Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photosynthetic and physiological responses of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) to low-light stress during grain-filling stage

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Two foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) varieties were subjected to different shading intensity treatments during a grain-filling stage in a field experiment in order to clarify physiological mechanisms of low-light effects on the yield. Our results showed that the grain fresh mass per panicle, yield, photosynthetic pigment contents, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and electron transport rate decreased with the increase of shading intensity, whereas the intercellular CO2 concentration increased in both varieties. In addition, shading changed a double-peak diurnal variation of photosynthesis to a one-peak curve. In conclusion, the lower yield of foxtail millet was caused mainly by a reduction of grain mass assimilated, a decline in chlorophyll content, and the low photosynthetic rate due to low light during the grain-filling stage. Reduced light energy absorption and conversion, restricted electron transfer, and reduced stomatal conductance might cause the decrease in photosynthesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Car:

carotenoid

Chl:

chlorophyll

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

CK:

control

DAS:

days after sowing

E :

transpiration

ETR:

electron transport rate

F0 :

minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximum fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

FM:

fresh mass

Fm':

maximal fluorescence yield of the light-adapted state

Fs :

steady-state fluorescence yield

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

g s :

stomatal conductance

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

SP:

saturation pulses

ФPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

References

  • Bai Q.Y., Yang R.Q., Zhang L.X. et al.: Salt stress induces accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid in germinated foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.).–Cereal Chem. 90: 145–149, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai S.Q., Xu D.Q.: Light intensity-dependent reversible downregulation and irreversible damage of PSII in soybean leaves.–Plant Sci. 163: 847–853, 2002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui H.Y., Jin L.B., Li B. et al.: [Effects of shading on photosynthetic characteristics and xanthophyll cycle of summer maize in the field.]–Acta Agron. Sin. 39: 478–485, 2013. [In Chinese]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui H.Y., Jin L.B., Li B. et al.: [Effects of shading on stalks morphology, structure and lodging of summer maize in field.]–Sci. Agri. Sin. 45: 3497–3505, 2012. [In Chinese]

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai Y.J., Shen Z.G., Liu Y. et al.: Effects of shade treatments on the photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll fluorescence, and chlorophyll content of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg.–Environ. Exp. Bot. 65: 177–182, 2009.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Y.M., Li C.C., Shao Q.S. et al.: Differential responses of double petal and multi petal jasmine to shading: I. Photosynthetic characteristics and chloroplast ultrastructure.–Plant Physiol. Bioch. 55: 93–102, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Estrada-Campuzano G., Miralles D.J., Slafer G.A.: Yield determination in triticale as affected by radiation in different development phases.–Eur. J. Agron. 28: 597–605, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan X.W., Chi B.L., Zhang D.M. et al.: [Study on photosynthetic performance of millet hybrids at grain-filling stage.]–J. Shanxi Agric. Sci. 39: 227–229, 2011. [In Chinese]

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu W.G., Li P.P., Wu Y.Y.: Effects of different light intensities on chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and yield in lettuce.–Sci. Hortic.-Amsterdam 135: 45–51, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gu S.L., Ma J.P., Du J.E.: [Effect of light condition and inorganic nutrition on seed setting of foxtail millet.]–Acta Agric. Bot. Sin. 4: 17–22, 1989. [In Chinese]

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia S.F., Dong S.T., Wang K.J. et al.: [Effects of weak light stress on grain yield and photosynthetic traits of maize.]–Chin J. Appl. Ecol. 18: 2456–2461, 2007. [In Chinese]

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jia S.F., Li C.F., Dong S.T. et al.: [Physiological mechanism of shading stress on photosynthetic efficiency in summer maize (Zea mays).]–Chinese J. Plant Ecol. 34: 1439–1447, 2010. [In Chinese]

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones M.K., Liu X.: Origins of agriculture in East Asia.–Science 324: 730–731, 2009.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer D.M., Johnson G., Kiirats O. et al.: New fluorescence parameters for the determination of QA redox state and excitation energy fluxes.–Photosynth. Res. 79: 209–218, 2004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li H.W., Jiang D., Wollenweber B. et al.: Effects of shading on morphology, physiology and grain yield of winter wheat.–Eur. J. Agron. 33: 267–275, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li T., Liu L.N., Jiang C.D. et al.: Effects of mutual shading on the regulation of photosynthesis in field-grown sorghum.–J. Photoch. Photobio. B. 137: 31–38, 2014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao J.X., Wang G.X.: The diurnal variations of photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency in Setaria italica leaves.–Acta Photophysio. Sin. 25: 362–368, 1999. [In Chinese?]

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu L., Wang L., Deng F. et al.: Response of osmotic regulation substance content and protective enzyme activities to shading in leaves of different rice genotypes.–Rice Sci. 20: 276–283, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu D.L., Sun X.L., Wang X. et al.: Effect of shading during grain filling on the physicochemical properties of fresh waxy maize.–J. Integr. Agri. 12: 1560–1567, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makino A.: Photosynthesis, grain yield, and nitrogen utilization in rice and wheat.–Plant Physiol. 155: 125–129, 2011.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mu H., Jiang D., Wollenweber B. et al.: Long-term low radiation decreases leaf photosynthesis, photochemical efficiency and grain yield in winter wheat.–J. Agron. Crop Sci. 196: 38–47, 2010.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mu H.R., Jiang D., Dai T.B. et al.: [Effect of shading on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence characters in wheat flag leaves.]–Sci. Agri. Sin. 41: 599–606, 2008. [In Chinese]

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ning N., Yuan X.Y., Dong S.Q. et al.: Increasing selenium and yellow pigment concentrations in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) grain with foliar application of selenite.–Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 170: 245–252, 2016.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porra R.J., Thompson W.A., Kriedmann P.E.: Determination of accurate extinction coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls a and b extracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentration of chlorophyll standards by atomic absorption spectroscopy.–BBABioenergetics 975: 384–394, 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schnettger B., Critchley C., Santore U.J. et al.: Relationship between photoinhibition of photosynthesis, D1 protein turnover and chloroplast structure: effect of protein synthesis.–Plant Cell Environ. 17: 55–64, 1994.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber U.: Pulse-amplitude (PAM) fluorometry and saturation pulse method: An overview.–In: Papageorgiou G.C., (ed.): Chlorophyll Fluorescence: A Signature of Photosynthesis. Pp. 279–319. Springer, Dordrecht 2004.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sreenivasulu N., Miranda M., Prakash H.S. et al.: Transcriptome changes in foxtail millet genotypes at high salinity: Identification and characterization of a PHGPX gene specifically upregulated by NaCl in a salt-tolerant line.–J. Plant Physiol. 161: 467–477, 2004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kooten O.V., Snel J.F.: The use of chlorophyll fluorescence nomenclature in plant stress physiology.–Photosynth. Res. 25: 147–150, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vetriventhan M., Upadhyaya H.D., Anandakumar C.R. et al.: Assessing genetic diversity, allelic richness and genetic relationship among races in ICRISAT foxtail millet core collection.–Plant Genet. Resour.-C 10: 214–223, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu D.Q., Wu S.: Three phases of dark-recovery course from photoinhibition resolved by the chlorophyll fluorescence analysis in soybean leaves under field conditions.–Photosynthetica 32: 417–423, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang J.D., Zhao H.L., Zhang T.H.: [Different capacities of adaptation to high irradiance of horqin sandy land in mung bean and millet based on their leaf photosynthesis.]–Acta Agron. Sin. 30: 232–235, 2004. [In Chinese]

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang X.Y., Wan Z.W., Perry L. et al.: Early millet use in northern China.–P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109: 3726–3730, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan X.Y., Guo P.Y., Qi X. et al.: Safety of herbicide Sigma Broad on Radix Isatidis (Isatis indigotica Fort.) seedlings and their photosynthetic physiological responses.–Pestic. Biochem. Phys. 106: 45–50, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan X.Y., Zhang L.G., Ning N. et al.: Photosynthetic physiological response of Radix Isatidis (Isatis indigotica Fort.) seedlings to nicosulfuron.–PLoS ONE. 9: e105310, 2014

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong Y., Zhou J.F., Qi H.Y. et al.: [Studies on daily changes and influence factors of the net photosynthetic rate of millet at filling stage.]–J. Jilin Agric. Sci. 33: 5–7, 2008. [In Chinese]

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31301269), the National Science and Technology Support Plan of China (2014BAD07B01), the Scientific and Technological Project of Shanxi Province (20150311016-2), the Key Scientific and Technological Project of Shanxi Province (2015-TN-09), and the Program for the Top Young Innovative Talents of Shanxi Agricultural University (TYIT201406). Special thanks to Prof. Dr. J.A. Dille and Chelsea Ahlquist of Kansas State University for English improvement of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Crop Chemical Regulation and Chemical Weed Control, Agronomy College, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, P. R. China

    X. Y. Yuan, L. Huang, Y. Y. Wen, S. Q. Dong, X. E. Song & H. F. Wang

  2. Institute of Crop Sciences, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taiyuan, 030032, P. R. China

    L. G. Zhang & P. Y. Guo

  3. Yuncheng Agriculture Committee, Yuncheng, 044000, P. R. China

    X. Qi

Authors
  1. X. Y. Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. G. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. X. Qi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Y. Y. Wen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Q. Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. X. E. Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. H. F. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. P. Y. Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to X. Y. Yuan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuan, X.Y., Zhang, L.G., Huang, L. et al. Photosynthetic and physiological responses of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) to low-light stress during grain-filling stage. Photosynthetica 55, 491–500 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0645-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0645-4

Additional key words

Search

Navigation