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Effects of enhanced atmospheric ammonia on photosynthetic characteristics of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars with various nitrogen supply across long-term growth period and their diurnal change patterns

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

We investigated the effect of enhanced atmospheric ammonia (NH3) in combination with low and high nitrogen (LN and HN, respectively) growth medium on photosynthetic characteristics of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (NE5 with high- and SD19 with low N-use efficiency) across long-term growth period and their diurnal change patterns exposed to 10 nl l−1 and 1,000 nl l−1 NH3 fumigation in open-top chambers (OTCs). Regardless of the level of N in medium, increased NH3 concentration promoted maximum net photosynthetic rate (P max) and apparent quantum yield (AQY) of both cultivars at earlier growth stages, but inhibited P max of NE5 from silking to maturity stage and that of SD19 at maturity stage only above the ambient concentration. Greater positive/less negative responses were predominant in the LN than in the HN treatment, especially for SD19. Dark respiration rate (R D) remained more enhanced in the LN than in the HN treatment for SD19 as well as increased in the LN while decreased in the HN treatment for NE5 at their silking stage, following exposure to elevated NH3 concentration. Additionally, enhanced atmospheric NH3 increased net photosynthetic rate (P N) and stomatal conductance (g s) but reduced intercellular CO2 concentration (C i) of both cultivars with either the LN or HN treatment during the diurnal period at tasseling stage. The diurnal change patterns of P N and g s showed bimodal curve type and those of C i presented single W-curve type for NE5, when NH3 concentration was enhanced. As for SD19, single-peak curve type was showed for both P N and g s while single V-curve type for C i. All results supported the hypothesis that appropriately enhanced atmospheric NH3 can increase assimilation of CO2 by improving photosynthesis of maize plant, especially at earlier growth stages and after photosynthetic “noon-break” point. These impacts of elevated NH3 concentration were more beneficial for SD19 as compared to those for NE5, especially in the LN supply environment.

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Abbreviations

AQY:

apparent quantum yield

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

g s :

stomatal conductance

HN:

high nitrogen

LN:

low nitrogen

OTCs:

open-top chambers

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

P max :

net maximum photosynthetic rate

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

R D :

dark respiration rate

RH:

relative humidity

Rubisco:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

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Acknowledgements

This work was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30571116), the National Basic Research Program of China (2009CB118604), Governmental public industry research special funds (200803030), China

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China

    L. X. Zhang & S. Q. Li

  2. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A & F University and Chinese Academy of Sciences, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China

    L. X. Zhang, H. Qiang, S. Q. Li & X. L. Chen

  3. College of Resource and Environment, Northwest A & F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, P. R. China

    H. Qiang, S. Q. Li & X. L. Chen

Authors
  1. L. X. Zhang
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  2. H. Qiang
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  3. S. Q. Li
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  4. X. L. Chen
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Correspondence to S. Q. Li.

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Postdoctoral Science Foundation and Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (QN2009069).

L.-X. Zhang and H. Qiang contributed to this work equally.

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Zhang, L.X., Qiang, H., Li, S.Q. et al. Effects of enhanced atmospheric ammonia on photosynthetic characteristics of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars with various nitrogen supply across long-term growth period and their diurnal change patterns. Photosynthetica 48, 389–399 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-010-0051-2

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