Photosynthetica, 2010 (vol. 48), issue 2

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(2):189-198 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0024-5

Stomatal development and associated photosynthetic performance of capsicum in response to differential light availabilities

Q. S. Fu1,2, B. Zhao1, Y. J. Wang1, S. Ren3,*, Y. D. Guo1,*
1 College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
2 Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
3 School of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Petersburg, USA

The mechanisms of capsicum growth in response to differential light availabilities are still not well elucidated. Hereby, we analyzed differential light availabilities on the relationship between stomatal characters and leaf growth, as well as photosynthetic performance. We used either 450-500 µmol m-2 s-1 as high light (HL) or 80-100 µmol m-2 s-1 as low light (LL) as treatments for two different cultivars. Our results showed that the stomatal density (SD) and stomatal index (SI) increased along with the leaf area expansion until the peak of the correlation curve, and then decreased. SD and SI were lower under the LL condition after three days of leaf expansion. For both cultivars, downregulation of photosynthesis and electron transport components was observed in LL-grown plants as indicated by lower light- and CO2-saturated photosynthetic rate (P max and RuBPmax), quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (ΦPSII), electron transport rate (ETR) and photochemical quenching of fluorescence (qp). The observed inhibition of the photosynthesis could be explained by the decrease of SD, SI, Rubisco content and by the changes of the chloroplast. The low light resulted in lower total biomass, root/shoot ratio, and the thickness of the leaf decreased. However, the specific leaf area (SLA) and the content of leaf pigments were higher in LL-treatment. Variations in the photosynthetic characteristics of capsicum grown under different light conditions reflected the physiological adaptations to the changing light environments.

Keywords: capsicum; chloroplast; low light; photosynthesis; Rubisco; stomata

Received: October 2, 2009; Accepted: February 4, 2010; Published: June 1, 2010Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Fu, Q.S., Zhao, B., Wang, Y.J., Ren, S., & Guo, Y.D. (2010). Stomatal development and associated photosynthetic performance of capsicum in response to differential light availabilities. Photosynthetica, 48(2), 189-198. doi: 10.1007/s11099-010-0024-5.
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. Boardman, N.K.: Comparative photosynthesis of sun and shade plants. - Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 28: 355-377, 1977. Go to original source...
    2. Bosabalidis, A.M., Kofidis, G.: Comparative effects of drought stress on leaf anatomy of two olive cultivars. - Plant Sci. 163: 375-379, 2002. Go to original source...
    3. Chang, X., Alderson, P.G., Wright, C.J.: Solar irradiance level alters the growth of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and its content of volatile oils. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 63: 216-223, 2008. Go to original source...
    4. Chen, L.S., Cheng, L.L.: The sun-exposed peel of apple fruit has a higher photosynthetic capacity than the shaded peel. - Funct. Plant Biol. 34: 1038-1048, 2007. Go to original source...
    5. Chen, Q., Wang, L.F., Su, N., Qin, H.D., Niu, H.B., Wang, J.L., Zhai, H.Q., Wan, J.M.: Photosystem 2 photochemistry and pigment composition of a yellow mutant of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under different irradiances. - Photosynthetica 46: 35-39, 2008. Go to original source...
    6. Chow, W.S., Angerson, J.M., Melis A.: The Photosystem stoichiometry in thylakoids of some australian shade-adapted plant species. - Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 17: 665-674, 1990. Go to original source...
    7. Cornic, G.: Drought stress and high light effects on leaf photosynthesis. - In: Baker, N.R., Bowyer, J.R. (ed.): Photoinhibition of Photosynthesis from Molecular Mechanisms to the Field. Pp. 297-313. BIOS Scientific Publ., Oxford 1994.
    8. Coupe, S.A., Palmer, B.G., Lake, J.A., Overy, S.A., Oxborough, K., Woodward, F.I., Gray, J.E., Quick, W.P.: Systemic signaling of environmental cues in Arabidopsis leaves. - J. Exp. Bot. 57: 329-341, 2006. Go to original source...
    9. Dami, I., Hughes, H.: Leaf anatomy and water loss of in vitro PEG-treated 'Valiant' grape. - Plant Cell Tissue Org. Cult. 42: 179-184, 1995. Go to original source...
    10. Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III., Barker, D.H., Logan, B.A., Bowling, R.D., Verhoeven, A.S.: Using chlorophyll fluorescence to assess the fraction of absorbed light allocated to thermal dissipation of excess excitation. - Physiol. Plant. 98: 253-264, 1996.
    11. Duan, B.L., Lu, Y.W., Yin, C.Y., Junttila, O., Li, C.Y.: Physiological responses to drought and shade in two contrasting Picea asperata populations. - Physiol. Plant. 124: 476-484, 2005. Go to original source...
    12. Evans, J.R., Poorter, H.: Photosynthetic acclimation of plants to growth irradiance: the relative importance of specific leaf area and nitrogen partitioning in maximizing carbon gain. - Plant Cell Environ. 24: 755-767, 2001. Go to original source...
    13. Farquhar, G.D., Sharkey, T.D.: Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. - Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 33: 317-345, 1982. Go to original source...
    14. Ferris, R., Long, L., Bunn, S.M., Robinson, K.M., Bradshaw, H.D., Rae, A.M., Taylor, G.: Leaf stomatal and epidermal cell development: identification of putative quantitative trait loci in relation to elevated carbon dioxide concentration in poplar. - Tree Physiol. 22: 633-640, 2002. Go to original source...
    15. Genty, B., Briantais, J.M., Baker, N.R.: The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. - Biochim. Biophys. Acta 990: 87-92, 1989. Go to original source...
    16. Guan, B.H., Chang, J., Ge, Y., Lu, Y.J.: Response of accumulation and distribution of biomass in an endangered plant Mosla hangchowensis to light intensity. - Science 29: 692-696, 2002.
    17. Hetherington, A.M., Woodward, F.I.: The role of stomata in sensing and driving environmental change. - Nature 424: 901-908, 2003. Go to original source...
    18. Hultine, K.R., Marshall, J.D.: Altitude trends in conifer leaf morhology and stable carbon isotope composition. - Oecologia 123: 32-40, 2000. Go to original source...
    19. Krause, G.H.: Photoinhibition of photosynthesis - an evaluation of damaging and protective mechanisms. - Physiol. Plant. 74: 566-574, 1988. Go to original source...
    20. Kyei-Boahen, S., Lada, R., Astatkie, T., Gordon, R., Caldwell, C.: Photosynthetic response of carrots to varying irradiances. - Photosynthetica 41: 301-305, 2003. Go to original source...
    21. Lake, J.A., Quick, W.P., Beerling, D.J., Woodward, F.I.: Plant development. Signals from mature to new leaves. - Nature 411: 154-154, 2001. Go to original source...
    22. Lee, H.Y., Chow, W.S., Hong, Y.N.: Photoinactivation of photosystem II in leaves of Capsicum annuum. - Physiol. Plant. 105: 377-384, 1999. Go to original source...
    23. Lichtenthaler, H.K.: Chlorophyll and carotenoids - pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes. - Meth. Enzymol. 148: 350-382, 1987. Go to original source...
    24. Lin, J.X., Jach, M.E., Ceulemans, R.: Stomatal density and needle anatomy of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are affected by elevated CO2. - New Phytol. 150: 665-674, 2001. Go to original source...
    25. Liu, X.Q., Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathway and morphological functional types in the vegetation from North-Beijing agro-pastoral ecotone, China. - Photosynthetica 44: 365-386, 2006. Go to original source...
    26. Miyashita, K., Tanakamaru, S., Maitani, T., Kimura, K.: Recovery responses of photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance in kidney bean following drought stress. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 53: 205-214, 2005. Go to original source...
    27. Negash, L., Björn, L.O.: Stomatal closure by ultraviolet radiation. - Physiol. Plant. 66: 360-364, 1986. Go to original source...
    28. Pääkkönen, E., Vahala, J., Pohjola, M., Holopainen, T., Kärenlampi, L.: Physiological, stomatal and ultrastructural ozone responses in birch (Betula pendula Roth.) are modified by water stress. - Plant Cell Environ. 21: 671-684, 1998. Go to original source...
    29. Rengifo, E., Urich, R., Herrera, A.: Water relations and leaf anatomy of the tropical species, Jatropha gossypifolia and Alternanthera crucis, grown under elevated CO2 concentration. - Photosynthetica 40: 397-403, 2002. Go to original source...
    30. Rijkers, T., de Vries, P.J., Pons, T.L., Bongers, F.: Photosynthetic induction in saplings of three shade-tolerant tree species: comparing understorey and gap habitats in a French Guiana rain forest. - Oecologia 125: 331-340, 2000. Go to original source...
    31. Schreiber, U., Schliwa, U., Bilger, W.: Continuous recording of photochemical and non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching with a new type of modulation fluorometer. - Photosynth. Res. 10: 51-62, 1986. Go to original source...
    32. Souza, R.P., Machado, E.C., Silva, J.A.B., Lagôa, A.M.M.A., Silveira, J.A.G.: Photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and some associated metabolic changes in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) during water stress and recovery. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 51: 45-56, 2004. Go to original source...
    33. Stitt, M., Schulze, E.D.: Does Rubisco control the rate of photosynthesis and plant-growth - an exercise in molecular ecophysiology. - Plant Cell Environ. 17: 465-487, 1994. Go to original source...
    34. Terashima, I., Miyazawa, S.I., Hanba, Y.T.: Why are sun leaves thicker than shade leaves? - Consideration based on analyses of CO2 diffusion in the leaf. - J. Plant Res. 114: 93-105, 2001. Go to original source...
    35. Thornley, J.H.M.: Instantaneous Canopy photosynthesis: Analytical expressions for sun and shade leaves based on exponential light decay down the canopy and an acclimated non-rectangular hyperbola for leaf photosynthesis. - Ann. Bot. 89: 451-458, 2002. Go to original source...
    36. Wang, F.L., Wang, H., Wang, G.: Photosynthetic responses of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) to photosynthetic photon flux density, leaf temperature, and CO2 concentration. - Photosynthetica 45: 59-64, 2007a. Go to original source...
    37. Wang, M.L., Jiang, Y.S., Wei, J.Q., Wei, X., Qi, X.X., Jiang, S.Y., Wang, Z.M.: Effects of irradiance on growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L. - Photosynthetica 46: 17-20, 2007b. Go to original source...
    38. Woodward, F.I.: Stomatal numbers are sensitive to increases in CO2 from pre-industrial levels. - Nature 327: 617-618, 1987. Go to original source...
    39. Woodward, F.I., Kelly, C.K.: The influence of CO2 concentration on stomatal density. - New Phytol. 131: 311-327, 1995. Go to original source...
    40. Ye, Z.-P.: A new model for relationship between irradiance and the rate of photosynthesis in Oryza sativa. - Photosynthetica 45: 637-640, 2007. Go to original source...

    Return to the content