Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of air drought on photosynthesis efficiency of the Siberian crabapple (Malus baccata L. Borkh.) in the forest-steppe zone of Transbaikalia, Russia

  • Published:
Journal of Arid Land Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The adaption of photosynthesis, being a key metabolic process, plays an important role in plant resistance to air drought. In this study, the Siberian crabapple (Malus baccata L. Borkh.) in the forest-steppe zone of Transbaikalia region, Russia, was subjected to air drought stress and its photosynthesis characteristics were analyzed. The results show that air drought and sufficient soil moisture supply lead to the decrease in the total chlorophyll (Chl) content, while the ratio of Chls to carotenoids is constant in the Siberian crabapple tree. The function of photosystem II (PS-II) in the crabapple trees is characterized by a decrease in the fraction of absorbed light energy spent on the photochemical work and an increase in the proportion of non-photosynthetic thermal quenching. These changes indicate the photosynthetic down-regulation that acts as a universal photoprotective mechanism. During the midday hours, the combination of high air temperature and low air humidity leads to the decrease in the maximum photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and the efficiency of photosynthesis (PABS). The parameters of leaf gas exchange show the significant differences in these values between the control and experimental variants. During the morning hours, the Siberian crabapple, growing in the Irkutsk City, assimilates carbon dioxide more intensively. Due to the higher air humidity, the stomata are kept open and the necessary amount of carbon dioxide entries the sites of carboxylation. The low air humidity combined with wind in the experimental variants leads to the unreasonably high water loss in the crabapple leaves by more than 27% as compared to the control variant (Irkutsk City). However, water use efficiency in the morning hours increases during plant photosynthetic processes, i.e., 42% higher than that of control. This, apparently, is a reflection of the adaptation processes of the Siberian crabapple to the air drought and parching wind.

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

ABS:

absorbed energy flux

Chl:

chlorophyll

ET:

electron transport flux

ETR:

electron transport rate

F0 :

minimum fluorescence yield in dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximum fluorescence yield in dark-adapted state

Fm′:

maximum fluorescence yield in light-adapted state

F0′:

minimum fluorescence yield in light-adapted state

Fv/Fm :

quantum yield of photosystem II

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PS-II:

photosystem II

RC:

reaction center

TR:

trapping flux

VPD:

vapour pressure deficit

WUE:

water use efficiency

Y(II):

effective quantum yield of photosystem II

Y(NPQ):

quantum yield of non-photochemical quenching.

Ψ0 :

probability that a photon trapped by the PS-II reaction center enters the electron transport chain beyond QA (the primary electron acceptor quinone in PS-II) (at t=0)

φPo :

the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry at t=0

References

  • Anenkhonov O A, Korolyuk A Y, Sandanov D V, et al. 2015. Soil-moisture conditions indicated by field-layer plants help identify vulnerable forests in the forest-steppe of semi-arid Southern Siberia. Ecological Indicators, 57: 196–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Ramegowda V, Kumar A, et al. 2016. Plant adaptation to drought stress. F1000Research, 5(F1000 Faculty Rev): 1554–1563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodner G, Nakhforoosh A, Kaul H-P. 2015. Management of crop water under drought: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 35(2): 401–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borland A M, Wullschleger S D, Weston D J, et al. 2015. Climate-resilient agroforestry: physiological responses to climate change and engineering of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) as a mitigation strategy. Plant, Cell and Environment, 38(9): 1833–1849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brestic M, Zivcak M. 2013. PSII fluorescence techniques for measurement of drought and high temperature stress signal in crop plants: protocols and applications. In: Rout G, Das A. Molecular Stress Physiology of Plants. India: Springer, 87–131.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cruces E, Rautenberger R, Rojas-Lillo Y, et al. 2017. Physiological acclimation of Lessonia spicata to diurnal changing PAR and UV radiation: differential regulation among down-regulation of photochemistry, ROS scavenging activity and phlorotannins as major photoprotective mechanisms. Photosynthesis Research, 131(2): 145–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghotbi-Ravandi A A, Shahbazi M, Shariati M, et al. 2014. Effects of mild and severe drought stress on photosynthetic efficiency in tolerant and susceptible barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 200(6): 403–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang P, Wan X, Lieffers V J. 2016. Daytime and nighttime wind differentially affects hydraulic properties and thigmomorphogenic response of poplar saplings. Physiologia Plantarum, 157(1): 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jahns P, Holzwarth A R. 2012. The role of the xanthophyll cycle and of lutein in photoprotection of photosystem II. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1817(1): 182–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalaji H M, Schansker G, Ladle R J, et al. 2014. Frequently asked questions about in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence: practical issues. Photosynthesis Research, 122(2): 121–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharuk V I, Ranson K J, Oskorbin P A, et al. 2013. Climate induced birch mortality in Trans-Baikal lake region, Siberia. Forest Ecology and Management, 289: 385–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kullaj E, Avdiu V, Lepaja L, et al. 2017. Modeling canopy transpiration and stomatal conductance of young apples using a parameterized Penman-Monteith equation. Acta Horticulture, 1177: 405–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang Y, Wang M, Xia J, et al. 2018. Effects of soil drought stress on photosynthetic gas exchange traits and chlorophyll fluorescence in Forsythia suspense. Journal of Forestry Research, 29(1): 45–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Law B E. 2015. Regional analysis of drought and heat impacts on forests: current and future science directions. Global Change Biology, 20(12): 3595–3599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y G, Jiang G M, Niu S L, et al. 2003. Gas exchange and water use efficiency of three native tree species in Hunshandak Sandland of China. Photosynthetica, 41(2): 227–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang E, Leuschner C, Dulamsuren C, et al. 2016. Global warming-related tree growth decline and mortality on the north-eastern Tibetan plateau. Climatic Change, 134(1–2): 163–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler H K, Babani F. 2004. Light adaptation and senescence of the photosynthetic apparatus. Changes in pigment composition, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic activity. In: Papageorgiou G C, Govindjee. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration. Dordrecht: Springer, 713–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Liu Y, Guo K, et al. 2011. Effect of drought on pigments, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant enzymes in six woody plant species in karst habitats of southwestern China. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 71(2): 174–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Yin Y, Wang Q, et al. 2015. Climatic effects on plant species distribution within the forest–steppe ecotone in northern China. Applied Vegetation Science, 18(1): 43–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massonnet C, Costes E, Rambal S, et al. 2007. Stomatal regulation of photosynthesis in apple leaves: evidence for different water-use strategies between two cultivars. Annals of Botany, 100(6): 1347–1356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell N, Pockman W T, Allen C D, et al. 2008. Mechanisms of plant survival and mortality during drought: why do some plants survive while others succumb to drought? New Phytologist, 178(4): 719–739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray F W. 1967. On the computation of saturation vapor pressure. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 6: 203–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipova S, Permyakov A, Permyakova M, et al. 2015. Regions of the bread wheat D genome associated with variation in key photosynthesis traits and shoot biomass under both well watered and water deficient conditions. Journal of Applied Genetics, 57(2): 151–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Martin A, Flexas J, Ribas-Carbo M, et al. 2009. Interactive effects of soil water deficit and air vapour pressure deficit on mesophyll conductance to CO2 in Vitis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 60(8): 2391–2405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudikovskiy A V, Rudikovskaya E G, Dudareva L V, et al. 2008. Unique and rare forms of Siberian apple tree in Selenga district of Buryatia. Siberian Ecological Journal, 2: 327–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoppach R, Fleury D, Sinclair T R, et al. 2017. Transpiration sensitivity to evaporative demand across 120 years of breeding of Australian wheat cultivars. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 203(3): 219–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sehgal A, Sita K, Bhandari K, et al. 2018. Influence of drought and heat stress, applied independently or in combination during seed development, on qualitative and quantitative aspects of seeds of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) genotypes, differing in drought sensitivity. Plant, Cell and Environment, 42(1): 198–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strasser R J, Tsimilli-Michael M, Srivastava A. 2004. Analysis of the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient. In: Papageorgiou G C, Govindjee. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration. Dordrecht: Springer, 321–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Wettstein D. 1957. Chlorophyll lethals and submicroscopic morphological changes in plastids. Experimental Cell Research, 12(3): 427–506. (in German)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zandalinas S I, Mittler R, Balfagon D, et al. 2018. Plant adaptations to the combination of drought and high temperatures. Physiologia Plantarum, 162(1): 2–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S Y, Zhang G C, Gu S Y, et al. 2010. Critical responses of photosynthetic efficiency of goldspur apple tree to soil water variation in semiarid loess hilly area. Photosynthetica, 48(4): 589–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research was funded by the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Integration Project No. 105). The work was performed at the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Irkutsk City). We thank Dr. Larisa GARKAVA-GUSTAVSSON for comments on the manuscript and Dr. Alexandra YAZEVA for her work on the translation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry of Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    Alexandr Rudikovskii, Elena Rudikovskaya & Lyubov Dudareva

Authors
  1. Alexandr Rudikovskii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elena Rudikovskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lyubov Dudareva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elena Rudikovskaya.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rudikovskii, A., Rudikovskaya, E. & Dudareva, L. Impact of air drought on photosynthesis efficiency of the Siberian crabapple (Malus baccata L. Borkh.) in the forest-steppe zone of Transbaikalia, Russia. J. Arid Land 11, 255–266 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-019-0006-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-019-0006-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation