Light Compensation Point (light + compensation_point)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Life Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Seasonal Variation and Correlation with Environmental Factors of Photosynthesis and Water Use Efficiency of Juglans regia and Ziziphus jujuba

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Hai-Bo Yang
Abstract Both the photosynthetic light curves and CO2 curves of Juglans regia L. and Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa in three seasons were measured using a LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system. The maximal net photosynthetic rate (Amax), apparent quantum efficiency(,), maximal carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and water use efficiency (WUE) of the two species were calculated based on the curves. The results showed that Amax of J. regia reached its maximum at the late-season, while the highest values of Amax of Z. jujuba occurred at the mid-season. The Amax of J. regia was more affected by relative humidity (RH) of the atmosphere, while that of Z. jujuba was more affected by the air temperature. Light saturation point (LSP) and Light compensation point (LCP) of J. regia had a higher correlation with RH of the atmosphere, those of Z. jujuba, however, had a higher correlation with air temperature. Vcmax of both J. regia and Z. jujuba had negative correlation with RH of the atmosphere. WUE of J. regia would decrease with the rise of the air temperature while that of Z. jujuba increased. Thus it could be seen that RH, temperature and soil moisture had main effect on photosynthesis and WUE of J. regia and Z. jujuba. Incorporating data on the physiological differences among tree species into forest carbon models will greatly improve our ability to predict alterations to the forest carbon budgets under various environmental scenarios such as global climate change, or with differing species composition. [source]


Trade-offs in low-light CO2 exchange: a component of variation in shade tolerance among cold temperate tree seedlings

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
M. B. Walters
Abstract 1.,Does enhanced whole-plant CO2 exchange in moderately low to high light occur at the cost of greater CO2 loss rates at very-low light levels? We examined this question for first-year seedlings of intolerant Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera, intermediate Betula alleghaniensis, and tolerant Ostrya virginiana and Acer saccharum grown in moderately low (7·3% of open-sky) and low (2·8%) light. We predicted that, compared with shade-tolerant species, intolerant species would have characteristics leading to greater whole-plant CO2 exchange rates in moderately low to high light levels, and to higher CO2 loss rates at very-low light levels. 2.,Compared with shade-tolerant A. saccharum, less-tolerant species grown in both light treatments had greater mass-based photosynthetic rates, leaf, stem and root respiration rates, leaf mass:plant mass ratios and leaf area:leaf mass ratios, and similar whole-plant light compensation points and leaf-based quantum yields. 3.,Whole-plant CO2 exchange responses to light (0·3,600 µmol quanta m,2 s,1) indicated that intolerant species had more positive CO2 exchange rates at all but very-low light (< 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1). In contrast, although tolerant A. saccharum had a net CO2 exchange disadvantage at light > 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1, its lower respiration resulted in lower CO2 losses than other species at light < 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1. 4.,Growth scaled closely with whole-plant CO2 exchange characteristics and especially with integrated whole-plant photosynthesis (i.e. leaf mass ratio × in situ leaf photosynthesis). In contrast, growth scaled poorly with leaf-level quantum yield, light compensation point, and light-saturated photosynthetic rate. 5.,Collectively these patterns indicated that: (a) no species was able to both minimize CO2 loss at very-low light (i.e. < 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1) and maximize CO2 gain at higher light (i.e. > 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1), because whole-plant respiration rates were positively associated with whole-plant photosynthesis at higher light; (b) shade-intolerant species possess traits that maximize whole-plant CO2 exchange (and thus growth) in moderately low to high light levels, but these traits may lead to long-term growth and survival disadvantages in very-low light (< 2·8%) owing, in part, to high respiration. In contrast, shade-tolerant species may minimize CO2 losses in very-low light at the expense of maximizing CO2 gain potential at higher light levels, but to the possible benefit of long-term survival in low light. [source]


Photosynthesis light curves: a method for screening water deficit resistance in the model legume Medicago truncatula

ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
C. Nunes
Abstract The photosynthetic performance of two transgenic Medicago truncatula lines engineered for water deficit (WD) resistance and a non-transformed line was assessed in a growth chamber experiment in well-watered, WD and stress recovery conditions. Direct gas exchange measurements showed that the transgenic plants had lower photosynthetic rates under well-hydrated conditions when compared to the non-transformed line. Photosynthesis light curves confirmed this difference but more importantly showed a progressive change in photosynthetic behaviour with intensity of dehydration. Dehydration led to sharp decreases of maximum photosynthesis (Amax), photosynthetic apparent quantum yield (,) and apparent light compensation point. The recovery rates showed that all plant lines had a similar capacity to regain control photosynthetic values. Furthermore, results suggested that light was more limiting for photosynthesis than atmospheric CO2 concentration. The results are discussed in terms of the use of photosynthesis light response curves as a non-destructive and expeditious approach to select M. truncatula transformants with improved WD resistance. [source]


Variation in ecophysiology and carbon economy of invasive and native woody vines of riparian zones in south-eastern Queensland

AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2010
OLUSEGUN O. OSUNKOYA
Abstract Exotic and invasive woody vines are major environmental weeds of riparian areas, rainforest communities and remnant natural vegetation in coastal eastern Australia, where they smother standing vegetation, including large trees, and cause canopy collapse. We investigated, through glasshouse resource manipulative experiments, the ecophysiological traits that might facilitate faster growth, better resource acquisition and/or utilization and thus dominance of four exotic and invasive vines of South East Queensland, Australia, compared with their native counterparts. Relative growth rate was not significantly different between the two groups but water use efficiency (WUE) was higher in the native species while the converse was observed for light use efficiency (quantum efficiency, AQE) and maximum photosynthesis on a mass basis (). The invasive species, as a group, also exhibited higher respiration load, higher light compensation point and higher specific leaf area. There were stronger correlations of leaf traits and greater structural (but not physiological) plasticity in invasive species than in their native counterparts. The scaling coefficients of resource use efficiencies (WUE, AQE and respiration efficiency) as well as those of fitness (biomass accumulated) versus many of the performance traits examined did not differ between the two species-origin groups, but there were indications of significant shifts in elevation (intercept values) and shifts along common slopes in many of these relationships , signalling differences in carbon economy (revenue returned per unit energy invested) and/or resource usage. Using ordination and based on 14 ecophysiological attributes, a fair level of separation between the two groups was achieved (51.5% explanatory power), with AQE, light compensation point, respiration load, WUE, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio, in decreasing order, being the main drivers. This study suggests similarity in trait plasticity, especially for physiological traits, but there appear to be fundamental differences in carbon economy and resource conservation between native and invasive vine species. [source]


Colonization Strategies of Two Liana Species in a Tropical Dry Forest Canopy

BIOTROPICA, Issue 3 2007
Gerardo Avalos
ABSTRACT Lianas impose intense resource competition for light in the upper forest canopy by displaying dense foliage on top of tree crowns. Using repeated access with a construction crane, we studied the patterns of canopy colonization of the lianas Combretum fruticosum and Bonamia trichantha in a Neotropical dry forest in Panama. Combretum fruticosum flushed leaves just before the rainy season, and its standing leaf area quickly reached a peak in the early rainy season (May,June). In contrast, B. trichantha built up foliage area continuously throughout the rainy season and reached a peak in the late rainy season (November). Both species displayed the majority of leaves in full sun on the canopy surface, but C. fruticosum displayed a greater proportion of leaves (26%) in more shaded microsites than B. trichantha (12%). Self-shading within patches of liana leaves within the uppermost 40,50 cm of the canopy reduced light levels measured with photodiodes placed directly on leaves to 4,9 percent of light levels received by sun leaves. Many leaves of C. fruticosum acclimated to shade within a month following the strongly synchronized leaf flushing and persisted in deep shade. In contrast, B. trichantha produced short-lived leaves opportunistically in the sunniest locations. Species differences in degree of shade acclimation were also evident in terms of structural (leaf mass per area, and leaf toughness) and physiological characters (nitrogen content, leaf life span, and light compensation point). Contrasting leaf phenologies reflect differences in light exploitation and canopy colonization strategies of these two liana species. RESUMEN Las lianas imponen una competencia intensa por la luz en el dosel superior al desplegar un denso follaje encima de las copas de los árboles. Usando acceso repetido al dosel a través de una grúa de construcción, estudiamos los patrones de colonización del dosel de las lianas Combretum fruticosum y Bonamia trichantha en un bosque neotropical seco en Panamá. Combretum fruticosum produjo hojas nuevas justo antes de la estación lluviosa, y su área foliar total alcanzó rápidamente un pico a inicios de la estación lluviosa (mayo-junio). En contraste, B. trichantha construyó su área foliar de forma continua a través de la estación lluviosa alcanzando un pico al final de esta (noviembre). Ambas especies desplegaron la mayoría de sus hojas bajo alta irradiación en la superficie del dosel, aunque C. fruticosum desplegó una mayor proporción de follaje (26%) en micrositios más sombreados que B. trichantha (12%). El auto sombreo dentro de los parches de hojas de lianas dentro de los primeros 40-50 cm del dosel superior redujo el nivel de radiación medido con fotodiodos colocados directamente sobre las hojas a 4-9% de la luz recibida por las hojas de sol. Muchas hojas de C. fruticosum se aclimataron a la sombra luego de un mes después de la producción inicial de hojas altamente sincronizada y persistieron en sombra profunda. En contraste, B. trichantha produjo hojas de corta longevidad de forma oportunística bajo las condiciones de mayor irradiación. Las diferencias entre especies en el grado de aclimatación a la sombra fueron evidentes en términos de caracteres estructurales (masa foliar por unidad de área, y dureza foliar) y fisiológicos (contenido de nitrógeno, longevidad foliar, y punto de compensación lumínica). Estas fenologías foliares tan contrastantes reflejan diferencias en las estrategias de explotación de luz y colonización del dosel por parte de estas dos lianas. [source]


Trade-offs in low-light CO2 exchange: a component of variation in shade tolerance among cold temperate tree seedlings

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
M. B. Walters
Abstract 1.,Does enhanced whole-plant CO2 exchange in moderately low to high light occur at the cost of greater CO2 loss rates at very-low light levels? We examined this question for first-year seedlings of intolerant Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera, intermediate Betula alleghaniensis, and tolerant Ostrya virginiana and Acer saccharum grown in moderately low (7·3% of open-sky) and low (2·8%) light. We predicted that, compared with shade-tolerant species, intolerant species would have characteristics leading to greater whole-plant CO2 exchange rates in moderately low to high light levels, and to higher CO2 loss rates at very-low light levels. 2.,Compared with shade-tolerant A. saccharum, less-tolerant species grown in both light treatments had greater mass-based photosynthetic rates, leaf, stem and root respiration rates, leaf mass:plant mass ratios and leaf area:leaf mass ratios, and similar whole-plant light compensation points and leaf-based quantum yields. 3.,Whole-plant CO2 exchange responses to light (0·3,600 µmol quanta m,2 s,1) indicated that intolerant species had more positive CO2 exchange rates at all but very-low light (< 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1). In contrast, although tolerant A. saccharum had a net CO2 exchange disadvantage at light > 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1, its lower respiration resulted in lower CO2 losses than other species at light < 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1. 4.,Growth scaled closely with whole-plant CO2 exchange characteristics and especially with integrated whole-plant photosynthesis (i.e. leaf mass ratio × in situ leaf photosynthesis). In contrast, growth scaled poorly with leaf-level quantum yield, light compensation point, and light-saturated photosynthetic rate. 5.,Collectively these patterns indicated that: (a) no species was able to both minimize CO2 loss at very-low light (i.e. < 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1) and maximize CO2 gain at higher light (i.e. > 15 µmol quanta m,2 s,1), because whole-plant respiration rates were positively associated with whole-plant photosynthesis at higher light; (b) shade-intolerant species possess traits that maximize whole-plant CO2 exchange (and thus growth) in moderately low to high light levels, but these traits may lead to long-term growth and survival disadvantages in very-low light (< 2·8%) owing, in part, to high respiration. In contrast, shade-tolerant species may minimize CO2 losses in very-low light at the expense of maximizing CO2 gain potential at higher light levels, but to the possible benefit of long-term survival in low light. [source]