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Growth and physiological responses of Picea asperata seedlings to elevated temperature and to nitrogen fertilization

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Abstract

Picea asperata is a dominant species in the subalpine coniferous forests distributed in eastern edges of Tibetan Plateau and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The paper mainly identified the short-term influences of experimental warming, nitrogen fertilization, and their combination on growth and physiological performances of Picea asperata seedlings. These seedlings were subjected to two levels of temperature (ambient; infrared heater warming) and two nitrogen levels (0; 25 g m−2 a−1 N) for 6 months. We used a free air temperature increase of overhead infrared heater to raise both air and soil temperature by 2.1 and 2.6°C, respectively. The temperature increment induced an obvious enhancement in biomass accumulation and the maximum net photosynthetic rate, and decreased AOS and MDA level under ambient nitrogen conditions. Whereas, negative effects of experimental warming on growth and physiology was observed under nitrogen fertilization condition. On the other hand, nitrogen fertilization significantly improved plant growth in unwarmed plots, by stimulating total biomass, maximum net photosynthetic rate (A max), antioxidant compounds, as well as reducing the content of AOS and MDA. However, in warmed plots, nitrogen addition clearly decreased A max, antioxidant compounds, and induced higher accumulation of AOS and MDA. Obviously, the beneficial effects of sole nitrogen on growth and physiology of Picea asperata seedlings could not be magnified by artificial warming.

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Abbreviations

AOS:

Active oxygen species

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

ASA:

Ascorbic acid

CAT:

Catalase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

LMR:

Leaf mass ratio

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MSI:

Membrane stability index

O2 − :

Superoxide radical

POD:

Peroxidase

RMR:

Root mass ratio

SMR:

Stem mass ratio

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

UF:

Unwarmed fertilized

UU:

Unwarmed unfertilized

WF:

Warmed fertilized

WU:

Warmed unfertilized

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30530630), the Talent Plan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and “Knowledge Innovation Engineering” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Maoxian Ecological Station, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecological Restoration and Rehabilitation Center, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Chunzhang Zhao & Qing Liu

  2. Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People’s Republic China

    Chunzhang Zhao

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  1. Chunzhang Zhao
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  2. Qing Liu
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Correspondence to Qing Liu.

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Communicated by J. Zwiazek.

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Zhao, C., Liu, Q. Growth and physiological responses of Picea asperata seedlings to elevated temperature and to nitrogen fertilization. Acta Physiol Plant 31, 163–173 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0217-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0217-8

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