CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION OF SPRING EPHEMERALS IN THE JUNGGAR DESERT

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2007.0111

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Spring ephemerals characterized by very short-term growth rhythm and specific biological traits in the Junggar Desert of China play an important role in succession of the desert plant community, maintenance of the desert biological diversity and conservation of water and soil in desert. The main aim of the present study was to address: 1) the photosynthetic characteristics and the biomass allocation traits of spring ephemerals and 2) the relationship between these traits and unique growth pattern of these spring ephemerals.

Methods In vivo photosynthetic traits of 16 spring ephemerals at their growth stages were measured by an open gas-exchange measurement system (Li-6400) and biomass allocation patterns were measured in seven species.

Important findings Maximum net photosynthesis rate (P_n_max),maximum transpiration rate (T_r_max) and water use efficiency (WUE) of 16 species were 8.07~35.96 μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1, 3.16~29.64 mmol H₂O·m^-2·s^-1 and 0.54~ 4.26 μmol CO₂·mmol^-1H₂O, respectively. P_n_max was positively correlated with maximum stomatal conductance, the correlation coefficient was 0.77 (p<0.05) and the slope in the linear region was 26.36 μmol·mmol^-1. Based on analysis for the response of P_n to internal CO₂ concentration and to photosynthetic photon flux density, apparent CO₂ compensation point are in the range of 4 to 5 Pa (ambient air temperature of 28~30 ℃ during the measurement), apparent carboxylation efficiency ranged from 0.64 to 1.86 μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1, and apparent quantum yield ranged from 0.05 to 0.06. Biomass allocation data analysis showed that individual biomass of spring ephemerals were very low (0.05~0.39 g). Total leaf area ranged from 3.24 to 51.40 cm², leaf mass per unit leaf area ranged from 0.40 to 0.77 g·m^-2, root/total biomass ratio was 5.72%~19.43%, and leaf area ratio was 2.92~9.00 m²·kg^-1. The percentage of total biomass allocated to roots was positively correlated with WUE for the seven investigated species (r=0.93, p<0.01). Results indicate that the species investigated are typical C₃ plants. These spring ephemerals are characterized by higher P_n, T_r and lower WUE in comparison with other desert species. The unique biomass allocation of low root/aboveground biomass ratio, higher leaf area ratio, higher leaf mass per unit leaf area, and photosynthetic traits are involved in the physiological mechanisms that contributed to the rapid growth of desert spring ephemerals.

Key words: Junggar Desert, spring ephemerals, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, biomass allocation

QIU Juan, TAN Dun-Yan, FAN Da-Yong. CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION OF SPRING EPHEMERALS IN THE JUNGGAR DESERT[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2007, 31(5): 883-891.

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Figures/Tables 7

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科 Family	种 Species
禾本科 Poaceae	旱麦草Eremopyrum triticeum
	东方旱麦草E. orientale
	毛穗旱麦草E. distans
豆科Fabaceae	弯果胡卢巴Trigonella arcuata
毛茛科Ranunculaceae	角果毛茛Ceratocephalus testiculatus
菊科Asteraceae	琉苞菊 Hyalea pulchella
	异喙菊 Heteracia szovitsii
	蝎尾菊 Koelpinia linearis
十字花科Brassicaceae	条叶庭荠 Alyssum linifolium
	庭荠 A. desertorum
	粗果庭荠 A. dasycarpum
	异果芥 Diptychocarpus strictus
	小果菘蓝 Isatis minima
	西伯利亚离子芥 Chorispora sibirica
	抱茎独行菜 Lepidium perfoliatum
	涩芥 Malcolmia africana

科 Family	种 Species
禾本科 Poaceae	旱麦草Eremopyrum triticeum
	东方旱麦草E. orientale
	毛穗旱麦草E. distans
豆科Fabaceae	弯果胡卢巴Trigonella arcuata
毛茛科Ranunculaceae	角果毛茛Ceratocephalus testiculatus
菊科Asteraceae	琉苞菊 Hyalea pulchella
	异喙菊 Heteracia szovitsii
	蝎尾菊 Koelpinia linearis
十字花科Brassicaceae	条叶庭荠 Alyssum linifolium
	庭荠 A. desertorum
	粗果庭荠 A. dasycarpum
	异果芥 Diptychocarpus strictus
	小果菘蓝 Isatis minima
	西伯利亚离子芥 Chorispora sibirica
	抱茎独行菜 Lepidium perfoliatum
	涩芥 Malcolmia africana

种 Species	最大净光合速率 P_n_max (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	最大蒸腾速率 T_r_max (mmol H₂O·m^-2·s^-1)	水分利用效率 WUE (μmol CO₂·mmol^-1H₂O)
旱麦草Eremopyrum triticeum	18.70±0.60^ab	16.28±0.84^a	1.37±0.28^a
毛穗旱麦草E. distans	18.42±0.71^b	14.08±0.98^a	1.94±0.68^b
东方旱麦草E. orientale	21.94±0.03^aeh	15.13±0.92^ab	1.58±0.27^ab
弯果胡卢巴Trigonella arcuata	35.96±1.28^d	17.51±2.98^c	2.11±0.34^b
琉苞菊Hyalea pulchella	8.07±0.60^e	15.21±2.23^d	0.54±0.08^c
异喙菊Heteracia szovitsii	19.30±2.41^f	18.91±3.21^e	1.08±0.25^ad
蝎尾菊Koelpinia linearis	8.41±1.28^ae	13.88±2.32^f	0.54±0.05^c
角果毛茛Ceratocephalus testiculatus	20.10±3.89^g	11.26±0.78^fg	1.79±0.34^be
条叶庭荠Alyssum linifolium	18.18±2.95^ch	4.32±1.93^fg	3.88±0.11^d
庭荠A. desertorum	18.94±1.44^h	17.97±1.19^g	1.09±0.032^ad
粗果庭荠A. dasycarpum	30.42±0.30^ce	29.64±2.31^g	0.88±0.31^d
异果芥Diptychocarpus strictus	11.30±0.76^ce	10.56±1.09^b	1.12±0.21^ad
涩芥Malcolmia africana	23.58±2.13^f	16.64±0.57^cd	1.42±0.16^ae
西伯利亚离子芥Chorispora sibirica	12.53±1.26^h	3.16±0.35^a	4.26±1.06^f
抱茎独行菜Lepidium perfoliatum	10.30±0.45^h	11.88±0.08^fgh	0.87±0.03^cd
小果菘蓝Isatis minima	21.74±2.28ⁱ	20.63±3.98^dfh	1.15±0.28^ad

种 Species	最大净光合速率 P_n_max (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	最大蒸腾速率 T_r_max (mmol H₂O·m^-2·s^-1)	水分利用效率 WUE (μmol CO₂·mmol^-1H₂O)
旱麦草Eremopyrum triticeum	18.70±0.60^ab	16.28±0.84^a	1.37±0.28^a
毛穗旱麦草E. distans	18.42±0.71^b	14.08±0.98^a	1.94±0.68^b
东方旱麦草E. orientale	21.94±0.03^aeh	15.13±0.92^ab	1.58±0.27^ab
弯果胡卢巴Trigonella arcuata	35.96±1.28^d	17.51±2.98^c	2.11±0.34^b
琉苞菊Hyalea pulchella	8.07±0.60^e	15.21±2.23^d	0.54±0.08^c
异喙菊Heteracia szovitsii	19.30±2.41^f	18.91±3.21^e	1.08±0.25^ad
蝎尾菊Koelpinia linearis	8.41±1.28^ae	13.88±2.32^f	0.54±0.05^c
角果毛茛Ceratocephalus testiculatus	20.10±3.89^g	11.26±0.78^fg	1.79±0.34^be
条叶庭荠Alyssum linifolium	18.18±2.95^ch	4.32±1.93^fg	3.88±0.11^d
庭荠A. desertorum	18.94±1.44^h	17.97±1.19^g	1.09±0.032^ad
粗果庭荠A. dasycarpum	30.42±0.30^ce	29.64±2.31^g	0.88±0.31^d
异果芥Diptychocarpus strictus	11.30±0.76^ce	10.56±1.09^b	1.12±0.21^ad
涩芥Malcolmia africana	23.58±2.13^f	16.64±0.57^cd	1.42±0.16^ae
西伯利亚离子芥Chorispora sibirica	12.53±1.26^h	3.16±0.35^a	4.26±1.06^f
抱茎独行菜Lepidium perfoliatum	10.30±0.45^h	11.88±0.08^fgh	0.87±0.03^cd
小果菘蓝Isatis minima	21.74±2.28ⁱ	20.63±3.98^dfh	1.15±0.28^ad

种 Species	总叶面积 Total leaf area (cm²)	根/总生物量 Root/total biomass ratio	个体总生物量 Individual biomass (g)	根/地上生物量 Root/aboveground biomass ratio	单位叶面积干重 LMA (g·m^-2)	叶面积比 LAR (m²·kg^-1)
异喙菊Heteracia szovitsii	4.619 8±2.394 4	0.072 0±0.026 6	0.061 5±0.045 4	0.078 4±0.030 9	0.398 2±0.065 3	9.004 3±3.636 5
蝎尾菊Koelpinia linearis	3.494 4±1.114 0	0.057 2±0.044 2	0.105 6±0.049 0	0.062 9±0.052 6	0.455 8±0.051 5	3.683 7±1.402 3
弯果胡卢巴Trigonella arcuata	8.256 0±3.903 0	0.100 1±0.100 8	0.157 7±0.091 1	0.126 0±0.153 8	0.773 5±0.497 4	6.540 5±4.100 1
条叶庭荠Alyssum linifolium	3.970 2±2.180 7	0.059 8±0.032 3	0.147 5±0.099 4	0.064 7±0.037 1	0.753 3±0.113 2	2.920 5±0.056 61
粗果庭荠A. dasycarpum	7.350 0±2.585 5	0.072 3±0.012 5	0.154 0±0.061 3	0.078 8±0.029 9	0.537 2±0.115 3	4.894 7±0.961 2
小果菘蓝Isatis minima	51.401 9±29.036 0	-	0.391 0±0.168 0	-	0.501 9±0.139 6	-
旱麦草Eremopyrum triticeum	3.244 0±2.590 5	0.194 3±0.146 9	0.052 0±0.041 6	0.169 6±0.180 9	0.538 0±0.224 2	6.302 0±2.233 6