Photosynthetica, 2012 (vol. 50), issue 4

Photosynthetica 2012, 50(4):613-622 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-012-0069-8

Assessing the role of vertical leaves within the photosynthetic function of Styrax camporum under drought conditions

A. M. Feistler1, G. Habermann2,*
1 Departamento de Botânica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Rio Claro-SP, Brazil
2 Departamento de Botânica, Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Rio Claro-SP, Brazil

Previous evidence has demonstrated that vertical leaves of Styrax camporum, a woody shrub from the Brazilian savanna, have a higher net photosynthetic rate (P N) compared with horizontal leaves, and that it is detected only if gas exchange is measured with light interception by both leaf surfaces. In the present study, leaf temperature (T leaf), gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence with light interception on adaxial and also on abaxial surfaces of vertical and horizontal mature fully-expanded leaves subjected to water deficit (WD) were measured. Similar gas-exchange and fluorescence values were found when the leaves were measured with light interception on the respective surfaces of horizontal and vertical leaves. WD reduced P N values measured with light interception on leaf surfaces of both leaf types, but the effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII) and the apparent electron transport rate (ETR) were reduced only when the leaves were measured with light interception on the adaxial surface. WD did not decrease the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) or increase T leaf, even at the peak of WD stress. Vertical leaf orientation in S. camporum is not related to leaf heat avoidance. In addition, the similar P N values and the lack of higher values of ΦPSII and ETR in vertical compared with horizontal leaves measured with light interception by each of the leaf surfaces suggests that the vertical leaf position is not related to photoprotection in this species, even when subjected to drought conditions. The exclusion of this photoprotective role could raise the alternative hypothesis that diverse leaf angles sustain whole plant light interception efficiency increased in this species.

Keywords: Brazilian savanna; chlorophyll fluorescence; gas exchange; leaf surface; paraheliotropism; Styracaceae

Received: July 15, 2011; Accepted: August 18, 2012; Published: December 1, 2012Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Feistler, A.M., & Habermann, G. (2012). Assessing the role of vertical leaves within the photosynthetic function of Styrax camporum under drought conditions. Photosynthetica, 50(4), 613-622. doi: 10.1007/s11099-012-0069-8.
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. Baker, N.R.: Chlorophyll fluorescence: a probe of photosynthesis in vivo. - Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 59: 89-113, 2008. Go to original source...
    2. Berry, J.A., Downton, W.J.S.: Environmental regulation of photosynthesis. - In: Govindjee (ed.): Photosynthesis: Development, Carbon Metabolism and Plant Production. Pp. 306-308. Academic Press, New York 1982. Go to original source...
    3. Bieras, A.C., Sajo, M.G.: Leaf structure of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) woody plants. - Trees 23: 451-471, 2009. Go to original source...
    4. Bielenberg, D.G., Miller, J.D., Berg, V.S.: Paraheliotropism in two Phaseolus species: combined effects of photon flux density and pulvinus temperature, and consequences for leaf gas exchange. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 49: 95-105, 2003. Go to original source...
    5. Bilger, W., Schreiber, U., Bock, M.: Determination of the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in the field. - Oecologia 102: 425-432, 1995. Go to original source...
    6. Bolhàr-Nordenkampf, H.R., Öquist, G.O.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool in photosynthesis research. - In: Hall, D.O., Scurlock, J.M.O., Bolhàr-Nordenkampf, H.R. et al. (ed.): Photosynthesis and production in a changing environment: A field and laboratory manual. Pp. 193-206. Chapman & Hall, London 1993. Go to original source...
    7. DeLucia, E.H., Shenoi, H.D., Naidu, S.L., Day, T.A.: Photosynthetic symmetry of sun and shade leaves of different orientations. - Oecologia 87: 51-57, 1991. Go to original source...
    8. Edreva, A.: Generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts: a submolecular approach. - Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 106: 119-133, 2005. Go to original source...
    9. Ehleringer, J.R.: Changes in leaf characteristics of species along elevational gradients in the Wasatch Front, Utah. - Amer. J. Bot. 75: 680-689, 1988. Go to original source...
    10. Ehleringer, J., Björkman, O., Mooney, H.: Leaf pubescence: effects on absorptance and photosynthesis in a desert shrub. - Science 192: 376-377, 1976. Go to original source...
    11. Ehleringer, J., Forseth, I.: Solar tracking by plants. - Science 210: 1094-1098, 1980. Go to original source...
    12. Evans, J.R., Jakobsen, I., Ögren, E.: Photosynthetic lightresponse curves. 2. Gradients of light absorption and photosynthetic capacity. - Planta 189: 191-200, 1993.
    13. Falster, D.S., Westoby, M.: Leaf size and angle vary widely across species: what consequences for light interception? - New Phytol. 158: 509-525, 2003. Go to original source...
    14. Franco, A.C., Lüttge, U.: Midday depression in savanna trees: coordinated adjustments in photochemical efficiency, photorespiration, CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency. - Oecologia 131: 356-365, 2002. Go to original source...
    15. Haridasan, M.: Nutritional adaptations of native plants of the Cerrado biome in acid soils. - Braz. J. Plant Physiol. 20: 183-195, 2008. Go to original source...
    16. Habermann, G., Machado, S.R., Guimarães, V.F., Rodrigues, J.D.: Leaf heliotropism in Styrax camporum Pohl. from the Brazilian Cerrado - distinct gas exchange and leaf structure, but similar leaf temperature and water relations. - Braz. J. Plant Physiol. 20: 71-83, 2008. Go to original source...
    17. Habermann, G., Ellsworth, P.F.V., Cazoto, J.L., Simão, E., Bieras, A.C.: Comparative gas exchange performance during the wet season of three Brazilian Styrax species under habitat conditions of Cerrado vegetation types differing in soil water availability and crown density. - Flora 206: 351-359, 2011a. Go to original source...
    18. Habermann, G., Ellsworth, P.F.V., Cazoto, J.L., Feistler, A.M., da Silva, L., Donatti, D.A., Machado, S.R.: Leaf paraheliotropism in Styrax camporum confers increased light use efficiency and advantageous photosynthetic responses rather than photoprotection. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 71: 10-17, 2011b. Go to original source...
    19. Lichtenthaler, H.K., Babani, F., Langsdorf, G.: Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of photosynthetic activity in sun and shade leaves of trees. - Photosynth. Res. 93: 235-244, 2007. Go to original source...
    20. Liu, L.-X., Xu, S.-M., Woo, K.C.: Influence of leaf angle on photosynthesis and the xanthophyll cycle in the tropical tree species Acacia crassicarpa. - Tree Physiol. 23: 1255-1261, 2003. Go to original source...
    21. Nishio, J.N., Sun, J., Vogelmann, T.C.: Carbon fixation gradients across spinach leaves do not follow internal light gradients. - Plant Cell. 5: 953-961, 1993. Go to original source...
    22. Prado, C.H.B.A., Wenhui, Z., Rojas, M.H.C., Souza, G.M: Seasonal leaf gas exchange and water potential in a woody Cerrado species community. - Braz. J. Plant Physiol. 16: 7-16, 2004. Go to original source...
    23. Proietti, P., Palliotti, A.: Contribution of the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of olive leaves to photosynthesis. - Photosynthetica 33: 63-69, 1997. Go to original source...
    24. Smith, W.K., Bell, D.T., Sheperd, K.A.: Association between leaf structure, orientation and sunlight exposure in five western Australian communities. - Amer. J. Bot. 85: 56-63, 1998. Go to original source...
    25. Sun, J., Nishio, J.N. Why abaxial illumination limits photosynthetic carbon fixation in spinach leaves. - Plant Cell Physiol. 42: 1-8, 2001. Go to original source...
    26. Takahashi, S., Badger, M.R.: Photoprotection in plants: a new light on photosystem II damage. - Trends Plant Sci. 16: 53-60, 2011. Go to original source...
    27. Terashima, I.: Dorsiventrality in photosynthetic light response curves of a leaf. - J. Exp. Bot. 37: 399-405, 1986. Go to original source...
    28. Terashima, I., Inoue, Y.: Palisade tissue chloroplasts and spongy tissue chloroplasts in spinach: biochemical and ultrastructural differences. - Plant Cell Physiol. 26: 63-75, 1985.

    Return to the content