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Photosynthetic response to precipitation/rainfall in predominant tree (Ulmus pumila) seedlings in Hunshandak Sandland, China

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The responses of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of field-growing Ulmus pumila seedlings to changes in simulated precipitation were studied in Hunshandak Sandland, China. Leaf water potential (Ψwp), net photosynthetic rate (P N), stomatal conductance (g s), and transpiration rate (E) were significantly increased with enhancement of precipitation from 0 to 20 mm (p<0.01), indicating stomatal limitation of U. pumila seedlings that could be avoided when soil water was abundant. However, P N changed slightly when precipitation exceeded 20 mm (p>0.05), indicating more precipitation than 20 mm had no significant effects on photosynthesis. Maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2, PS 2 (Fv/Fm) increased from 0.53 to 0.78 when rainfall increased from 0 to 10 mm, and Fv/Fm maintained a steady state level when rainfall was more than 10 mm. Water use efficiency (WUE) decreased significantly (from 78–95 to 23–27 µmol mol−1) with enhancement of rainfalls. P N showed significant linear correlations with both g s and Ψwp (p<0.0001), which implied that leaf water status influenced gas exchange of U. pumila seedlings. The 20-mm precipitation (soil water content at about 15 %, v/v) might be enough for the growth of elm seedlings. When soil water content (SWC) reached 10 %, down regulation of PS2 photochemical efficiency could be avoided, but stomatal limitation to photosynthesis remained. When SWC exceeded 15 %, stomatal limitation to photosynthesis could be avoided, indicating elm seedlings might tolerate moderate drought.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10093, P.R. China

    Y.-G. Li, G.-M. Jiang, M.-Z. Liu, S.-L. Niu & L.-M. Gao

  2. Information Science & Engineering College, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, P.R. China

    X.-C. Cao

Authors
  1. Y.-G. Li
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  2. G.-M. Jiang
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  3. M.-Z. Liu
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  4. S.-L. Niu
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  5. L.-M. Gao
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  6. X.-C. Cao
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Correspondence to G.-M. Jiang.

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Li, YG., Jiang, GM., Liu, MZ. et al. Photosynthetic response to precipitation/rainfall in predominant tree (Ulmus pumila) seedlings in Hunshandak Sandland, China. Photosynthetica 45, 133–138 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-007-0021-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-007-0021-5

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