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Lotus corniculatus L. response to carbon dioxide concentration and radiation level variations

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Carbon dioxide concentration and light conditions may greatly vary between mountainous and lowland areas determining the photosynthetic performance of plants species. This paper aimed to evaluate the photosynthetic responses of Lotus corniculatus, growing in a mountain and a lowland grassland, under low and high radiation and CO2 concentration. Net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration were measured while the water-use efficiency and the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence were calculated. Photosynthetic response curves to different levels of radiation and intercellular CO2 partial pressure were estimated. Our results showed that high radiation and CO2 concentration enhanced water-use efficiency of plants at both sites, enabling them to use more efficiently the available water reserves under drought conditions. The increase of radiation and CO2 concentration would enhance the photosynthetic performance of the mountainous population of L. corniculatus, which overall seems to express higher phenotypic plasticity.

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Abbreviations

AQE:

apparent quantum efficiency

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

CE:

carboxylation efficiency

CO2 CP:

CO2 compensation point

E:

transpiration rate

Fv/Fm :

ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence

g s :

stomatal conductance

LCP:

photosynthetic light-compensation point

LSP:

photosynthetic light-saturation point

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

P Nmax :

light-saturated (maximum) photosynthetic rate

P Nsat :

photosynthesis at saturating CO2

R D :

dark respiration rate

RDPI:

relative distance plasticity index

RH:

relative humidity

T a :

air temperature

VPD:

vapor pressure deficit

WUE:

instantaneous water-use efficiency

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Acknowledgments

This paper is part of the project “The dynamics of the transhumant sheep and goat farming system in Greece. Influences on biodiversity” which is co-funded by the European Union (European Social Fund) through the Action “THALIS”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology (P.O 286), Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    P. Kostopoulou & M. Karatassiou

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  1. P. Kostopoulou
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  2. M. Karatassiou
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Correspondence to M. Karatassiou.

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Kostopoulou, P., Karatassiou, M. Lotus corniculatus L. response to carbon dioxide concentration and radiation level variations. Photosynthetica 55, 522–531 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0671-2

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