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Growth and photosynthetic response of two larches exposed to O3 mixing ratios ranging from preindustrial to near future

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In this study, we questioned whether ground-level ozone (O3) induces hormesis in Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) and its hybrid F1 (L. gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi). In order to answer the question, we exposed seedlings of both taxa to four O3 treatments [ranging from ≈10 to 60 nmol(O3) mol–1] in open-top chambers for two consecutive growing seasons. We found a hormetic response in maximum photosynthetic rate (PNmax) at 1700 μmol(CO2) mol–1 and maximum rates of carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) in both larches. Stimulation of PNmax, Vcmax, and Jmax did not lead to suppressed plant productivity in Japanese larch, which followed a stress-tolerant strategy, but it did lead to suppressed plant productivity in hybrid larch which followed a competitive strategy. These findings are the first to suggest that stimulation of physiological functions by low O3 exposures may have negative consequences for larch reproduction.

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Abbreviations

CF:

charcoal-filtered air

Chl:

chlorophyll

E :

transpiration rate

g s :

stomatal conductance

GLM:

general linear model

HL:

hybrid larch

HSD:

Tukey’s honest significance difference

JL:

Japanese larch

J max :

maximum electron transport rate

NF:

nonfiltered air

NF40:

NF enriched with O3 to reach 40 nmol mol–1

NF60:

NF enriched with O3 to reach 60 nmol mol–1

NOAEL:

no observed adverse effect level

OTCs:

open-top chambers

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

P Nmax :

maximum photosynthetic rate at 1,700 μmol(CO2) mol–1

RGR:

relative growth rate

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

V cmax :

maximum rate of carboxylation

WUE:

water-use efficiency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Silviculture and Forest Ecological Studies, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8689, Japan

    T. Sugai, D.-G. Kam, E. Agathokleous, M. Watanabe & T. Koike

  2. Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), 7 Hitsujigaoka, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 062-8516, Japan

    E. Agathokleous

  3. Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan

    M. Watanabe

  4. Forestry Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization (HRO), Bibai, Hokkaido, 079-0166, Japan

    K. Kita

Authors
  1. T. Sugai
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  2. D.-G. Kam
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  3. E. Agathokleous
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  4. M. Watanabe
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  5. K. Kita
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  6. T. Koike
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to E. Agathokleous or T. Koike.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This study was supported by a Type B Grant-in-Aid (No. 26292075, to T. Koike) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). E. Agathokleous is a JSPS International Research Fellow (ID No: P17102). JSPS is a nonprofit organization.

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Sugai, T., Kam, DG., Agathokleous, E. et al. Growth and photosynthetic response of two larches exposed to O3 mixing ratios ranging from preindustrial to near future. Photosynthetica 56, 901–910 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0747-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0747-7

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