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Gas-exchange characteristics, leaf water potential and chlorophyll a fluorescence in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings under water stress and recovery

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The gas-exchange characteristics, leaf water potential and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings subjected to water stress and recovery were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. At 24 days after imposition of stress, leaf water potential in water-stressed seedlings was doubled compared to that of control and there was a drastic decline in gas-exchange parameters viz. photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance. Water stress did not irreversibly affect gas-exchange parameters and quantum efficiency of photosystem II, as seedlings exhibited total recovery of photosynthetic apparatus by 12th day of rehydration. These findings indicate that oil palm exhibits physiological plasticity to water stress during the seedling stage.

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Abbreviations

C a :

ambient CO2 concentration

Chl:

chlorophyll

E :

transpiration rate

ETR:

apparent rate of photochemical transport of electrons through PSII

Fm :

maximum fluorescence

Fm’:

maximum fluorescence yield acclimated to irradiation

Fo :

minimal fluorescence

F0’:

initial fluorescence in leaves acclimated to irradiation

Fp :

Chl fluorescence intensity at peak of continuous fluorescence inductive curve

Fs :

steady state fluorescence in leaves acclimated to irradiation

Fv :

variable part of Chl fluorescence

Fv/Fm :

photochemical efficiency of photosytem II

g s :

stomatal conductance

NPQ:

coefficient of non-photochemical quenching of excitation energy

Ndh :

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) dehydrogenase

PAR:

incident photosynthetically active radiation in leaf

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PSI:

photosystem I

PSII:

photosystem II

QA :

quinone A

qL :

coefficient of photochemical quenching

WUE:

water-use efficiency

Ψw :

leaf water potential

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Directorate of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, 534 450, Andhra Pradesh, India

    K. Suresh, C. Nagamani, K. Ramachandrudu & R. K. Mathur

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  1. K. Suresh
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  2. C. Nagamani
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  3. K. Ramachandrudu
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  4. R. K. Mathur
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Correspondence to K. Suresh.

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Suresh, K., Nagamani, C., Ramachandrudu, K. et al. Gas-exchange characteristics, leaf water potential and chlorophyll a fluorescence in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings under water stress and recovery. Photosynthetica 48, 430–436 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-010-0056-x

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