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Low temperature stress modifies the photochemical efficiency of a tropical tree species Hevea brasiliensis: effects of varying concentration of CO2 and photon flux density

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Two clones of Hevea brasiliensis (RRII 105 and PB 235) were grown for one year in two distinct agroclimatic locations (warmer and colder, W and C) in peninsular India. We simultaneously measured gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence on fully mature intact leaves at different photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) and ambient CO2 concentrations (C a) and at constant ambient O2 concentration (21 %). Net photosynthetic rate (P N), apparent quantum yield for CO2 assimilation (Φc), in vivo carboxylation efficiency (CE), and photosystem 2 quantum yield (ΦPS2) were low in plants grown in C climate and these reductions were more predominant in RRII 105 than in PB 235 which was also reflected in their growth. We estimated in these clones the partitioning of photosynthetic electrons between CO2 reduction (JA) and processes other than CO2 reduction (J*) at low and high PPFDs and C a. At high C a (700 µmol mol−1) most of the photosynthetic electrons were used for CO2 assimilation and negligible amount went for other processes when PPFD was low (200–300 µmol m−2 s−1) both in the C and W climates. But at high PPFD (900-1 100 µmol m−2 s−1), J* was appreciably high even at a high C a. Hence at normal ambient C a and high irradiance, electrons can be generated in the photosynthetic apparatus far in excess of what can be safely utilised for photosynthetic CO2 reduction. However, at high C a there was increased diversion of electrons to photosynthetic CO2 reduction which resulted in improved photosynthetic parameters even in plants grown in C climate.

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Abbreviations

a.s.l.:

above sea level

C:

cold

C a :

ambient atmospheric CO2 concentration

CE:

in vivo carboxylation efficiency

C i :

leaf intercellular CO2

F0 :

minimal fluorescence at dark adapted state

F0′:

minimal fluorescence obtained on far-red irradiation immediately after “actinic light” exposure

Fm :

maximal fluorescence at dark adapted state

Fm′:

maximal fluorescence under irradiation

Fv/Fm :

ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence obtained after 20 min dark adaptation of the leaves

Ft :

fluorescence at steady state

Fv′/Fm′:

efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PS2 reaction centre

IRGA:

infra-red gas analysis

JA :

rate of electron flow to CO2 assimilation

JT :

rate of non-cyclic electron flow across PS2

J* :

rate of electron flow to processes other than CO2 reduction

PAM:

pulse amplitude modulated

P max(Ci) :

C i saturated CO2 assimilation rate

Pmax(PPFD) :

PPFD saturated CO2 assimilation rate

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

qN :

non-photochemical quenching

qP :

photochemical quenching

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

VPD:

vapour pressure deficit

W:

warm

Φc :

apparent quantum yield for CO2 assimilation

ΦPS2 :

effective PS2 quantum yield

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology Division, Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam, 686009, India

    B. Alam, D. B. Nair & J. Jacob

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  1. B. Alam
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  2. D. B. Nair
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  3. J. Jacob
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Alam, B., Nair, D.B. & Jacob, J. Low temperature stress modifies the photochemical efficiency of a tropical tree species Hevea brasiliensis: effects of varying concentration of CO2 and photon flux density. Photosynthetica 43, 247–252 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-0040-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-0040-z

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