Effects of groundwater decline on photosynthetic characteristics and stress tolerance of Ulmus pumila in Hunshandake Sandy Land, China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00177

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Ulmus pumila, a widespread tree in the semiarid ecosystems of northern China, forms sparse woodlands in Hunshandake Sandy Land. However, the population of U. pumila has been declining in recent years because of a lowered water table, mainly caused by increased human water consumption. Our objective was to clarify the relationships between tree ecophysiological activity and the water table in order to provide information for protection of the species.
Methods Saplings of U. pumila were planted in pots with simulated water tables at 1, 2, 3 and 4 m depth (U1, U2, U3 and U4, respectively). The impacts of water tables on the photosynthetic characteristics and stress tole- rence of U. pumila were determined by analyzing photosynthetic light and CO₂ curves, pigments, predawn water potential, soluble sugar and proline.
Important findings Both the utilization efficiency of strong and weak light by U. pumila and the maximum photosynthetic rate decreased with lowered water table. Compared to U1, the light saturation point, apparent quantum yield and dark respiration rate of U2, U3 and U4 were significantly decreased successively (p < 0.05). The maximum net photosynthetic rate of U4 ((8.98 ± 0.08) μmol·m^-2·s^-1) was reduced by 16.9% compared to U1 ((10.81 ± 0.28) μmol·m ^-2·s^-1). Light energy conversion efficiency of U. pumila also declined with lowered water table. Compared to U1, the photorespiratory rate, maximum RuBP saturated rate of carboxylation, maximum rate of electron transport and rate of triose-phosphate utilization decreased (p < 0.05) and CO₂ compensation point increased in the order of U2 < U3 < U4 (p < 0.05). The soluble sugar and proline contents significantly increased (p < 0.05) with lowered water table, i.e. U1 < U2 < U3 < U4, indicating that the lowered water table induced the greater stress. Therefore, groundwater decline resulted in drought stress and down-graded photosynthetic ability. This implies that the decrease in U. pumila population might be caused by the lowered water table and that maintaining proper underground water table in Hunshandake Sandy Land is helpful to the sustainability of the sparse woodland ecosystem.

Key words: arid, CO₂ response curve, osmotic adjustment substance, photosynthetic-light response curve, water table

SU Hua, LI Yong-Geng, SU Ben-Ying, SUN Jian-Xin. Effects of groundwater decline on photosynthetic characteristics and stress tolerance of Ulmus pumila in Hunshandake Sandy Land, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2012, 36(3): 177-186.

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Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Illustration of PVC tubes arrangement. Dotted line indicates water surface in tank. U1, water table is 1 m; U2, water table is 2 m; U3, water table is 3 m; U4, water table is 4 m.

Table 1 Effects of different water table on light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP), apparent quantum yield (AQY), dark respiration rate (Rd) and maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 9)

处理 Treatment	LSP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_LSP (%)	LCP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_LCP (%)	AQY (mol·mol^-1)	Δ_AQY (%)	R_d (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_R_d (%)	P_max (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_P_max (%)
U1	1412.28 ± 12.11^d	-	9.40 ± 0.97^a	-	0.021 ± 0.000^c	-	1.15 ± 0.05^d	-	10.81 ± 0.28^d	-
U2	1048.94 ± 19.26^c	25.7	11.85 ± 1.05^b	-26.1	0.015 ± 0.001^b	28.6	0.55 ± 0.13^c	52.2	9.95 ± 0.12^c	8.0
U3	920.46 ± 12.77^b	34.8	26.09 ± 1.30^c	-177.6	0.013 ± 0.001^a	38.1	0.45 ± 0.11^b	60.9	9.37 ± 0.22^b	13.3
U4	696.84 ± 15.03^a	50.7	36.25 ± 1.77^d	-285.6	0.012 ± 0.001^a	42.9	0.29 ± 0.06^a	74.8	8.98 ± 0.08^a	16.9

Fig. 2 Relationships of the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and dark respiration rate (Rd), apparent quantum yield (AQY), light compensation point (LCP), light saturation point (LSP) in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 9).

Table 2 Effects of different water table on photorespiratory rate (Rp), maximum RuBP saturated rate of carboxylation (Vcmax), maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax), rate of triose-phosphate utilization (VTPU) and CO2 compensation point (CCP) in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 9)

处理 Treatment	R_p (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_R_p (%)	V_cmax (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_V_cmax (%)	J_max (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_J_max (%)	V_TPU (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_V_TPU (%)	CCP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	Δ_CCP (%)
U1	6.73 ± 0.16^d	-	68.19 ± 0.10^d	-	69.46 ± 0.05^d	-	15.53 ± 0.77^d	-	45.37 ± 7.62^a	-
U2	4.94 ± 0.21^c	26.6	34.15 ± 0.04^c	49.9	32.90 ± 0.13^c	52.6	7.53 ± 0.30^c	51.5	108.27 ± 12.45^b	-138.6
U3	1.48 ± 0.19^b	78.0	21.53 ± 0.10^b	68.4	18.89 ± 0.11^b	72.8	4.41 ± 0.07^b	71.6	120.22 ± 11.85^c	-165.0
U4	0.19 ± 0.15^a	97.2	17.91 ± 0.42^a	73.7	16.90 ± 0.10^a	75.7	3.79 ± 0.26^a	75.6	162.21 ± 9.40^d	-257.5

Table 3 Effects of different water table on photosynthesis pigments content in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 3)

处理 Treatment	叶绿素a Chlorophyll a (mg·g^-1DW)	Δ_{Chl a} (%)	叶绿素b Chlorophyll b (mg·g^-1DW)	Δ_{Chl b} (%)	叶绿素a + b Chlorophyll a+b (mg·g^-1DW)	Δ_{Chl a + b} (%)	类胡萝卜素 Carotenoid (mg·g^-1DW)	Δ_Car (%)
U1	0.195 ± 0.004^b	-	0.065 ± 0.022^a	-	0.260 ± 0.006^d	-	0.055 ± 0.018^a	-
U2	0.191 ± 0.029^b	2.1	0.061 ± 0.010^a	6.2	0.252 ± 0.039^c	3.1	0.054 ± 0.009^a	1.8
U3	0.180 ± 0.024^a	7.7	0.058 ± 0.010^b	10.8	0.238 ± 0.034^b	8.5	0.067 ± 0.009^b	-21.8
U4	0.170 ± 0.060^a	12.8	0.056 ± 0.003^b	13.8	0.226 ± 0.082^a	13.1	0.066 ± 0.001^b	-20.0

Fig. 3 Effects of different water tables on the leaf water potential (ψp) in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 3). Values with different letters indicate significant difference (p < 0.05) according to one-way ANOVA. U1, U2, U3 and U4 see Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 Effects of different water table on the soluble sugar content in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 3). Values with different letters indicate significant difference (p < 0.05) according to one-way ANOVA. U1, U2, U3 and U4 see Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 Effects of different water table on proline content in Ulmus pumila leaf in Hunshandake Sandy Land (mean ± SD, n = 3). Values with different letters indicate significant difference (p < 0.05) according to one-way ANOVA. U1, U2, U3 and U4 see Fig. 1.

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