Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comparison of seasonal foliar chlorophyll change among ecotypes and cultivars of Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae) by using nondestructive and destructive methods

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Leaf chlorophyll (Chl) concentration can be an indicator of plant health, including photosynthetic potential and nutrient status. In some cases, this measure can indicate the degree to which plants are water-stressed. Traditional methods of measuring Chl concentration have involved a destructive sampling technique: extraction and spectrophotometric analysis. A compatible nondestructive method to measure leaf Chl concentration exists and applies transmittance spectroscopy to plants with a Minolta SPAD-502 meter. These techniques were evaluated by comparing leaf Chl concentration in big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). Leaves were sampled from plants representing three ecotypes (originating from Central Kansas, Eastern Kansas, and Illinois, USA) and two cultivars of A. gerardii growing in Hays, Kansas, USA. Leaf Chl concentration was measured using nondestructive and destructive techniques. We documented a saturating relationship between destructively measured leaf Chl concentration and SPAD index resulting from a decelerating change in SPAD index as Chl concentration increased. The comparison of A. gerardii ecotypes and cultivars demonstrated highest Chl concentration in the ecotype and cultivar from areas with historically low precipitation, Central Kansas and A. gerardii var. hallii, respectively. A high ratio of Chl a to Chl b is an index of drought adaptation and was also manifested in A. gerardii from drier regions. Thus, drought-adapted ecotypes and cultivars might be able to maintain high photosynthetic productivity and protect photosystem II during dry periods. Conversely, the ecotypes and cultivar originating from areas with higher precipitation had lower leaf Chl and a lower Chl a/b ratio.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

Chl a/b :

ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b concentration

FM:

fresh mass

IL:

Illinois

KS:

Kansas

SPAD:

soil plant analysis development

References

  • Alderson, J., Sharp, W.C.: Grass Varieties in the United States. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Pp. 296. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anand, M.H., Byju, G.: Chlorophyll meter and leaf colour chart to estimate chlorophyll content, leaf colour, and yield of cassava. — Photosynthetica 46: 511–516, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnon, D.I.: Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. — Plant Physiol. 24: 1–15, 1949.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf, M., Ahmad, A., McNeilly, T.: Growth and photosynthetic characteristics in pearl millet under water stress and different potassium supply. — Photosynthetica 39: 389–394, 2001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baerlocher, M.O., Campbell, D.A., Ireland, R.J.: Developmental progression of photosystem II electron transport and CO2 uptake in Spartina alterniflora, a facultative halophyte, in a northern salt marsh. — Can. J. Bot. 82: 365–375, 2004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, S.X., Robison, D.J.: Nondestructive and rapid estimation of hardwood foliar nitrogen status using the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter. — Forest Ecol. Manag. 181: 331–338, 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva, J.M., Arrabaça, M.C.: Photosynthesis in the waterstressed C4 grass Setaria sphacelata is mainly limited by stomata with both rapidly and slowly imposed water deficits. — Physiol. Plantarum 121: 409–420, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estill, K., Delaney, R.H., Smith, W.K., Ditterline, R.L.: Water relations and productivity of alfalfa leaf chlorophyll variants. — Crop Sci. 31: 1229–1233, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García, A.L., Torrecillas, A., León, A., Ruiz-Sánchez, M.C.: Biochemical indicators of the water stress in maize seedlings. — Biol. Plantarum 29: 45–48, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbanli, M., Gafarabad, M., Amirkian, T., Mamaghani, B.A.: Investigation of proline, total protein, chlorophyll, ascorbate and dehydroascorbate changes under drought stress in Akria and Mobil tomato cultivars. — Iran. J. Plant Physiol. 3: 651–658, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gitelson, A.A., Gritz, Y., Merzlyak, M.N.: Relationships between leaf chlorophyll content and spectral reflectance and algorithms for non-destructive chlorophyll assessment in higher plant leaves. — J. Plant Physiol. 160: 271–282, 2003.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Givnish, T.J.: Adaptation to sun and shade: A whole-plant perspective. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 15: 63–92, 1988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goad, R.K.: Response of regional sources of tallgrass prairie species to variation in climate and soil microbial communities. M.S. Thesis, Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, M.M., St. Amand, P., Akhunov, E.D. et al.: Ecotypes of an ecologically dominant grass (Andropogon gerardii) exhibit genetic divergence across the U.S. Midwest environmental gradient. — Mol. Ecol., in press.

  • Hawkins, T.S., Gardiner, E.S., Comer, G.S.: Modeling the relationship between extractable chlorophyll and SPAD-502 readings for endangered plant species research. — J. Nat. Conserv. 17: 123–127, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, B., Duncan, R.R., Carrow, R.N.: Drought-resistance mechanisms of seven warm-season turfgrasses under surface soil drying: I. Shoot response. — Crop Sci. 37: 1858–1863, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishida, A., Toma, T., Matsumoto, Y. et al.: Diurnal changes in leaf gas exchange characteristics in the uppermost canopy of a rain forest tree, Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f. — Tree Physiol. 16: 779–785, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kholová, J., Hash, C.T., Kocová, M., Vadez, V.: Does a terminal drought tolerance QTL contribute to differences in ROS scavenging enzymes and photosynthetic pigments in pearl millet exposed to drought? — Environ. Exp. Bot. 71: 99–106, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, A.K., Gilliam, F.S.: Response of Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae) to fire-induced high vs. low irradiance environments in tallgrass prairie: Leaf structure and photosynthetic pigments. — Amer. J. Bot. 72: 1668–1671, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumagai, E., Araki, T., Kubota, F.: Correlation of chlorophyll meter readings with gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in flag leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants. — Plant. Prod. Sci. 12: 50–53, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, F.F., Qiu, L.F., Deng, J.S. et al.: Investigation of SPAD meter-based indices for estimating rice nitrogen status. — Comput. Electron. Agr. 71: S60–S65, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ling, Q.H., Huang, W.H., Jarvis, P.: Use of a SPAD-502 meter to measure leaf chlorophyll concentration in Arabidopsis thaliana. — Photosynth. Res. 107: 209–214, 2011.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, D.B.: Ecotypes and the controversy over stages in the formation of new species. — Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 106: 241–257, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maricle, B.R.: Changes in chlorophyll content and antioxidant capacity during dark to light transitions in etiolated seedlings: Comparisons of species and units of enzyme activity. — Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 113: 177–190, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markwell, J., Osterman, J.C., Mitchell, J.L.: Calibration of the Minolta SPAD-502 leaf chlorophyll meter. — Photosynth. Res. 46: 467–472, 1995.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, C.: The role of ecotypic variation in the distribution of the central grassland of North America. — Ecol. Monogr. 29: 285–308, 1959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendola, M. L.: Regional-climate and local-microbial controls on ecosystem processes during grassland restoration. M.S. Thesis, Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mielke, M.S., Schaffer, B., Li, C.: Use of a SPAD meter to estimate chlorophyll content in Eugenia uniflora L. leaves as affected by contrasting light environments and soil flooding. — Photosynthetica 48: 332–338, 2010.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monje, O.A., Bugbee, B.: Inherent limitations of nondestructive chlorophyll meters: a comparison of two types of meters. — HortScience 27: 69–71, 1992.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morash, A.J., Campbell, D.A., Ireland, R.J.: Macromolecular dynamics of the photosynthetic system over a seasonal developmental progression in Spartina alterniflora. — Can. J. Bot. 85: 476–483, 2007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulholland, B.J., Craigon, J., Black, C.R. et al.: Impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 and O3 on gas exchange and chlorophyll content in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). — J. Exp. Bot. 48: 1853–1863, 1997.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nayyar, H., Gupta, D.: Differential sensitivity of C3 and C4 plants to water deficit stress: Association with oxidative stress and antioxidants. — Environ. Exp. Bot. 58: 106–113, 2006.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Netto, A.T., Campostrini, E., de Oliveira, J.G., Yamanishi, O.K.: Portable chlorophyll meter for the quantification of photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen and the possible use for assessment of the photochemical process in Carica papaya L. — Braz. J. Plant Physiol. 14: 203–210, 2002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Netto, A.T., Campostrini, E., de Oliveira, J.G., Bressan-Smith, R.E.: Photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen, chlorophyll a fluorescence and SPAD-502 readings in coffee leaves. — Sci. Hortic.-Amsterdam 104: 199–209, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, J.T.: Gas exchange and leaf anatomy of Andropogon gerardii ecotypes over a climatic gradient of the Great Plains. M.S. Thesis, Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University. Hays, KS, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, J.T., Caudle, K.L., Johnson, L.C. et al.: Environmental and genetic variation in leaf anatomy among populations of Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae) along a precipitation gradient. — Am. J. Bot. 100: 1957–1968, 2013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papasavvas, A., Triantafyllidis, V., Zervoudakis, G. et al.: Correlation of SPAD-502 meter readings with physiological parameters and leaf nitrate content in Beta vulgaris. — J. Environ. Prot. Ecol. 9: 351–356, 2008.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parida, A.K., Dagaonkar, V.S., Phalak, M.S., Umalkar, G.V., Aurangabadkar, L.P.: Alterations in photosynthetic pigments, protein and osmotic components in cotton genotypes subjected to short-term drought stress followed by recovery. — Plant Biotechnol. Rep. 1: 37–48, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahbarian, R., Khavari-Nejad, R., Ganjeali, A. et al.: Drought stress effects on photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and water relations in tolerant and susceptible chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes. — Acta Biol. Cracov. Bot. 53: 47–56, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riaz, A., Younis, A., Hameed, M., Kiran, S.: Morphological and biochemical responses of turf grasses to water deficit conditions. — Pak. J. Bot. 42: 3441–3448, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayed, O.H.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool in cereal crop research. — Photosynthetica 41: 321–330, 2003.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shahbaz, M., Iqbal, M., Ashraf, M.: Response of differently adapted populations of blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale Retz.) to water deficit conditions. — J. Appl. Bot. Food Qual. 84: 134–141, 2011.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shelton, J.: Epicuticular wax chemistry, morphology, and physiology in sand bluestem, Andropogon gerardii ssp. hallii, and big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii ssp. gerardii. M.S. Thesis, Division of Biology, Kansas State University. Manhattan, KS, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soares-Cordeiro, A.S., Driscoll, S.P., Arrabaca, M.C., Foyer, C.H.: Dorsoventral variations in dark chilling effects on photosynthesis and stomatal function in Paspalum dilatatum leaves. — J. Exp. Bot. 62: 687–699, 2010.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.H., Ripley, B.S., Woodward, F.I., Osborne, C.P.: Drought limitation of photosynthesis differs between C3 and C4 grass species in a comparative experiment. — Plant Cell Environ. 34: 65–75, 2011.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uddling, J., Gelang-Alfredsson, J., Piikki, K., Pleijel, H.: Evaluating the relationship between leaf chlorophyll concentration and SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings. — Photosynth. Res. 91: 37–46, 2007.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wintermans, J.F.G.M., De Mots, A.: Spectrophotometric characteristics of chlorophylls a and b and their pheophytins in ethanol. — Biochim. Biophys. Acta 109: 448–453, 1965.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, X.Y., Wang, S.M., Zhang, C.L.: Composition and characteristic differences in photosynthetic membranes of two ecotypes of reed (Phragmites communis L.) from different habitats. — Photosynthetica 41: 97–104, 2003.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS, 67601-4099, USA

    K. L. Caudle & B. R. Maricle

  2. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506-4901, USA

    L. C. Johnson

  3. Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, 1025 Lincoln Dr., Life Science II, Rm. 420, MC 6509, Carbondale, IL, 62901-6509, USA

    S. G. Baer

Authors
  1. K. L. Caudle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. C. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. G. Baer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. R. Maricle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. R. Maricle.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This research was funded by the American Society of Plant Biologists and a US-EPA Undergraduate Research Fellowship for K.L. Caudle as well as the United States Department of Food and Agriculture National Research Initiative (Grant No. 2008-35100-04545) for L.C. Johnson, S.G. Baer, and B.R. Maricle. The authors thank B. Betzen, T. Biggs, A. Hatfield, K. Lindsey, N. Martin, C. Smart, and J. Weber for lab assistance.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Caudle, K.L., Johnson, L.C., Baer, S.G. et al. A comparison of seasonal foliar chlorophyll change among ecotypes and cultivars of Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae) by using nondestructive and destructive methods. Photosynthetica 52, 511–518 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0057-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0057-2

Additional key words

Search

Navigation