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Experimental and simulated light responses of photosynthesis in leaves of three tree species under different soil water conditions

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Water deficit is one of the major limiting factors in vegetation recovery and restoration in loess, hilly-gully regions of China. The light responses of photosynthesis in leaves of two-year old Prunus sibirica L., Hippophae rhamnoides L., and Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. under various soil water contents were studied using the CIRAS-2 portable photosynthesis system. Light-response curves and photosynthetic parameters were analyzed and fitted using the rectangular hyperbola model, the exponential model, the nonrectangular hyperbola model, and the modified rectangular hyperbola model. Under high light, photosynthetic rate (P N) and stomatal conductance (g s) were steady and photoinhibition was not significant, when the relative soil water content (RWC) varied from 56.3–80.9%, 47.9–82.9%, and 33.4–92.6% for P. sibirica, H. rhamnoides, and P. tabulaeformis, respectively. The light-response curves of P N, the light compensation point (LCP), and the dark respiration rate (R D) were well fitted using the above four models. The nonrectangular hyperbola was the best model in fitting the data; the modified rectangular hyperbola model was the second, and the rectangular hyperbola model was the poorest one. When RWC was higher or lower than the optimal range, the obvious photoinhibition and significant decrease in P N with increasing photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were observed in all three species under high light. The light saturation point (LSP) and apparent quantum yield also decreased significantly, when the upper limit of PPFD was 200 μmol m−2 s−1. Under these circumstances, only the modified rectangular hyperbola model was able to fit well the curves of the light response, LCP, LSP, R D, and light-saturated P N.

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Abbreviations

FC:

field capacity

g s :

stomatal conductance

GWC:

gravitational water content

LCP:

light compensation point

LSP:

light saturation point

MAE:

mean absolute error

MSE:

mean square error

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

P Nmax :

lightsaturated net photosynthetic rate

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

R D :

dark respiration rate

RWC:

relative water content

SWC:

soil water content

VWC:

volumetric water content

Φ:

apparent quantum yield

Φc :

quantum yield at the light compensation point

Φc0 :

absolute value of the slope of the photosynthetic rate-light-response curve between zero irradiance and LCP

Φ0 :

quantum yield at zero irradiance

ΦPPFD≤120 :

apparent quantum yield by the upper limit of PPFD of 120 μmol m−2 s−1

ΦPPFD≤160 :

apparent quantum yield by the upper limit of PPFD of 160 μmol m−2 s−1

ΦPPFD≤200 :

apparent quantum yield by the upper limit of PPFD of 200 μmol m−2 s−1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology/Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Y. Lang & M. Wang

  2. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Ecological Restoration, Forestry College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, China

    G. C. Zhang & Q. K. Zhao

Authors
  1. Y. Lang
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  2. M. Wang
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  3. G. C. Zhang
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  4. Q. K. Zhao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. C. Zhang.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This study was supported by the China “973” projects (No. 2012CB955404, No. 2012CB416904) and the National Science Foundation of China (No. 30872003). Y. Lang and M. Wang contributed equally to this work.

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Lang, Y., Wang, M., Zhang, G.C. et al. Experimental and simulated light responses of photosynthesis in leaves of three tree species under different soil water conditions. Photosynthetica 51, 370–378 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0036-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0036-z

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