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Selenium improves photosynthesis and protects photosystem II in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), grape (Vitis vinifera), and peach (Prunus persica)

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The effects of selenium on photosynthesis and Chl fluorescence in pear, grape, and peach were analyzed. The foliar spray of amino acid-chelated selenium solution was performed soon after fruit setting, totally six times, with an interval of ten days. After seven days from the last spray, the leaves in the middle of shoots were examined. Foliar spray of selenium increased the net photosynthetic rate in pear, grape, and peach. In contrast, the treatment decreased stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and substomatal CO2 concentration in all the three species. The selenium treatment improved the maximum quantum yield of PSII, effective quantum yield of PSII, and photochemical quenching in all three species. Conversely, the selenium treatment reduced nonphotochemical quenching in all three species. We suggested that selenium can improve photosynthesis and protect PSII in fruit crops.

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Abbreviations

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

E :

transpiration rate

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

g s :

stomatal conductance

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

qP :

photochemical quenching coefficient

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Horticulture and Landscape, Tianjin Agricultural University, Xiqing, 300384, Tianjin, China

    T. Feng, S. S. Chen, D. Q. Gao, G. Q. Liu, H. X. Bai, A. Li, L. X. Peng & Z. Y. Ren

Authors
  1. T. Feng
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  2. S. S. Chen
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  3. D. Q. Gao
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  4. G. Q. Liu
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  5. H. X. Bai
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  6. A. Li
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  7. L. X. Peng
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  8. Z. Y. Ren
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Feng.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This study was financially supported by Tianjin Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology (14JCYBJC30100), by Tianjin City College Science & Technology Fund Planning Project (20130617), by Technology Innovation Fund Project of Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Oriented Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (14ZXCXNC00063), by Tianjin City University Funding Scheme for Outstanding Young Teachers, by Tianjin 2014 annual ‘131’ Innovative Talent Training Program Fund, and by Tianjin University Discipline Army Personnel Development Program [Tianjin Commission People Development (2013) No. 12], by 2014 China National University Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project (201410061007). We thank Wang Haibo, professor at Research Institute of Pomology, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, for kindly gifting the selenium reagent.

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Feng, T., Chen, S.S., Gao, D.Q. et al. Selenium improves photosynthesis and protects photosystem II in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), grape (Vitis vinifera), and peach (Prunus persica). Photosynthetica 53, 609–612 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0118-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0118-1

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