Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Water relations, gas exchange, photochemical efficiency, and peroxidative stress of four plant species in the Heihe drainage basin of northern China

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Haloxylon ammodendron, Calligonum mongolicum, Elaeagnus angustifolia, and Populus hosiensis had different adaptations to limited water availability, high temperature, and high irradiance. C. mongolicum used water more efficiently than did the other species. Because of low transpiration rate (E) and low water potential, H. ammodendron had low water loss suitable for desert conditions. Water use efficiency (WUE) was high in E. angustifolia, but high E and larger leaf area made this species more suitable for mesic habitats; consequently, this species is important in tree shelterbelts. P. hosiensis had low WUE, E, and photosynthesis rates, and therefore, does not prosper in arid areas without irrigation. High irradiances caused photoinhibition of the four plants. The decrease of photochemical efficiency was a possible non-stomata factor for the midday depression of C. mongolicum. However, the species exhibited different protective mechanisms against high irradiance under drought stress. H. ammodendron and C. mongolicum possessed a more effective antioxidant defence system than E. angustifolia. These three species showed different means of coping with oxidative stress. Hence an enzymatic balance is maintained in these plants under adverse stress conditions, and the concerted action of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactive oxygen species scavenging mechanisms is vital to survive adverse conditions.

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

AOS:

active oxygen species

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

AsA:

ascorbic acid

CAT:

catalase

C i :

intercellular CO2

Ci/Ca:

intercellular CO2 concentration/ambient CO2

Chl:

chlorophyll

E:

leaf transpiration rate

Fv/Fm :

maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem

g s :

stomatal conductance

GSH:

reduced glutathione

H2O2 :

hydrogen peroxide

OH:

hydroxyl radical

MDH:

malondialdehyde

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

POD:

peroxidase

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

PS:

photosystem

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

T a :

air temperature

T l :

leaf temperature

TCA:

trichloroacetic acid

VPD:

vapour pressure deficit

WUE:

water use efficiency

Ψ1 :

water potential

References

  • Arakawa, N., Tsutsumi, K., Sanceda, N.G.: A rapid and sensitive method for determination of ascorbic acid.-Agr. biol. Chem. 45: 1289, 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asada, K.: The water-water cycle in chloroplasts: scavenging of active oxygens and dissipation of excess photons.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant mol. Biol. 50: 601–639, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asada, K., Takahashi, M.: Production and scavenging of active oxygen in photosynthesis.-In: Kyle, D.J., Osmond, C.B., Arntzen, C.J. (ed.): Photoinhibition. Pp. 227–287. Elsevier, Amsterdam-New York-Oxford 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bor, M., Ozdemir, F., Turkan, I.: The effect of salt stress on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in leaves of sugar beet Beta vulgaris L. and wild beet Beta maritima L.-Plant Sci. 164: 77–84, 2003.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowler, C., Van, M.: Superoxide dismutase and stress tolerance.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant mol. Biol. 43: 83–116, 1992.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, M.M.: A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding.-Anal. Biochem. 72: 248–254, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, B.B., Gruissem, W., Jones, R.L.: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants.-American Society of Plant Physiologists, Rockville 2000.

  • Del Longo, O.T., González, C.A., Pastori, G.M., Trippi, V.S.: Antioxidant defences under hyperoxygenic and hyperosmotic conditions in leaves of two lines of maize with differential sensitivity to drought.-Plant Cell Physiol. 34: 1023–1028, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, X., Li, X.M., Zhang, X.M., Ye, W.H.: A study of the gas exchange characteristics of four desert plants.-Acta physiol. sin. 26: 605–612, 2002.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhindsa, R.S., Matowe, W.: Drought tolerance in two mosses: correlated with enzymatic defence against lipid peroxidation.-J. exp. Bot. 32: 79–91, 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flexas, J., Medrano, H.: Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited.-Ann. Bot. 89: 183–189, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genty, B., Briantais, J.-M., Baker, N.R.: The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence.-Biochim. biophys. Acta 900: 87–92, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong, J.R., Zhang, L.X., Zhao, A.F., Bi, Y.R.: Elementary studies on physiological and biochemical anti-drought features of Artemisia ordosica.-J. Desert Res. 22: 387–392, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo, Z.F., Lu, S.Y., Li, B.S., Li, M.Q.: Responses of rice seedlings in different drought tolerant cultivars to oxidative stress.-Acta bot. sin. 39: 748–752, 1997.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guri, A.: Variation in glutathione and ascorbate acid content among selected cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris prior to and after exposure to ozone.-Can. J. Plant Sci. 63: 733–737, 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halliwell, B., Gutteridge, J.M.C.: Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine. 2nd Ed.-Oxford Univ. Press, New York 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Z.C.: Study on Physioecological Characteristics of Desert Plants.-Educational Science Publishing House, Beijing 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Z.C., Shen, W.S.: The Water Relations and Drought Resistance of Plants in the Arid Area.-Pp. 26–27. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, G.M., Zhu, G.J.: Different patterns of gas exchange and photochemical efficiency in three desert shrub species under two natural temperatures and irradiances in Mu Us Sandy Area of China.-Photosynthetica 39: 257–262, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, M.Y., Jing, J.H., Wang, S.T.: Generation of hydroxyl radical in plants and its relation to the initiation of lipid peroxidation.-Plant Physiol. Commun. 29: 30, 1993.

  • Kramer, P.J.: Water Relations of Plants.-Academic Press, New York 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambers, H.: Responses to availability of water.-In: Lambers, H., Stuart Chapin, F., III, Pons, T.L.: Plant Physiological Ecology. Pp. 154–191. Springer-Verlag, New York-Berlin-Heidelberg 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y.G., Jiang, G.M., Niu, S.L., Liu, M.Z., Peng, Y., Yu, S.L., Gao, L.M.: Gas exchange and water use efficiency of three native tree species in Hunshandak Sandland of China.-Photosynthetica 41: 227–232, 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J.Q., Pu, J.C., Liu, X.M.: Comparative studies on water relations and xeromorphic structures of some plant species in the middle part of the desert zone in China.-Acta bot. sin. 30: 85–95, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, M.Z., Jiang, G.M., Li, Y.G., Gao, L.M., Niu, S.L., Cui, H.X., Ding, L.: Gas exchange, photochemical efficiency, and leaf water potential in three Salix species.-Photosynthetica 41: 393–398, 2003.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Z.Q., Zhang, S.C.: Anti-activities Physiology.-China Agriculture Press, Beijing 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manes, F., Vitale, M., Donate, E.: Relations between environmental parameters and ecophysiological status of pubescent oak during summer.-Monti Boschi 49: 29–33, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matos, M.C., Matos, A.A., Mantas, A., Cordeiro, V., Vieira da Silva, J.B.: Diurnal and seasonal changes in Prunus amygdalus gas exchange.-Photosynthetica 35: 517–524, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, S.P., Choudhuri, M.A.: Implications of water stress induced change in the level of endogenous ascorbic acid under hydrogen peroxide in Vigna seedlings.-Physiol. Plant. 58: 166–170, 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, Y., Asada, K.: Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidase in spinach chloroplasts.-Plant Cell Physiol. 22: 867–880, 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niinomi, A., Morimoto, M., Shimiza, S.: Lipid peroxidation by the (peroxidase/H2 O2/phenolic) system.-Plant Cell Physiol. 28: 731–734, 1987.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, R.C., Dou, Z.J., Ye, Q.S.: Effect of methyl jasmonate on SOD activity and membrane-lipid peroxidation in peanut seedlings during water stress.-Acta phytophysiol. sin. 21: 221–228, 1995.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patsikka, E., Kairavuo, M., Sersen, F., Aro, E.M., Tyystjarvi, E.: Excess copper predisposes photosystem II to photoinhibition in vivo by outcompeting iron and causing decrease in leaf chlorophyll.-Plant Physiol. 129: 1359–1367, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salisbury, F.B., Ross, C.: Plant Physiology.-Pp. 73–74. Wadsworth Publishing Company, New York 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seel, W.E., Hendry, G.A.F., Lee, J.A.: The combined effects of desiccation and irradiance on mosses from xeric and hydric habitats.-J. exp. Bot. 4: 1023–1031, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slatyer, R.O., Taylor, S.A.: Terminology in plant and soil water relations.-Nature 187: 22–24, 1960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strand, M., Lundmark, T.: Effects of low night temperature and light on chlorophyll fluorescence of field-grown seedlings of Scots pine.-Tree Physiol. 3: 211–224, 1987.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, A.G., Luo, G.H.: Quantitative relations between the reaction of hydroxylamine and superoxide anion radicals in plants.-Plant Physiol. Commun. 6: 55–57, 1990.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, K.B., Baldocchi, D.D., Hanson, P.J.: Quantifying stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to carbon assimilation resulting from leaf aging and drought in mature deciduous tree species.-Tree Physiol. 20: 787–797, 2000.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yordanova, R.Y., Christov, K.N., Popova, L.P.: Antioxidative enzymes in barley plants subjected to soil flooding.-Environ. exp. Bot. 51: 93–101, 2004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, S.-X., Wang, Y.-R., Liu, H.-X.: [Some enzymatic reactions related to chlorophyll degradation in cucumber cotyledons under chilling in the light.]-Acta phytophysiol. sin. 17: 177–182, 1991. [In Chin.]

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    J. R. Gong, Y. M. Huang, X. S. Zhang & C. L. Zhang

  2. Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Yantai Normal University, Yantai, 264025, China

    A. F. Zhao

Authors
  1. J. R. Gong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. F. Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y. M. Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. X. S. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. L. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. M. Huang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gong, J.R., Zhao, A.F., Huang, Y.M. et al. Water relations, gas exchange, photochemical efficiency, and peroxidative stress of four plant species in the Heihe drainage basin of northern China. Photosynthetica 44, 355–364 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-006-0036-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-006-0036-3

Additional key words

Search

Navigation