The temperature variation in different parts of the leaf was a distinct character of leaves of over-5-year-old plants. The temperature of single-plane leaves under strong solar radiation could accumulate heat rapidly and resulted in temperatures much higher than the ambient temperature. However, leaves of over-5-year-old plants could lower leaf temperature by avoiding direct exposure to solar radiation and promoting local airflow to prevent serious tissue damage by sunburn. Furthermore, the net photosynthesis rate was correlated with the heterogeneity of the leaf surface temperature. Our results demonstrate that the robust 3D shape of the leaf is a strategy that R. tanguticum has developed evolutionarily to adapt to the strong solar radiation and low temperature on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.

Transparent plastic film combined with deficit irrigation improves hydrothermal status of the soil-crop system and spring maize growth in arid areas

Plastic film mulching and irrigation amount greatly affect soil hydrothermal status and spring maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in arid areas. Yet the coupled effects of film mulching with different optical properties and deficit irrigation on water and temperature variation within the soil-crop system and on plant growth in arid areas have not been well-investigated. A two-year field experiment was conducted with five treatments: 1) full irrigation without mulching (FN), 2) full irrigation with transparent plastic film mulching (FT), 3) full irrigation with black plastic film mulching (FB), 4) deficit irrigation with transparent plastic film mulching (DT), and 5) deficit irrigation without mulching (DN). The results showed that plastic film mulching significantly increased soil water in the 80–120 cm soil layer and canopy air humidity. The alternating wet-dry behavior of soil water caused by plastic film mulching was an effective water utilization strategy that increased crop water productivity. DT stimulated the alternating wet-dry behavior of soil water in the 0–80 cm layer more than the FN. This alternating behavior was characterized by relatively wet soil at the 12-leaf growth stage (V12), relatively dry soil from V12 to the grain-filling growth stage (R3), and relatively wet soil again after R3. Alternating wet-dry behavior changed from wet to dry at V12 in 2019 and was earlier than V12 in 2020. Plastic film mulching significantly increased soil temperature at the six-leaf growth stage (V6) and decreased canopy air temperature during the whole maize growing seasons. The higher net photosynthesis rate was observed at the canopy air relative humidity of 78.6%. Net photosynthesis rate decreased with increasing canopy air temperature. FT, FB, DT, and FN significantly increased grain yields over DN by 39.7–45.8%, 25.5–41.8%, 18.2–33.4%, and 9.0–17.0%, respectively, and increased net income over DN by 894–1127, 436–979, 343–844, and 166–429 USD ha–1, respectively. DT decreased net income and output/input ratio by 28.1% and 10.9% in 2019, respectively, compared with FT. However, these values were 12.3% and 4.0% in the relatively wet growing season in 2020. Deficit irrigation combined with transparent plastic film mulching can ensure an acceptable maize grain yield and net income in arid areas with limited water resources, especially in growing seasons with greater rainfall.

Photosynthesis Alterations in Wheat Plants Induced by Herbicide, Soil Drought or Flooding

The wheat plants were pretreated with the selective herbicide Serrate® (Syngenta) and subsequently subjected to drought or flooding stress for 7 days. The gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll a fluorescence and leaf pigment content were measured. The measurements were performed during the stress period and after 4 days of plants recovery. Herbicide pretreatment did not cause significant alterations in photosynthesis and fluorescence parameters in alone- or combined-treated seedlings. A significant reduction in gas exchange parameters (net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency), Fv/Fm and Fv/F0 values during drought or flooding was observed. The disruption of photosynthesis together with reduction in the pigment content was stronger in droughted than flooded plants. When the normal irrigation was restored, the gas exchange and fluorescence parameters tended to increase. The comparative analysis of recovery and resilience indices of photosynthetic traits indicate that the plants subjected to drought recovered better than those subjected to flooding stress.

Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses of the Effects of SlBRI1 Expression Levels on the Drought Tolerance of Tomato Seedlings

Brassinosteroids (BRs) not only influence plant growth and development but also regulate various stress responses in plants. BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) acts as a BR receptor, sensing BRs and then activating BR signalling. In this study, we researched how SlBRI1 regulates the drought tolerance of tomato at both the physiological and transcriptomic levels. We used SlBRI1-overexpressing and SlBRI1-weak mutant (abs) plants that were of the same background to research the mechanism underlying their drought tolerance. Physiological analyses revealed that, compared with Money Maker (MM) plants, abs plants had a greater net photosynthesis rate (Pn) and less wilting, and abs plants also accumulated lower amounts of peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2−) through increased antioxidant enzyme activities under drought conditions. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis showed that the expression of 1425 and 840 genes was induced and repressed in response to drought in MM plants, respectively. However, the expression of 768 (53.9%) of drought induced 1425 genes and 418 (49.8%) of drought repressed 840 genes was induced and repressed, respectively, in abs plants under normal conditions. Moreover, the expression of 158 genes whose expression was induced in response to drought and 43 genes whose expression was repressed in response to drought was further upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in abs plants under drought conditions. In-depth analysis of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that the expression of genes related to abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism and polyamine biosynthesis as well as oxidoreductase activity was upregulated in abs under both normal and drought conditions. Furthermore, analysis of transcription factor (TF) expression suggested that the drought tolerance of abs differed mainly through the regulation of WRKY, ERF, bHLH and MYB TFs. However, the expression of most of these genes was the same or opposite in the SlBRI1OE plants compared with the MM plants. Our results affirm that SlBRI1 expression is negatively involved in the drought response of tomato. Furthermore, our study provides valuable information for future breeding to appropriately reduce the expression of SlBRI1 and improve drought tolerance without affecting plant growth.

Improvement in winter wheat productivity through regulating PSII photochemistry, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence under deficit irrigation conditions

Deficit irrigation is critical to global food production, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions with low precipitation. Given water shortage has threatened agricultural sustainability under the dry-land farming system in China, there is an urgent need to develop effective water-saving technologies. We carried out a field study under two cultivation techniques: (1) the ridge and furrow cultivation model (R); and (2) the conventional flat farming model (F), and three simulated precipitation levels (1, 275 mm; 2, 200 mm; 3, 125 mm) with two deficit irrigation levels (150 and 75 mm). We demonstrated that under the ridge furrow (R) model, rainfall harvesting planting under 150 mm deficit irrigation combined with 200 mm simulated precipitation can considerably increase net photosynthesis rate (Pn), quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), electron transport rate (ETR), performance index of photosynthetic PSII (Fv/Fm′), and transformation energy potential of PSII (Fv/Fo). In addition, during the jointing, anthesis and grain-filling stages, the grain and biomass yield in the R model are 18.9 and 11.1% higher than those in the flat cultivation model, respectively, primarily due to improved soil water contents. The winter wheat fluorescence parameters were significantly positively associated with the photosynthesis, biomass and wheat production. The result suggests that the R cultivation model with irrigation of 150 mm and simulated precipitation of 200 mm is an effective planting method for enhancing Pn, biomass, wheat production, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in dry-land farming areas.

Stomatal behaviour and endogenous phytohormones promotes intrinsic water use efficiency differently in cotton under drought

The coordination between phytohormones regulation, stomatal behaviour (stomatal index and opening/closing) and gas exchange are potent determinants of plant survival under drought stress. However, we found a knowledge gap in the mechanism regulating the fine-tuning of these features during drought. In order to address this we evaluated gas exchange, stomatal behaviour and endogenous phytohormones content in two cotton varieties (LRA-5166 and NBRI-67) differing in drought sensitivity during water deficit conditions. Variety specific differences were recorded in net photosynthesis rate (A), transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) with significantly less decrease in drought tolerant LRA-5166 than drought sensitive NBRI-67. The abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation was significantly increased in LRA-5166 while reduced in NBRI-67 under water deficit, which was accompanied by relatively less reduced 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) level in LRA-5166 than NBRI-67.Thus, improved ABA/6-BAP ratio was observed in both the varieties of cotton. Critically, LRA- 5166 has reduced stomatal index, aperture size and significantly higher A and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), thus higher drought tolerance than NBRI-67. Furthermore, we found that endogenous ABA predominantly maintains the stomatal behaviour and regulates its physiology either by antagonizing 6-BAP or alone to coordinate with water deficit signals. Overall, our findings describe a new insight as to how drought modulates endogenous ABA and 6-BAP homeostasis in cotton leaf and the mechanism of stomatal regulation by ABA and 6-BAP in cotton.

Changing Temperature Conditions during Somatic Embryo Maturation Result in Pinus pinaster Plants with Altered Response to Heat Stress.

Under the global warming scenario, obtaining plant material with improved tolerance to abiotic stresses is a challenge for afforestation programs. In this work, maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) plants were produced from somatic embryos matured at different temperatures (18, 23, or 28 °C, named after M18, M23, and M28, respectively) and after 2 years in the greenhouse a heat stress treatment (45 °C for 3 h/day for 10 days) was applied. Temperature variation during embryo development resulted in altered phenotypes (leaf histology, proline content, photosynthetic rates, and hormone profile) before and after stress. The thickness of chlorenchyma was initially larger in M28 plants, but was significantly reduced after heat stress, while increased in M18 plants. Irrespective of their origin, when these plants were subjected to a heat treatment, relative water content (RWC) and photosynthetic carbon assimilation rates were not significantly affected, although M18 plants increased net photosynthesis rate after 10 days recovery (tR). M18 plants showed proline contents that increased dramatically (2.4-fold) when subjected to heat stress, while proline contents remained unaffected in M23 and M28 plants. Heat stress significantly increased abscisic acid (ABA) content in the needles of maritime pine plants (1.4-, 3.6- and 1.9-fold in M18, M23, and M28 plants, respectively), while indole-3-acetic acid content only increased in needles from M23 plants. After the heat treatment, the total cytokinin contents of needles decreased significantly, particularly in M18 and M28 plants, although levels of active forms (cytokinin bases) did not change in M18 plants. In conclusion, our results suggest that maturation of maritime pine somatic embryos at lower temperature resulted in plants with better performance when subjected to subsequent high temperature stress, as demonstrated by faster and higher proline increase, lower increases in ABA levels, no reduction in active cytokinin, and a better net photosynthesis rate recovery.

Features of photosynthesis and water regime of <i>Quércus pubéscens</i> Willd. in the conditions of autumn dry of the Southern Coast of the Crimea

For Quércus pubéscens Willd. the zones of optimum and threshold values of soil moisture, temperature, illumination, limiting photosynthesis and transpiration, were determined. The dependences of the rate of net photosynthesis (P n ) and the intensity of transpiration (E) on stomatal conductance (g s ), leaf temperature (T l ) and soil moisture (W s ) are shown. The relationship between the speed of the xylem flow in the plant shoot (Sf, Rel. units), the change in the diameter of this shoot (d, mm) and soil moisture has been determined. The relationships between the processes of photosynthesis and respiration under the influence of soil drought made it possible to determine their optimal values: Ws = 26 - 28%, P n = 16 - 18 µmol/m 2 s, P t = 2 - 4 μmol/m 2 s. Changes in the ratio between the components of total respiration (P t , R d , R ph ) under the influence of soil drought were studied. The relationship between the rate of net photosynthesis, total respiration and leaf temperature made it possible to determine the temperature maximum of net photosynthesis (thermal compensation point): P n = P t = 2.0 μmol/m 2 s, at T = 37 ° C. It was found that in the absence of soil drought, the share of respiratory expenditure (R t /P g ) from true photosynthesis is 20 - 23%, and at soil moisture of 8-10% it increases to 55-58%. The obtained research results made it possible to determine the optimal and limiting conditions for the growth of this species and the possibility of its introduction to other regions.

Diethyl Aminoethyl Hexanoate Increase Relay Strip Intercropping Soybean Grain by Optimizing Photosynthesis Aera and Delaying Leaf Senescence.

Insufficient and unbalanced biomass supply inhibited soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield formation in the maize-soybean relay strip intercropping (IS) and monoculture soybean (SS). A field experiment was conducted to explore the soybean yield increase mechanism of DA-6 in IS and SS treatments. In this 2-year experiment, compact maize “Denghai 605” and shade-tolerant soybean “Nandou 25” were selected as cultivated materials. DA-6 with four concentrations, i.e., 0 mg/L (CK), 40 mg/L (D40), 60 mg/L (D60), and 80 mg/L (D80), were sprayed on soybean leaves at the beginning of flowering stage of soybean. Results showed that DA-6 treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased soybean grain yield, and the yield increase ratio was higher in IS than SS. The leaf area index values and net photosynthesis rate of IS peaked at D60 and were increased by 32.2–49.3% and 24.1–27.2% compared with the corresponding CK. Similarly, DA-6 treatments increased the aboveground dry matter and the amount of soybean dry matter accumulation from the R1 stage to the R8 stage (VDMT) and highest at D60 both in IS and SS. D60 increased the VDMT by 29.0–47.1% in IS and 20.7–29.2% in SS. The TRG at D60 ranged 72.4–77.6% in IS and 61.4–62.5% in SS. The MDA content at D60 treatment was decreased by 38.3% in IS and 25.8% in SS. The active grain-filling day in IS was about 7 days longer than in SS. In D60 treatment, the Vmean and Vmax increased by 6.5% and 6.5% in IS and 5.7% and 4.3% in SS compared with the corresponding CK. Although the pod number and hundred-grain weight were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by DA-6 treatments, the grains per pod were maintained stable. The pod number and hundred-grain weight were increased by 30.1–36.8% and 4.5–6.7% in IS and 6.3–13% and 3.6–5.6% in SS. Thus, the grain yield at D60 was increased by 36.7–38.4% in IS and 21.7–26.6% in SS. DA-6 treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased soybean grain yield and peaked D60 treatments both in IS and SS.

Physiological response analysis for the diagnosis of drought and waterlogging damage in Prunus yedoensis

Drought damage and waterlogging damage are the most frequent abiotic injuries throughout the lifespan of trees. Nonetheless, because the signs of visible damage are similar between these types of injury, physiological indicators must be analyzed to make a scientific differential diagnosis. This study was aimed at investigating growth and physiological indicators of drought (DS) and waterlogging stress (WL) in Prunus yedoensis. Overall growth indices such as tree height, diameter at root collar (DRC), and total dry weight could be ranked in the decreasing order “control > DS > WL.” In particular, there was a prominent decrease in root growth in WL, and DRC in DS was lower by 9.2% than DRC before the experiment. As for water saturation deficit (WSD) increased to 37.4% by 28 days after treatment initiation (DAT) in DS. WL showed a sharp decline of photosynthetic indicators such as the net photosynthesis rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and maximum carboxylation rate (V cmax) starting from 7 DAT. By contrast, DS manifested a significant decrease starting from 14 DAT. The DS had higher levels of leaf and root inorganic components than WL did, suggesting an improvement in the osmoregulatory ability. The overall nutritional status of WL was low due to deterioration of the absorption function of the roots. In both DS and WL, energy transfer rates of photochemical reactions, e.g. absorbed photon leads to reduction further than QA - (ΦPO), absorbed photon leads to electron transport further than QA - (ΦEO), and absorbed photon leads to reduction of QA - (ΨO), decreased, as did vitality indices, e.g. the performance index on absorption basis (PIabs), driving force on absorption basis (DFabs), and the structure function index on absorption basis (SFIabs). However, WL featured a decrease in Electron transport flux from QA to QB (ETo/RC) and Electron transport flux until PSI acceptors (REo/RC), whereas DS experienced a slight increase or almost no change. Consequently, PIabs, DFabs, SFIabs, and the drought factor index are highly sensitive environmental-stress indicators, whereas WSD, DRC growth, chlorophyll a content, ETo/RC, and REo/RC appear to have high potential as diagnostic indicators of drought or waterlogging damage.

Foliar Application of Cytokinin Modulates Gas Exchange Features, Water Relation and Biochemical Responses to Improve Growth Performance of Maize under Drought Stress

Improvement of plant performance under drought stress is crucial to sustaining agricultural productivity. The current study investigated the ameliorative effects of foliar-applied kinetin, an adenine-type cytokinin (CK), on growth and gas exchange parameters, water relations and biochemical attributes of maize plants under drought stress. Eighteen-day-old maize plants were subjected to drought by maintaining soil moisture content at 25% field capacity for 8 days followed by foliar application of kinetin at 0, 75, 150 and 225 mg L−1 (CK0, CK75, CK150 and CK225, respectively) to the plants for two-times at the 9-day interval. Results revealed that drought stress markedly reduced stem diameter, dry weight, chlorophyll content, gas exchange parameters and water balance but increased proline, malondialdehyde and soluble sugar contents, electrolyte leakage and senescence in maize leaves. Application of exogenous CK remarkably improved maize performance by modulating growth, gas exchange- and water relation-related parameters in a dose-dependent manner under drought stress. CK225 increased chlorophyll content (by 61.54%), relative water content (by 49.14%), net photosynthesis rate (by 39.94%) and transpiration rate (by 121.36%) and also delayed leaf senescence but decreased internal CO2 concentration (by 7.38%), water saturation deficit (by 40.40%) and water uptake capacity (by 42.49%) in both well-watered and drought-stressed plants. Nevertheless, CK application considerably decreased electrolyte leakage, proline, malondialdehyde and soluble sugar levels in drought-stressed maize plants, as also supported by heatmap and cluster analyses. Taken together, exogenous CK at proper concentration (225 mg L−1) successfully improved maize performance under drought conditions, thereby suggesting CK application as a useful approach to alleviate drought-induced adverse effects in maize plants, and perhaps in other important crop plants.

Análise de crescimento, partição de fotoassimilados e nodulação em feijão e soja

ABSTRACT: Photoassimilate partition and allocation among plant organs varies throughout their development and is also influenced by factors inherent to the genotype and the environment. Nodulation in the soybean-diazotrophic bacteria interaction is more effective than in the bean-diazotrophic bacteria interaction. This investigation studied growth and photoassimilate partitioning throughout the bean and soybean cycles and inferred how much it could affect the nodulation of the roots. For this purpose, an experiment with two treatments was carried out, soybean (cultivar BRS GO - 7760 - RR) and bean (cultivar BRS Estilo), with four replications, conducted in pots and entirely randomized. The seeds were inoculated with commercial rhizobia specific for bean and soybean LeguMax® (Novozymes-Turfal). Plants were analyzed throughout their cycles based on leaf area and dry mass of all organs, including nodules. Mathematical models were fitted to the data and based on them, the instantaneous physiological indicators of growth were estimated, and the percentages of photoassimilate partition among organs were evaluated. Crop growth rate, relative growth rates, net assimilation rate as well as net photosynthesis rate had higher values in soybean compared to bean, following the pattern of leaf area and total dry mass. For both species, the highest rates occurred at the beginning of the cycle, decreasing with age. Unlike the bean, soybean has a high capacity to supply photosynthates to all of its organs throughout its entire cycle, favoring the maintenance of nodule growth and explaining its greater capacity for nitrogen assimilation.

Resposta fotossintética de umbuzeiro ao deficit de pressão de vapor

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the photosynthetic response to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in umbu (Spondias tuberosa) tree accessions. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in a 5×7×2 factorial arrangement (five umbu accessions – BRS-68, EPAMIG-05, BGU-61, BGU-75, and BGU-50 –, seven evaluation times, and two reading times – at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.) in split-split plots in time. Leaf temperature increased with air temperature. The variation of stomatal conductance and transpiration with the VPD was not significant. Net photosynthesis rate, carboxylation efficiency, and instantaneous water-use efficiency decreased with increasing VPD in all accessions, except in BRS-68, whose rates remained positive.

Foliar application of a mixture of putrescine, melatonin, proline, and potassium fulvic acid alleviates high temperature stress of cucumber plants grown in the greenhouse

Putrescine (Put), melatonin (MT), proline (Pro), and potassium fulvic acid (MFA) are widely used as the plant growth regulators to enhance stress tolerance. However, the roles of their mixtures in response to stress are largely unknown. Here, we mixed Put with MT, Pro, and MFA (hereafter referred to as Put mixture) with different concentrations and foliar sprayed at different growth stages (seedling, flowering, and fruiting stage) of cucumber (<italic>Cucumis sativus</italic> L.) to investigate their roles on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality under high temperature stress. The foliar application of the Put mixture promoted cucumber growth, increased chlorophyll and Pro contents and net photosynthesis rate, and reduced the values of relative electrolyte leakage, H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde contents of cucumber leaves, indicating that treatment with Put mixture reduced the oxidative stress caused by high temperature. Furthermore, Put mixture-treated cucumber plants had lower fruit deformity rate and higher fruit yield compared with control. The contents of vitamin C and soluble solids of cucumber fruit significantly increased and the contents of tannin and organic acid decreased. The most profound effects were found in the plants treated with 8 mmol L⁻¹ Put, 50 µmol L⁻¹ MT, 1.5 mmol L⁻¹ Pro and 0.3 g L⁻¹ MFA every 7 d for three times at the seedling stage, indicating that cucumber seedlings treated with the mixture of Put, MT, Pro, and MFA significantly alleviated the negative effects of high temperature stress.

Mycorrhiza improves plant growth and photosynthetic characteristics of tea plants in response to drought stress

Tea plants are sensitive to soil moisture deficit, with the level of soil water being a critical factor affecting their growth and quality. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve water and nutrient absorption, but it is not clear whether AMF can improve the photosynthetic characteristics of tea plants. A potted study was conducted to determine the effects of Claroideoglomus etunicatum on plant growth, leaf water status, pigment content, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in Camellia sinensis cv. Fuding Dabaicha under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS) conditions. Root mycorrhizal colonization and soil hyphal length were significantly reduced by the eight-week DS treatment. AMF inoculation displayed a significant increase in shoot and root biomass production. The relative water content, leaf water potential, nitrogen balance index, pigment content, maximum photometric effect (Fv/Fm, QY_max), and steady-state photometric effect Y (II) (QY_Lss) decreased dramatically, while the leaf water saturation deficit and steady-state non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ_Lss) generally increased under DS conditions. Mycorrhizal treatment induced significantly higher relative water content, leaf water potential, nitrogen balance index, pigment (chlorophyll, flavonoid, and anthocyanin) content, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, QY_max, and QY_Lss; however, it resulted in a lower leaf water saturation deficit and NPQ_Lss under both WW and DS conditions, as compared with non-mycorrhizal plants. These results imply that AMF promoted tea plant growth and alleviated negative effects of DS by promoting gas exchange, regulating the water status of leaves, and regulating photosynthetic parameters.

Alternative oxidase (AOX) in the carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes: what is it good for?

The carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes have evolved modified leaves that act as pitcher traps. The traps are specialized for prey attraction, capture, digestion and nutrient uptake but not for photosynthetic assimilation. In this study, we used antibodies against different photosynthetic (D1, Lhcb2, Lhcb4, RbcL) and respiratory-related (AOX, COXII) proteins for semi-quantification of these proteins in the assimilation part of the leaves and the pitcher traps of different Nepenthes species and hybrids. Different functional zones of the trap and the traps from different ontogenetic stages were investigated. The pitcher traps of the distantly related species Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa were used as an outgroup. In addition, chlorophyll fluorescence and infrared gas analysis were used for measurements of the net rate of photosynthesis (AN) and respiration in the dark (RD). The pitcher traps contained the same or lower abundance of photosynthesis-related proteins in accordance with their low AN in comparison to the assimilation part of the leaves. Surprisingly, all traps contained a high amount of alternative oxidase (AOX) and low amount of cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX II) than in the assimilation part of the leaves. Thermal imaging did not confirm the role of AOX in pitcher thermogenesis. The pitcher traps contain a high amount of AOX enzyme. The possible role of AOX in specialized pitcher tissue is discussed based on knowledge of the role and function of AOX in non-carnivorous plants. The roles of AOX in prey attraction, balance between light and dark reactions of photosynthesis, homeostasis of reactive oxygen species, digestive physiology and nutrient assimilation are discussed.