Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and photosynthetic responses in Jatropha curcas L. seedlings of different provenances to watering regimes

  • Original papers
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Seedlings from four provenances of Jatropha curcas were subjected to 80, 50, and 30% of soil field capacity in potted experiments in order to study their responses to water availability. Our results showed that with the decline of soil water availability, plant growth, biomass accumulation, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E) decreased, whereas leaf carbon isotope composition (δ13C), leaf pigment contents, and stomatal limitation value increased, while maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry was not affected. Our findings proved that stomatal limitation to photosynthesis dominated in J. curcas under low water availability. The increase of δ13C should be attributed to the decrease in gs and E under the lowest water supply. J. curcas could adapt to low water availability by adjusting its plant size, stomata closure, reduction of E, increasing δ13C, and leaf pigment contents. Moreover, effects of provenance and the interaction with the watering regime were detected in growth and many physiological parameters. The provenance from xeric habitats showed stronger plasticity in the plant size than that from other provenances under drought. The variations may be used as criteria for variety/provenance selection and improvement of J. curcas performance.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Ca:

ambient chamber CO2 concentration

Car:

carotenoids

Chl:

chlorophyll

Ci:

intercellular CO2 concentration

E :

transpiration rate

FC:

soil field capacity

FM:

fresh mass

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

g s :

stomatal conductance

Ls :

stomatal limitation value

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

Rs :

root/shoot ratio

WUE:

water-use efficiency

δ13C:

carbon isotope composition

References

  • Achten W.M.J., Maes W.H., Reubens B. et al.: Biomass production and allocation in Jatropha curcas L. seedlings under different levels of drought stress.–Biomass Bioenerg. 34: 667–676, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Achten W.M.J., Verchot L., Franken Y.J. et al.: Jatropha biodiesel production and use.–Biomass Bioenerg. 32: 1063–1084, 2008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomé J., Mabiala A., Savelli B. et al.: Genetic architecture of carbon isotope composition and growth in Eucalyptus across multiple environments.–New Phytol. 206: 1437–1449, 2015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berry J.A., Downton W.J.S.: Environmental regulation of photosynthesis.–In: Govindjee (ed.): Photosynthesis: Development, Carbon Metabolism, and Plant Productivity. Vol. II. Pp. 263–343. Academic Press, New York 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer J.S.: Plant productivity and environment.–Science 218: 443–448, 1982.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costa J.M., Ortuño M.F., Lopes C.M. et al.: Grapevine varieties exhibiting differences in stomatal response to water deficits.–Funct. Plant Biol. 39: 179–189, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-López L., Gimeno V., Simón I. et al.: Jatropha curcas seedlings show a water conservation strategy under drought conditions based on decreasing leaf growth and stomatal conductance.–Agr. Water Manage. 105: 48–56, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dichio B., Montanaro G., Sofo A., Xiloyannis C.: Stem and whole-plant hydraulics in olive (Olea europaea) and kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa).–Trees-Struct. Funct. 27: 183–191, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Divakara B.N., Upadhyaya H.D., Wani S.P., Gowda C.L.L.: Biology and genetic improvement of Jatropha curcas L.: a review.–Appl. Energ. 87: 732–742, 2010.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fairless D.: Biofuel: the little shrub that could-maybe.–Nature 449: 652–655, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar G., Richards R.: Isotopic composition of plant carbon correlates with water-use efficiency of wheat genotypes.–Funct. Plant Biol. 11: 539–552, 1984.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fini A., Bellasio C., Pollastri S. et al.: Water relations, growth, and leaf gas exchange as affected by water stress in Jatropha curcas.–J. Arid Environ. 89: 21–29, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galmés J., Medrano H., Flexas J.: Photosynthetic limitations in response to water stress and recovery in Mediterranean plants with different growth forms.–New Phytol. 175: 81–93, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inskeep W.P., Bloom P.R.: Extinction coefficients of chlorophyll a and b in N,N-dimethylformamide and 80% acetone.–Plant Physiol. 77: 483–485, 1985.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang H.M., Yang J.C., Zhang J.F.: Effects of external phosphorus on the cell ultrastructure and the chlorophyll content of maize under cadmium and zinc stress.–Environ. Pollut. 147: 750–756, 2007.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jongschaap R.E.E., Blesgraaf R.A.R., Bogaard T.A. et al.: The water footprint of bioenergy from Jatropha curcas L.–P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: E92, 2009. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0907272106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kheira A.A.A., Atta N.M.M.: Response of Jatropha curcas L. to water deficit: Yield, water use efficiency and oilseed characteristics.–Biomass Bioenerg. 33: 1343–1350, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A., Sharma S.: An evaluation of multipurpose oil seed crop for industrial uses (Jatropha curcas L.): A review.–Ind. Crop. Prod. 28: 1–10, 2008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar G., Biswarup S., Lin C.: Pretreatment and hydrolysis methods for recovery of fermentable sugars from de-oiled Jatropha waste.–Bioresource Technol. 145: 275–279, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li C., Berninger F., Koskela J., Sonninen E.: Drought responses of Eucalyptus microtheca provenances depend on seasonality of rainfall in their place of origin.–Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 27: 231–238, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler H.K., Wellburn A.R.: Determinations of total carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b of leaf extracts in different solvents.–Biochem. Soc. Trans. 11: 591–592, 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maes W.H., Achten W.M.J., Muys B.: Use of inadequate data and methodological errors lead to an overestimation of the water footprint of Jatropha curcas.–P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: E91, 2009a. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0906788106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maes W.H., Achten W.M.J., Reubens B. et al.: Plant-water relationships and growth strategies of Jatropha curcas L. saplings under different levels of drought stress.–J. Arid Environ. 73: 877–884, 2009b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maes W.H., Trabucco A., Achten W.M.J., Muys B.: Climatic growing conditions of Jatropha curcas L.–Biomass Bioenerg. 33: 1481–1485, 2009c.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell K., Johnson G.N.: Chlorophyll fluorescence–a practical guide.–J. Exp. Bot. 51: 659–668, 2000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ovando-Medina I., Sánchez-Gutiérrez A., Adriano-Anaya L. et al.: Genetic diversity in Jatropha curcas populations in the state of Chiapas, Mexico.–Diversity 3: 641–659, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popluechai S., Breviario D., Mulpuri S. et al.: Narrow genetic and apparent phenetic diversity in Jatropha curcas: initial success with generating low phorbol ester interspecific hybrids.–Nat. Preced. hdl:10101/npre.2009.2782.1, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajaona A.M., Brueck H., Seckinger C., Asch F.: Effect of salinity on canopy water vapor conductance of young and 3-year-old Jatropha curcas L.–J. Arid Environ. 87: 35–41, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao G.R., Korwar G.R., Shanker A.K., Ramkrishna Y.S.: Genetic associations, variability and diversity in seed characters, growth, reproductive phenology and yield in Jatropha curcas (L.) accessions.–Trees-Struct. Funct. 22: 697–709, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenqvist E., van Kooten O.: Chlorophyll fluorescence: a general description and nomenclature.–In: De Ell J.R., Toivonen P.M.A. (ed.): Practical Applications of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Plant Biology. Pp. 31–78. Kluwer Acad. Publ., Dordrecht 2003.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Samsuri A., Zoveidavianpoor M.: Does the maturity of Jatropha curcas L. affect the quality and quantity of the yield of oil for biodiesel production?–Int. J. Green Energy 11: 193–205, 2014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sapeta H., Costa J.M., Lourenço T. et al.: Drought stress response in Jatropha curcas: Growth and physiology.–Environ. Exp. Bot. 85: 76–84, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trabucco A., Achten W.M.J., Bowe C. et al.: Global mapping of Jatropha curcas yield based on response of fitness to present and future climate.–GCB-Bioenergy 2: 139–151, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varone L., Ribas-Carbo M., Cardona C. et al.: Stomatal and nonstomatal limitations to photosynthesis in seedlings and saplings of Mediterranean species pre-conditioned and aged in nurseries: Different response to water stress.–Environ. Exp. Bot. 75: 235–247, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye M., Li C., Francis G., Makkar H.P.S.: Current situation and prospects of Jatropha curcas as a multipurpose tree in China.–Agroforest Syst. 76: 487–497, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin C., Pang X., Chen K. et al.: The water adaptability of Jatropha curcas is modulated by soil nitrogen availability.–Biomass Bioenerg. 47: 71–81, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin C., Pang X., Chen K.: The effects of water, nutrient availability and their interaction on the growth, morphology and physiology of two poplar species.–Environ. Exp. Bot. 67: 196–203, 2009a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin C., Pang X., Lei Y.: Populus from high altitude has more efficient protective mechanisms under water stress than from low-altitude habitats: A study in greenhouse for cuttings.–Physiol. Plantarum 137: 22–35, 2009b.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, China

    C. Y. Yin & X. Y. Pang

  2. ADP International Plant Science Consulting, Talstrasse 8, Gundelfingen-Wildtal, 79194, Germany

    A. D. Peuke

  3. Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, New York, PA, 16802, USA

    X. Wang

  4. College of Life Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan Provence, 621010, China

    K. Chen

  5. Horticulture College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, Sichuan Province, 625014, China

    R. G. Gong

Authors
  1. C. Y. Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. X. Y. Pang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. D. Peuke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. X. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. K. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. G. Gong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Y. Yin.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Infrastructure Program (No. 2007 BAD50B01). The authors thank Lee Goldsmith from Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA, for language improving. We would like to thank Dr. Helena Synková and Ing. Ivana Štetinová for their technical assistance, and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yin, C.Y., Pang, X.Y., Peuke, A.D. et al. Growth and photosynthetic responses in Jatropha curcas L. seedlings of different provenances to watering regimes. Photosynthetica 54, 367–373 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0201-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0201-2

Additional key words

Search

Navigation