Photosynthetica, 2011 (vol. 49), issue 4

Photosynthetica 2011, 49(4):539-545 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-011-0074-3

Effects of physiological integration on photosynthetic efficiency of Trifolium repens in response to heterogeneous UV-B radiation

Q. Li1, X. Liu1, M. Yue1,*, X. F. Zhang1, R. C. Zhang1
1 Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Xi'an, China

Several studies have found the photosynthetic integration in clonal plants to response to resource heterogeneity, while little is known how it responses to heterogeneity of UV-B radiation. In this study, the effects of heterogeneous UV-B radiation (280-315 nm) on gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of a clonal plant Trifolium repens were evaluated. Pairs of connected and severed ramets of the stoloniferous herb T. repens were grown under the homogeneity (both of ramets received only natural background radiation, ca. 0.6 kJ m-2 d-1) and heterogeneity of UV-B radiation (one of the ramet received only natural background radiation and the other was exposed to supplemental UV-B radiation, 2.54 kJ m-2 d-1) for seven days. Stomatal conductance (g s), intercellular CO2 concentration (C i) and transpiration rate (E) showed no significant differences in connected and severed ramets under homogenous and heterogeneous UV-B radiation, however, net photosynthetic rate (P N) and maximum photosynthetic rate (P max) of ramets suffered from supplemental increased UV-B radiation and that of its connected sister ramet decreased significantly. Moreover, additive UV-B radiation resulted in a notable decrease of the minimal fluorescence of dark-adapted state (Fo), the electron transport rate (ETR) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and an increase of nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) under supplemental UV-B radiation, while physiological connection reverse the results. In all, UV-B stressed ramets could benefit from unstressed ramets by physiological integration in photosynthetic efficiency, and clonal plants are able to optimize the efficiency to maintain their presence in less favourable sites.

Keywords: environmental heterogeneity; physiological integration; Trifolium repens; ultraviolet-B radiation

Received: January 22, 2011; Accepted: August 20, 2011; Published: December 1, 2011Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Li, Q., Liu, X., Yue, M., Zhang, X.F., & Zhang, R.C. (2011). Effects of physiological integration on photosynthetic efficiency of Trifolium repens in response to heterogeneous UV-B radiation. Photosynthetica, 49(4), 539-545. doi: 10.1007/s11099-011-0074-3.
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Alpert, P., Mooney, H.A.: Resource sharing among ramets in the clonal herb, Fragaria chiloensis. - Oecologia 70: 227-233, 1986. Go to original source...
    2. Bassman, J.H., Edwards, G.E., Robberecht, R.: Long-term exposure to enhanced UV-B radiation is not detrimental to growth and photosynthesis in Douglas-fir. - New Phytologist 154: 107-120, 2002. Go to original source...
    3. Bornman, J.F.: New trends in photobiology: Target sites of UVB radiation in photosynthesis of higher plants. - J. Photochem. Photobiol. B. 4: 145-158, 1989. Go to original source...
    4. Bota, J., Medrano, H., Flexas, J.: Is photosynthesis limited by decreased Rubisco activity and RuBP content under progressive water stress? - New Phytol. 162: 671-681, 2004. Go to original source...
    5. Brewer, J.S., Bertness, M.D.: Disturbance and intraspecific variation in the clonal morphology of salt marsh perennials. - Oikos 77: 107-116, 1996. Go to original source...
    6. Briantais, J.M., Vernotte, C., Krause, G.H., Weis, E.: Chlorophyll a fluorescence of higher plants: chloroplasts and leaves. - In: Govindjee, Amesz., J., Fork, D.C. (ed.): Light emission by plants and bacteria. Pp. 539-577. Academic Press, Orlando - San Diego - New York - Austin - Boston - London - Sydney - Tokyo - Toronto 1986. Go to original source...
    7. Caldwell, M.M., Pearcy, R.W.: Exploitation or environmental heterogeneity by plants: ecophysiological processes aboveand belowground. - Academic Press, San Diego 1994.
    8. Caldwell, M.M.: Solar UV-B irradiation and the growth and development of higher plants. - In: Giese, A.C. (ed.): Photophysiology. Pp. 131-137. Academic Press, New York 1971. Go to original source...
    9. Chen, J.S., Lei, N.F., Dong, M.: Clonal integration improves the tolerance of Carex praeclara to sand burial by compensatory response. - Acta Oecol. 36: 23-28, 2010. Go to original source...
    10. Dias, M.C., Brüggemann, W.: Differential inhibition of photosynthesis under drought stress in Flaveria species with different degrees of development of the C4 syndrome. - Photosynthetica 45: 75-84, 2007. Go to original source...
    11. Dias, M.C., Brüggemann, W.: Limitations of photosynthesis in Phaseolus vulgaris under drought stress: gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and Calvin cycle enzymes. - Photosynthetica 48: 96-102, 2010. Go to original source...
    12. Du, J., Wang, N., Alpert, P., Yu, M.J., Yu, F.H., Dong, M.: Clonal integration increases performance of ramets of the fern Diplopterygium glaucum in an evergreen forest in southeastern China. - Flora 205: 399-403, 2010. Go to original source...
    13. Ennahli, S., Earl, H.J.: Physiological limitations to photosynthetic carbon assimilation in cotton under water stress. - Crop Sci. 45: 2374-2382, 2005. Go to original source...
    14. Epron, D., Dreyer, E., Breda, N.: Photosynthesis of oak trees [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] during drought under field conditions: diurnal course of net CO2 assimilation and photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. - Plant Cell Environ. 15: 809-820, 1992. Go to original source...
    15. Flexas, J., Bota, J., Galmés, J., Medrano, H., Ribas-Carbó, M.: Keeping a positive carbon balance under adverse conditions: responses of photosynthesis and respiration to water stress. - Physiol. Plant. 127: 343-352, 2006. Go to original source...
    16. Flexas, J., Bota, J., Loreto, F., Cornic, G., Sharkey, T.D.: Diffusive and metabolic limitations to photosynthesis under drought and salinity in C3 plants. - Plant Biol. 6: 269-279, 2004. Go to original source...
    17. Gilmore, A.M.: Mechanistic aspects of xanthophyll cycledependent photoprotection in higher plant chloroplasts and leaves. - Physiol. Plant. 99: 197-209, 1997. Go to original source...
    18. Grant, R.H., Apostol, K., Gao, W.: Biologically effective UV-B exposures of an oak-hickory forest understory during leaf-out. - Agr Forest Meteorol 132: 28-43, 2005. Go to original source...
    19. Grassi, G., Magnani, F.: Stomatal, mesophyll conductance and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis as affected by drought and leaf ontogeny in ash and oak trees. - Plant Cell Environ. 28: 834-849, 2005. Go to original source...
    20. Groom, Q.J., Baker, N.R.: Analysis of light-induced depressions of photosynthesis in leaves of a wheat crop during the winter. - Plant Physiol. 100: 1217-1223, 1992. Go to original source...
    21. Hartnett, D., Bazzaz, F.A.: Physiological integration among intraclonal ramets in Solidago canadensis. - Ecology 64: 779-788, 1983. Go to original source...
    22. Hofmann, R.W., Campbell, B.D., Fountain, D.F.: Sensitivity of white clover to UV-B radiation depends on water availability, plant productivity and duration of stress. - Global Change Biol. 9: 473-477, 2003. Go to original source...
    23. Kalbin, G., Ohlsson, A.B., Berglund, T., Rydström, J., Strid, A.: Ultraviolet-B-radiation-induced changes in nicotinamide and glutathione metabolism and gene expression in plants. - Eur. J. Biochem. 249: 465-472, 1997. Go to original source...
    24. Larsson, E.H., Bornman, J.F., Asp, H.: chlorophyll fluorescence, growth and nutrient content in Brassica napus. - J. Exp. Bot. 49: 1031-1039, 1998. Go to original source...
    25. Lawlor, D.W., Tezara, W.: Causes of decreased photosynthetic rate and metabolic capacity in water-deficient leaf cells: a critical evaluation of mechanisms and integration of processes. - Ann. Bot. 103: 561-579, 2009. Go to original source...
    26. Lawlor, D.W.: Musings about the effects of environment on photosynthesis. - Ann. Bot. 4: 543-549, 2009. Go to original source...
    27. Li, Q., Liu, X., Yue, M., Tang, W.T., Meng, Q.C.: Response of physiological integration in Trifolium repens to heterogeneity of UV-B radiation. - Flora 206: 712-719, 2011. Go to original source...
    28. Lindroth, R.L., Hofman, R.W., Campbell, B.D., McNabb, W.C., Hunt, D.Y.: Population differences in Trifolium repens L. response to ultraviolet-B radiation: foliar chemistry and consequences for two lepidopteran herbivores. - Oecologia 122: 20-28, 2000. Go to original source...
    29. Madronich, S., McKenzie, R.L., Björn, L.O., Caldwell, M.M.: Changes in biologically active ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface. - J. Photochem. Photobiol. B. 46: 5-19, 1998. Go to original source...
    30. Maroco, J.P., Rodrigues, M.L., Lopes, C., Chaves, M.M.: Limitations to leaf photosynthesis in field-grown grapevine under drought -metabolic and modelling approaches. - Funct. Plant Biol. 29: 451-459, 2002. Go to original source...
    31. Marshall, C.: Source-sink relations of interconnected ramets. - In: van Groennendael, J., de Kroon, H. (ed.): Clonal growth in plants. regulation and function. Pp 23-41. SPB Academic Publishing., Hague 1990.
    32. Massacci, A., Nabiev, S.M., Pietrosanti, L., Nematov, S.K., Chernikova, T.N., Thor, K., Leipner, J.: Response of the photosynthetic apparatus of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to the onset of drought stress under field conditions studied by gas-exchange analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. - Plant Physiol. Bioch. 46: 189-195, 2008. Go to original source...
    33. Medrano, H., Escalona, J.M., Bota, J., Gulias, J., Flexas, J.: Regulation of photosynthesis of C3 plants in response to progressive drought: stomatal conductance as a reference parameter. - Ann. Bot. 89: 895-905, 2002. Go to original source...
    34. Panković, D., Sakač, Z., Kevrešan, S., Plesničar, M.: Acclimation to long-term water deficit in the leaves of two sunflower hybrids: photosynthesis, electron transport and carbon metabolism. - J. Exp. Bot. 50: 127-138, 1999. Go to original source...
    35. Roiloa, S.R., Retuerto, R.: Physiological integration ameliorates effects of serpentine soils in the clonal herb Fragaria vesca. - Physiol. Plant. 128: 662-676, 2006a. Go to original source...
    36. Roiloa, S.R., Retuerto, R.: Small-scale heterogeneity in soil quality influences photosynthetic efficiency and habitat selection in a clonal plant. - Ann. Bot. 98: 1043-1052, 2006b. Go to original source...
    37. Saitoh, T., Seiwai, K., Nishiwaki, A.: Effects of resource heterogeneity on nitrogen translocation within clonal fragments of Sasa palmata: an isotopic (15N) assessment. - Ann. Bot. 98: 657-663, 2006. Go to original source...
    38. Schreiber, U., Bilger, W., Neubauer, C.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a nonintrusive indicator for rapid assessment of in vivo photosynthesis. - In: Schulze, E.D., Caldwell, M.M. (ed.): Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis. Pp 49-70. Springer- Verlag., Berlin 1994. Go to original source...
    39. Stuefer, J.F., During, H.J., de Kroon, H.: High benefits of clonal integration in two stoloniferous species, in response to heterogeneous light environments. - J. Ecol. 82: 511-518, 1994. Go to original source...
    40. Wang, N., Yu, F.H., Li, P.X., He, W.M., Liu, F.H., Liu, J.M., Dong, M.: Clonal integration affects growth, photosynthetic efficiency and biomass allocation, but not the competitive ability, of the alien invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides under severe stress. - Ann. Bot. 101: 671-678, 2008. Go to original source...
    41. Wijesinghe, D.K., Hutchings, M.J.: Patchy habitats, division of labour and growth dividends in clonal plants. - Trends Ecol. Evol. 12: 390-394, 1997.
    42. Williams, W.M.: Genetics and breeding. - In: Baker, M.J., Williams, W.M. (ed.): White Clover. Pp. 299-321. CAB International., Wallingford 1987.
    43. Yordanov, I., Velikova, V., Tsonev, T.: Plant responses to drought, acclimation, and stress tolerance. - Photosynthetica 38: 171-186, 2000. Go to original source...
    44. Yu, F.H., Dong, M., Krüsi, B.: Clonal integration helps Psammochloa villosa survive sand burial in an inland dune. - New Phytologist 162: 697-704, 2004. Go to original source...
    45. Yu, F.H., Dong, M., Zhang, C.Y.: [Intraclonal resource sharing and functional specialization of ramets in response to resource heterogeneity in three stoloniferous herbs.] - Acta Bot. Sin. 44: 468-473, 2002. [In Chin. with English abstract.]
    46. Yu, F.H., Du, J., Alpert, P., Dong, M.: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce effects of physiological integration in Trifolium repens. - Ann. Bot. 104: 335-343, 2009.
    47. Yue, M., Li, Y., Wang, X.L.: Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on plant nutrients and decomposition of spring wheat under field conditions. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 40: 187-196, 1998. Go to original source...
    48. Zhang, L.L., He, W.M.: Consequences of ramets helping ramets: No damage and increased nutrient use efficiency in nurse ramets of Glechoma longituba. - Flora 204: 182-188, 2009. Go to original source...

    Return to the content