Abstract
Pitcher plants (Nepenthes sp.) are insectivorous angiosperm plants with modified leaves known as pitchers best known as acting as traps for insects. Pitcher plants are typically found under boggy conditions under both forest cover and open areas with very poor nutrient status, particularly N-status. The pitchers have low photosynthetic activity. The Chl a content of the pitcher tissue of both Nepenthes mirabilis (green and red) varieties was very low. Chl b/a ratios of the green variety phyllodes (lamina) and pitchers were ≈ 0.24 to 0.29. In the red variety, the mature phyllodes had a Chl b/a ratio ≈ 0.28 but both the pitchers and the young phyllodes had Chl b/a ratios of nearly 0.5. Photosynthetic electron transport (ETR) was measured using PAM technology. Phyllodes of both varieties showed photoinhibition at supra-optimal irradiances [Nepenthes mirabilis (green variety), Eopt ≈ 200–250 µmol photon m−2 s−1; red variety, Eopt ≈ 100–150 µmol photon m−2 s−1]. Pitchers had low optimum irradiances (Eopt ≈ 40–90 µmol photon m−2 s−1). Maximum ETR (ETRmax) of phyllodes of both varieties was low (ETRmax ≈ 50 µmol e− g−1 Chl a s−1); ETRmax was higher for pitchers on a Chl a basis (ETRmax ≈ 80–100 µmol e− g−1 Chl a s−1); a consequence of their low Chl a content on a surface area basis. ETRmax of cut disks of phyllodes did not respond strongly to incubation in NH4+, glutamate or aspartate as N-sources but did respond positively to added urea.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Dr Sunya Nuanlaong (Krabi Carnivores, Aoluek, Krabi 81110, Thailand) for identification of the plants. This study of Nepenthes physiology was partially funded by Prince of Songkla University-Phuket, Faculty of Technology and Environment (Chaturong Kongkawn & Jinda Sawattawee, Grant No. 52208). The authors wish to thank the university for access to their facilities. The authors also wish to thank the community at Ban Tha Din Daeng Tourism Community, Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province, Thailand for their help in the project and giving us permission to collect the plants.
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Prince of Songkla University-Phuket, Faculty of Technology and Environment (Chaturong Kongkawn & Jinda Sawattawee) (Grant No. 52208).
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The plants were collected with the approval and co-operation of Ban Tha Din Daeng Tourism Community, from their land in Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province, Thailand. The plant is not a protected or endangered species.
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Ritchie, R.J., Sma-Air, S., Kongkawn, C. et al. Photosynthetic electron transport in pitcher plants (Nepenthes mirabilis). Photosynth Res 155, 147–158 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-022-00987-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-022-00987-8