Effects of shading on leaf morphology and response characteristics of photosynthesis in Alhagi sparsifolia

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00082

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Alhagi sparsifolia, which occurs in arid regions, is commonly considered a type of sun plant. Research indicates that sun plants can successfully adapt to a range of shade through changes in leaf morphology such as increased thickness and decreased size and specific leaf area (SLA). Our objective was to investigate the effects of shading on A. sparsifolia.
Methods We selected two light regimes, natural and shade (60% of natural light), to understand the effects of shading on leaf morphology and response characteristics of photosynthesis in A. sparsifolia growing naturally on the southern edge of Taklimakan Desert, northwest China.
Important findings Plants grown in the shade treatment had greater SLA (p < 0.01), lower leaf fresh mass per unit leaf area, leaf dry mass per unit leaf area and leaf thickness than plants grown in full natural light treatments (p < 0.01), and greater content of total chlorophyll a + b and total carotenoids, especially chlorophyll a content (p < 0.01). With shade, plants had lower light-compensation point, light-saturation point and dark respiration rate, higher apparent quantum yield and light use efficiency and significantly higher photosynthetic rate of light-saturation point. Under high irradiation shade plants had net photosynthetic rate lower than that of plants grown in full natural light, leading to photoinhibition. We concluded that A. sparsifolia had the ability to adjust to shade in leaf morphology and characteristics of photosynthesis. In addition, the content of free proline (Pro) increased significantly in shade plants (p < 0.01), which showed that free Pro plays an important role in shade acclimation of A. sparsifolia. However, the phenomenon of high module mortality in shade treatments showed that A. sparsifolia is the obligate sun species but intolerable shade plant.

Key words: Alhagi sparsifolia, leaf morphography, photosynthetic characteristics, shade

XUE Wei, LI Xiang-Yi, ZHU Jun-Tao, LIN Li-Sha, WANG Ying-Ju. Effects of shading on leaf morphology and response characteristics of photosynthesis in Alhagi sparsifolia[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2011, 35(1): 82-90.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00082

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2011/V35/I1/82

Figures/Tables 7

References 48

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处理 Treatment	暗呼吸速率 R_d(μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	表观量子效率 φ (mol·mol^-1)	最大净光合速率 A_max(μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	光补偿点 LCP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	光饱和点 LSP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)
遮阴 Shade	2.39 ± 0.333*	0.040 3 ± 0.004 2	19.12 ± 1.72	52.40 ± 8.65*	1 683.33 ± 160.09*
自然光 Natural light	3.43 ± 0.306	0.035 3 ± 0.004 3	17.61 ± 0.96	95.33 ± 13.62	2 071.36 ± 91.81

处理 Treatment	暗呼吸速率 R_d(μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	表观量子效率 φ (mol·mol^-1)	最大净光合速率 A_max(μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	光补偿点 LCP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)	光饱和点 LSP (μmol·m^-2·s^-1)
遮阴 Shade	2.39 ± 0.333*	0.040 3 ± 0.004 2	19.12 ± 1.72	52.40 ± 8.65*	1 683.33 ± 160.09*
自然光 Natural light	3.43 ± 0.306	0.035 3 ± 0.004 3	17.61 ± 0.96	95.33 ± 13.62	2 071.36 ± 91.81

光合参数 Photosynthetic parameters	平方和 Sum of squares	自由度 df	均方 Mean square	F	p
净光合速率 A (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	46.4	1	46.4	0.75	0.393
气孔导度 G_s(mmol·m^-2·s^-1)	91 417	1	91 417	15.90**	0.000
蒸腾速率 T_r(mmol·m^-2·s^-1)	40.09	1	40.09	7.91**	0.009
胞间CO₂浓度 C_i(mmol·mol^-1)	5.0	1	5.0	0.00	0.974
水分利用效率 WUE (mmol CO₂·mol^-1H₂O)	0.378	1	0.378	0.39	0.535
潜在水分利用效率 WUEi (mmol CO₂·mol^-1H₂O)	85.67	1	85.67	17.00**	0.006

光合参数 Photosynthetic parameters	平方和 Sum of squares	自由度 df	均方 Mean square	F	p
净光合速率 A (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	46.4	1	46.4	0.75	0.393
气孔导度 G_s(mmol·m^-2·s^-1)	91 417	1	91 417	15.90**	0.000
蒸腾速率 T_r(mmol·m^-2·s^-1)	40.09	1	40.09	7.91**	0.009
胞间CO₂浓度 C_i(mmol·mol^-1)	5.0	1	5.0	0.00	0.974
水分利用效率 WUE (mmol CO₂·mol^-1H₂O)	0.378	1	0.378	0.39	0.535
潜在水分利用效率 WUEi (mmol CO₂·mol^-1H₂O)	85.67	1	85.67	17.00**	0.006

叶形态参数 Leaf morphography parameters	遮阴 Shade	自然光 Natural light
比叶面积 SLA (cm²·g^-1)	66.302 ± 0.984**	47.409 ± 1.550
比叶干重 LMA·dw (cm²·g^-1)	15.084 ± 0.223**	21.107 ± 0.694
比叶鲜重 LMA·fw (cm²·g^-1)	23.311 ± 0.405**	35.419 ± 0.439
叶片厚度 d (mm)	1.575 ± 0.229**	2.256 ± 0.335
克隆构件死亡率 Mortality rate of clonal ramet (%)	65%	5%