Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photosynthetic acclimation to long-term high temperature and soil drought stress in two spruce species (Picea crassifolia and P. wilsonii) used for afforestation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Picea crassifolia and P. wilsonii, commonly used for afforestation in northern China, are increasingly likely to be subjected to high temperatures and soil drought stress as a result of global warming. However, little is known about the effects of these stresses on foliar photosynthesis in the two species. To investigate how photosynthetic characteristics and sensitivity respond to prolonged high temperatures and soil drought, foliar gas exchange and other closely related parameters were recorded from four-year-old seedlings of both species. Seedlings were grown under two temperature treatments (25/15 and 35/25 °C) and four soil water regimes [80, 60, 40 and 20% of maximum field capacity (FC)] for 4 months. Although all treatments significantly reduced photosynthetic rates (P n) of both species, P. crassifolia exhibited greater photosynthetic acclimation than P. wilsonii. Differences in photosynthetic acclimation were mainly related to variations in stomatal conductance (Cond) and the maximum quantum yield of PSII (F v/F m) between treatments. Indeed, higher Cond and F v/F m in all treatments were shown for P. crassifolia than for P. wilsonii. Moreover, photosynthesis in P. crassifolia exhibited inherently lower temperature sensitivities (broader span for the temperature response curves; lower b) and higher thermostability (invariable b between treatments). Further, severe drought stress (20% FC) limited the survival of P. wilsonii. Our results indicate that P. wilsonii is more susceptible to high temperatures and soil drought stress. Planting P. crassifolia would be more expected to survive these conditions and hence be of greater benefit to forest stability if predicted increases in drought and temperature in northern China occur.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashraf M, Harris PJC (2013) Photosynthesis under stressful environments: an overview. Photosynthetica 51(2):163–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aspinwall MJ, Drake JE, Campany C, Vårhammar A, Ghannoum O, Tissue DT, Reich PB, Tjoelker MG (2016) Convergent acclimation of leaf photosynthesis and respiration to prevailing ambient temperatures under current and warmer climates in Eucalyptus tereticornis. New Phytol. doi:10.1111/nph.14035

    Google Scholar 

  • Battaglia M, Beadle C, Loughhead S (1996) Photosynthetic temperature responses of Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens. Tree Physiol 16:81–89

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berry J, Björkman O (1980) Photosynthetic response and adaptation to temperature in higher plants. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 31:491–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Day ME (2000) Influence of temperature and leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit on net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in red spruce (Picea rubens). Tree Physiol 20:57–63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drake JE, Aspinwall MJ, Pfautsch S, Rymer PD, Reich PB, Smith RA, Crous K, Tissue DT, Ghannoum O, Tjoelker MG (2015) The capacity to cope with climate warming declines from temperate to tropical latitudes in two widely distributed Eucalyptus species. Global Change Bio 21:459–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans JR (1989) Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants. Oecologia 78:9–19

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farjón A (2001) World checklist and bibliography of conifers. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, p 107

    Google Scholar 

  • Flexas J, Medrano H (2002) Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. Ann Bot 89:183–189

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fu L, Li N, Mill RR (1999) Picea. In: Wu ZY, Raven PH (eds) Flora of China. Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing, pp 25–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Gago J, Coopman RE, Cabrera HM, Hermida C, Molins A, Conesa MA, Galmes J, Ribas-Carbo M, Flexas J (2013) Photosynthesis limitations in three fern species. Physiol Plant 149:599–611

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao DH, Gao Q, Xu HY, Ma F, Zhao CM, Liu JQ (2009) Physiological responses to gradual drought stress in the diploid hybrid Pinus densata and its two parental species. Trees 23:717–728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • German VG, Roberto ACS (2013) Photosynthetic responses to temperature of two tropical rainforest tree species from Costa Rica. Tree 27(5):1261–1270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghannoum O, Way DA (2011) On the role of ecological adaptation and geographic distribution in the response of trees to climate change. Tree Physiol 3:1273–1276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greer DH, Weedon MM (2012) Modelling photosynthetic responses to temperature of grapevine (Vitis vinifera cv. Semillon) leaves on vines grown in a hot climate. Plant Cell Environ 35:1050–1064

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gunderson CA, O’Hara KH, Campion CM, Walker AV, Edwards NT (2010) Thermal plasticity of photosynthesis: the role of acclimation in forest responses to a warming climate. Global Change Biol 16:2272–2286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamerlynck E, Knapp AK (1996) Photosynthetic and stomatal responses to high temperature and light in two oaks at the western limit of their range. Tree Physiol 16:557–565

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Han FZ, Yang BY, Fan GY, Xia WJ, Ma XD (2015) Identification of 11 species of bark beetles and their galleries in natural coniferous forests in Qinghai province. For Pest Dis 34(6):11–16 (Abstract in English)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heroult A, Lin YS, Bourne A, Medlyn BE, Ellsworth DS (2013) Optimal stomatal conductance in relation to photosynthesis in climatically contrasting Eucalyptus species under drought. Plant Cell Environ 36:262–274

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hikosaka K, Shigeno A (2009) The role of Rubisco and cell walls in the interspecific variation in photosynthetic capacity. Oecologia 160:443–451

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hikosaka K, Ishikawa K, Borjigidai A, Muller O, Onoda Y (2006) Temperature acclimation of photosynthesis: mechanisms involved in the changes in temperature dependence of photosynthetic rate. J Exp Bot 57:291–302

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2013) Climate change 2013: the physical science basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p 1535

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroner Y, Way DA (2016) Carbon fluxes acclimate more strongly to elevated growth temperatures than elevated CO2 concentrations in a northern conifer. Global Change Bio 22:2913–2928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Limousin JM, Bickford CP, Dickman LT, Pangle RE, Hudson PJ, Boutz AL, Gehres N, Osuna JL, Pockman WT, McDowell NG (2013) Regulation and acclimation of leaf gas-exchange in a piñon-juniper woodland exposed to three different precipitation regimes. Plant Cell Environ 36:1812–1825

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lin YS, Medlyn BE, Ellsworth DS (2012) Temperature responses of leaf net photosynthesis: the role of component processes. Tree Physiol 32:219–231

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Y (2007) Terrestrial carbon-cycle feedback to climate warming. Annu Rev Ecol Evol S 38:683–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma F, Zhao CM, Milne RI, Ji MF, Chen LT, Liu JQ (2010) Enhanced drought-tolerance in the homoploid hybrid species Pinus densata: implication for its habitat divergence from two progenitors. New Phytol 185:204–216

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mao JF, Wang XR (2011) Distinct niche divergence characterizes the homoploid hybrid speciation of Pinus densata on the Tibetan Plateau. Am Nat 177(4):424–439

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matteo GD, Perini L, Atzori P, Angelis PD, Mei T, Bertini G, Fabbio G, Mugnozza GS (2014) Change in foliar carbon isotope composition and seasonal stomatal conductance reveal adaptive traits in Mediterranean coppices affected by drought. J For Res 25(4):839–845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu S, Li Z, Xia J, Han Y, Wu M, Wan S (2008) Climatic warming changes plant photosynthesis and its temperature dependence in a temperate steppe of northern China. Environ Exp Bot 63:91–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poorter H, Niinemets U, Poorter L, Wright IJ, Villar R (2009) Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis. New Phytol 182:565–588

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy AR, Chaitanya KV, Vivekanandan M (2004) Drought-induced responses of photosynthesis and antioxidant metabolism in higher plants. J Plant Physiol 161:1189–1202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sendall K, Reich PB, Zhao CM, Hou JH, Wei XR, Stefanski A, Rice K, Rich RL, Montgomery RA (2015) Acclimation of photosynthetic temperature optima of temperate and boreal tree species in response to experimental forest warming. Global Change Bio 21:1342–1357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith NG, Dukes JS (2013) Plant respiration and photosynthesis in global-scale models: incorporating acclimation to temperature and CO2. Global Change Biol 19:45–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasseur F, Violle C, Enquist BJ, Granier C, Vile D (2012) A common genetic basis to the origin of the leaf economics spectrum and metabolic scaling allometry. Ecol Lett 15:1149–1157

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Heckathorn SA, Hamilton W, Frantz J (2014) Effects of CO2 on the tolerance of photosynthesis to heat stress can be affected by photosynthetic pathway and nitrogen. Am J Bot 1:34–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Way DA, Oren R (2010) Differential responses to changes in growth temperature between trees from different functional groups and biomes: a review and synthesis of data. Tree Physiol 30:669–688

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Way DA, Sage RF (2008) Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis in black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.]. Plant Cell Environ 31:1250–1262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Way DA, Yamori W (2014) Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis: on the importance of adjusting our definitions and accounting for thermal acclimation of respiration. Photosynth Res 119:89–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamori W, Noguchi K, Hikosaka K, Terashima I (2009) Cold-tolerant crop species have greater temperature homeostasis of leaf respiration and photosynthesis than cold-sensitive Species. Plant Cell Environ 50:203–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Li Q, Ma K, Cheng L (2001) Temperature-dependent gas-exchange and stomatal/non-stomatal limitation to CO2 assimilation of Quercus liaotungensis under mid-day high irradiance. Photosynthetica 39:383–393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Chen JW, Li BG, Cao KF (2009) The effect of drought on photosynthesis in two epiphytic and two terrestrial tropical fern species. Photosynthetica 47(1):128–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XW, Wang JR, Ji MF, Milne RI, Wang MH, Liu JQ, Shi S, Yang SL, Zhao CM (2015) Higher thermal acclimation potential of respiration but not photosynthesis in two alpine Picea taxa in contrast to two lowland congeners. PLoS ONE 10(4):e0123248

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao CM, Chen LT, Ma F, Yao BQ, Liu JQ (2008) Altitudinal differences in the leaf fitness of juvenile and mature alpine spruce trees (Picea crassifolia). Tree Physiol 28:133–141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zou XK, Zhai PM, Zhang Q (2005) Variations in droughts over China: 1951–2003. Geophys Res Lett 32:L04707. doi:10.1029/2004GL021853

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. David Blackwell for correcting the English in the final manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xiaowei Zhang, Litong Chen, Jingru Wang, Minghao Wang & Changming Zhao

  2. College of Forestry Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China

    Xiaowei Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China

    Litong Chen

  4. State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Shuli Yang

Authors
  1. Xiaowei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Litong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jingru Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Minghao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shuli Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Changming Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Changming Zhao.

Additional information

Project funding: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31370603, 31170571 and 31522013) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2016-ct10).

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Hu Yanbo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, X., Chen, L., Wang, J. et al. Photosynthetic acclimation to long-term high temperature and soil drought stress in two spruce species (Picea crassifolia and P. wilsonii) used for afforestation. J. For. Res. 29, 363–372 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0468-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0468-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation