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Diurnal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Fritillaria cirrhosa and F. delavayi under field conditions

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

To determine what factors limit the growth of wild Fritillaria cirrhosa and Fritillaria delavayi in field conditions, we investigated diurnal changes of the net photosynthetic rate (P N) and the correlation between P N and various environmental factors. Parameters of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence were evaluated to test whether ecological fragility caused the extinction of wild F. cirrhosa and F. delavayi. Our study reveals for the first time that F. cirrhosa and F. delavayi did not encounter significant stress under field conditions. A small reduction in maximum photochemical efficiency was observed under high irradiance. The maximum P N of F. cirrhosa was 30 % higher than F. delavayi (p<0.05), and a similar difference was observed for apparent quantum yield (27.3 %, p<0.01). F. delavayi was better adapted to a wide range of irradiances and high environmental temperature. Correlation between P N and environmental factors (without considering the effects of interactions among environmental factors on P N) using leaves of F. cirrhosa revealed that the three primary influencing factors were air pressure (p<0.01), relative humidity (p<0.01), and soil temperature (p<0.05). In F. delavayi, the influencing factors were relative humidity (p<0.01), soil temperature (p<0.05), CO2 concentration (p<0.05), and air pressure (p<0.05). Path analysis (considering effects among environmental factors on P N) showed that air temperature (negative correlation), photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and relative humidity were the three primary limiting factors influencing the growth of F. cirrhosa. For this species, relative humidity reacted indirectly with air pressure, which was reported singularly in other species. Limiting growth factors for F. delavayi were PPFD, air pressure (negative correlation), soil temperature (negative correlation) and air temperature (negative correlation).

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Abbreviations

AQY:

apparent quantum yield

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

Chl:

chlorophyll

E :

transpiration rate

ETR:

electron transport rate

F0 :

initial

Fv :

variable

Fm :

maximum chlorophyll fluorescence

g s :

stomatal conductance

LCP:

light compensated point

LSP:

light saturated point

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

qP :

photochemical quenching

R D :

dark respiration

Tair :

air temperature

Tsoil :

soil temperature

VPD:

vapour pressure deficit

WUE:

water use efficiency

ΦPSII :

quantum yield of PSII

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  1. Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, P.R. China

    Xi-Wen Li & Shi-Lin Chen

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  1. Xi-Wen Li
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  2. Shi-Lin Chen
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Correspondence to Shi-Lin Chen.

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Li, XW., Chen, SL. Diurnal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Fritillaria cirrhosa and F. delavayi under field conditions. Photosynthetica 47, 191–198 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0032-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0032-5

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