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Responses of photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidative metabolism in winter wheat to post-anthesis shading

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In a field experiment, two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Tainong 18 (a large-spike cultivar) and Jinan 17 (a multiple-spike cultivar), were treated with 78% (S1), 50% (S2), and 10% (S3) of full sunshine (S0, control) from anthesis to maturity to determine the responses of photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidative enzyme activities in a flag leaf. Compared with S0 treatment, the chlorophyll (Chl) content and maximal efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm) of flag leaves were enhanced in treatments S1 and S2. From 0 to 7 d post flowering, the Chl content and Fv/Fm in S3 were also higher than those in S0, but significantly lower than those in controls, respectively. With the increase of shading intensity, the effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII) was promoted; whereas, the ratio of Chl a/b declined. Compared with S0, treatments S2 and S3 significantly suppressed the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), net photosynthetic rate (P N), and contents of total soluble sugar, nevertheless, S1 treatment showed positive effects on the above parameters. Under the same shading condition, Jinan 17 had larger Chl content and higher activities of PSII and antioxidative enzymes, but lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content than Tainong 18. The results indicated that multiple-spike cultivar was more advantageous for the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, where shading problem occurs later during the growth period, than the large-spike cultivar, because of the lesser damage in a flag leaf and better photosynthetic function of the former one. Wheat plants under S1 shading condition had relatively high activities of antioxidative enzymes and a low degree of membrane lipid peroxidation, which was in favor of stress resistance, maintaining high P N duration, and accumulation of photosynthates in wheat plants.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbic acid peroxidase

AsA-GSH:

ascorbate-glutathione

CAT:

catalase

Chl:

chlorophyll

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

DAA:

days after anthesis

ETR:

electron transport rate

Fm :

maximum fluorescence

Fm′:

maximum fluorescence of light-adapted state

Fs :

steady state fluorescence

Fv/Fm :

maximal efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry

F0 :

minimal fluorescence

FM:

fresh mass

g s :

stomatal conductance

MDA:

malondialdehyde

NBT:

nitroblue tetrazolium

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

POD:

peroxidase

PSII:

photosystem II

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Agronomy College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong Province, China

    C. Xu, Y. Yin, R. Cai, P. Wang, Y. Ni, J. Guo, E. Chen, T. Cai, Z. Cui, T. Liu, D. Yang & Z. Wang

  2. Life Science and Technology College, Hebei Normal University of Science & Technology, Changli, 066600, Hebei Province, China

    R. Cai

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  1. C. Xu
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  2. Y. Yin
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  12. Z. Wang
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Correspondence to Z. Wang.

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Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31271661, 30871477), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, No. 2009CB118602), the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest of China (No. 201203100), and the National Science and Technology Support Program of China (No. 2012BAD04B05).

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Xu, C., Yin, Y., Cai, R. et al. Responses of photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidative metabolism in winter wheat to post-anthesis shading. Photosynthetica 51, 139–150 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0010-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0010-9

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