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Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Australian carnivorous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis Labill. produces two types of leaves. During the spring time, the plant produces a foliage type of noncarnivorous leaf called lamina. Later, the second type of leaf is produced — carnivorous pitcher. Using simultaneous measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence photosynthetic efficiency of these two distinct forms of leaves were compared. In addition stomatal density, an important component of gas exchange, and Chl concentration were also determined. Pitcher trap had lower net photosynthetic rate (P N) in comparison to noncarnivorous lamina, whereas the rate of respiration (R D) was not significantly different. This was in accordance with lower stomatal density and Chl concentration in the pitcher trap. On the other hand maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII (ΦPSII) was not significantly different. Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) was significantly higher in the lamina at higher irradiance. These data are in accordance with hypothesis that changing the leaf shape in carnivorous plants to make it a better trap generally makes it less efficient at photosynthesis. However, the pitcher of Cephalotus had much higher P N than it was expected from the data set of the genus Nepenthes. Because it is not possible to optimize for contrasting function such as photosynthesis and carnivory, it is hypothesized that Cephalotus pitchers are less elaborated for carnivorous function than the pitchers of Nepenthes.

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Abbreviations

F0 :

minimal fluorescence in dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence in dark-adapted state

F′m :

maximal fluorescence in light-adapted state

Fv :

variable fluorescence

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII

g s :

stomatal conductance

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

PAR:

photosynthetic active radiation

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

P Nmax :

maximal net rate of photosynthesis at saturating irradiance

R D :

rate of respiration

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant VEGA 1/0040/09.

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Pavlovič, A. Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis . Photosynthetica 49, 253–258 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-011-0032-0

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