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Changes in photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and antioxidant enzymes of mulberry (Morus ssp.) in response to salinity and high-temperature stress

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Abstract

Photosynthesis, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and antioxidant enzymes were measured in the mulberry (Morus spp.) cultivars Da 10, Hongguo 2, Anza 1, and Taiwan 72C002, which were subjected to salinity and high-temperature stress (STS; 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% NaCl concentrations, 34.5°C–40.5°C/27.8°C–29.2°C day/night temperatures). Control plants were watered with 1 L of full-strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution with no added NaCl. Net photosynthetic rate (P N), stomatal conductance (g s), and effective quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (ΦPSII) increased in Anza 1 and Taiwan 72C002 under 0.1% STS but decreased in Da 10 and Hongguo 2 compared with the control. However, all the above parameters, including Chl content, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (Fv/Fm), nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), and maximum carboxylation velocity of Rubisco (V cmax, decreased in Taiwan 72C002, Honggua 2, and Da 10 under 0.3% and 0.5% STS, suggesting that photoinhibition occurred under severe STS. Under STS, there were no significant changes in P N, Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase activity, superoxide anion radical (O −2 ) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, soluble sugar content (SSC), and leaf biomass in Anza 1 even at 0.5% STS, showing that Anza 1 displays high resistance to STS. In addition, peroxidase activity was significantly higher in Anza 1 than in the other mulberry cultivars. Significant adverse effects of severe salinity on photosynthesis and Chl fluorescence parameters were observed in Da 10. Additionally, SOD, peroxidase, and APX activities were lower in Da 10, whereas O −2 and MDA contents were higher in comparison with the other mulberry cultivars under 0.3% and 0.5% STS, suggesting that Da 10 had low resistance to STS. These results show that 0.1% STS had a positive effect on photosynthesis and Chl fluorescence parameters in Anza 1 and Taiwan 72C002, and higher peroxidase activity can to a certain extent explain the higher STS tolerance in Anza 1. Damages to DSM photosystems might be related to lower SOD, POD, and APX activities, which resulted in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

AQY:

apparent quantum yield

C a :

atmospheric CO2 concentration

CE:

carboxylation efficiency

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

Chl:

chlorophyll

E :

transpiration rate

F0 :

minimum fluorescence level

Fm :

maximum fluorescence level

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry

FS :

steady-state yield of PSII fluorescence in the light

g s :

stomatal conductance

Ls :

stomatal limitation value

MDA:

malondialdehyde

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching

O −2 :

superoxide anion radical

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PPBS:

potassium phosphate buffer solution

PSII:

photosystem II

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry

qp :

photochemical quenching coefficient

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

SSC:

soluble sugar content

STS:

salinity and high-temperature stress

V cmax :

maximum carboxylation velocity of Rubisco

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Crops Institute of Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 430064, Wuhan, China

    Cui Yu, Xingming Hu, Wen Deng, Chao Xiong, Chuhua Ye, Yong Li & Bo Peng

  2. College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China

    Shujun Huang

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  1. Cui Yu
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Correspondence to Xingming Hu.

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Yu, C., Huang, S., Hu, X. et al. Changes in photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and antioxidant enzymes of mulberry (Morus ssp.) in response to salinity and high-temperature stress. Biologia 68, 404–413 (2013). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-013-0167-5

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