Abstract
Single leaf photosynthetic characteristics of Alnus glutinosa, A. incana, A. rubra, Elaeagnus angustifolia, and E. umbellata seedlings conditioned to ambient sunlight in a glasshouse were assessed. Light saturation occurred between 930 and 1400 μmol m-2s-1 PAR for all species. Maximum rates of net photosynthesis (Pn) measured at 25°C ranged from 12.8 to 17.3 μmol CO2m-2s-1 and rates of dark respiration ranged from 0.74 to 0.95 μmol CO2m-2s-1. These values of leaf photosynthetic variables are typical of early to midsuccessional species. The rate of Pn measured at optimal temperature (20°C) and 530μmol m-2s-1 PAR was significantly (p<0.01) correlated with leaf nitrogen concentration (r=0.69) and negatively correlated with the mean area of a leaf (r=−0.64). We suggest that the high leaf nitrogen concentration and rate of Pn observed for Elaeagnus umbellata and to a lesser degree for E. angustifolia are genetic adaptations related to their crown architecture.
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Abbreviations
- Pn:
-
net photosynthesis
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Côté, B., Carlson, R.W. & Dawson, J.O. Leaf photosynthetic characteristics of seedlings of actinorhizal Alnus spp. and Elaeagnus spp.. Photosynth Res 16, 211–218 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028840
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028840