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Significance of mesophyll conductance for photosynthetic capacity and water-use efficiency in response to alkaline stress in Populus cathayana seedlings

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Cuttings of Populus cathayana were exposed to three different alkaline regimes (0, 75, and 150 mM Na2CO3) in a semicontrolled environment. The net photosynthesis rate (P N), mesophyll conductance (g m), the relative limitations posed by stomatal conductance (L s) and by mesophyll conductance (L m), photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE), carbon isotope composition (δ13C), as well as specific leaf area (SLA) were measured. P N decreased due to alkaline stress by an average of 25% and g m decreased by an average of 57%. Alkaline stress caused an increase of L m but not L s, with average L s of 26%, and L m average of 38% under stress conditions. Our results suggested reduced assimilation rate under alkaline stress through decreased mesophyll conductance in P. cathayana. Moreover, alkaline stress increased significantly δ13C and it drew down CO2 concentration from the substomatal cavities to the sites of carboxylation (C i-C c), but decreased PNUE. Furthermore, a relationship was found between PNUE and C i-C c. Meanwhile, no correlation was found between δ13C and C i/C a, but a strong correlation was proved between δ13C and C c/C a, indicating that mesophyll conductance was also influencing the 13C/12C ratio of leaf under alkaline stress.

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Abbreviations

C a :

concentration of atmospheric CO2

C c :

CO2 concentration in chloroplasts

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

C c/C a :

chloroplastic to ambient CO2 concentration

C i/C a :

substomatal to ambient CO2 concentration

C a-C i :

drawing down CO2 concentration from ambient CO2 concentration to substomatal CO2 concentrations

C i-C c :

drawing down CO2 concentration from the substomatal cavities to the sites of carboxylation

g m :

mesophyll conductance

g s :

stomatal conductance

J max-Cc :

maximal rate of electron transport driving regeneration of RuBP determined on the basis of C c

J max-C i :

maximal rate of electron transport driving regeneration of RuBP determined on the basis of C i

K c :

Michaelis-Menten constants for RuBP carboxylation

K o :

Michaelis-Menten constants for RuBP oxygenation

LED:

light emitting diode

L m :

relative limitations posed by mesophyll conductance

L s :

relative limitations posed by stomatal conductance

N a :

leaf nitrogen content on area basis in g m−2

O :

oxygen concentration

P N :

net photosynthesis rate

PNUE:

photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

R d :

mitochondrial respiration in the light

RSD:

relative standard deviations

Rubisco:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

RuBP:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

SLA:

specific leaf area

V cmax-Cc :

maximum rate of carboxylation determined on the basis of C c

V cmax-Ci :

maximum rate of carboxylation determined on the basis of C i

WUE:

water-use efficiency

WUEi:

intrinsic water-use efficiency (P N/g s)

Γ*:

CO2 compensation point in the absence of mitochondrial respiration in the light

δ13C:

carbon isotope composition

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, China

    G. Xu & T. F. Huang

  2. Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China

    X. L. Zhang & B. L. Duan

  3. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    G. Xu

Authors
  1. G. Xu
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  2. T. F. Huang
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  3. X. L. Zhang
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  4. B. L. Duan
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Correspondence to B. L. Duan.

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Acknowledgements: The research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2012CB416901) and the Youth Talent Team Program of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SDSQB-2012-01).

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Xu, G., Huang, T.F., Zhang, X.L. et al. Significance of mesophyll conductance for photosynthetic capacity and water-use efficiency in response to alkaline stress in Populus cathayana seedlings. Photosynthetica 51, 438–444 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0043-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0043-0

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