Photosynthetica, 2015 (vol. 53), issue 1

Photosynthetica 2015, 53(1):95-109 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-015-0087-4

Response of wheat ear photosynthesis and photosynthate carbon distribution to water deficit

S. Jia1, J. Lv2,*, S. Jiang2, T. Liang2, C. Liu2, Z. Jing1
1 College of Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
2 College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China

Understanding distribution and transport of carbon assimilates and photosynthesis contribution to grain yield in wheat spike is important in assessing the photosynthetic process under stress conditions. In this study, photosynthetic characteristics were evaluated in a pot experiment. Transport of spike photosynthates to grain was demonstrated using 14C isotope tracer technique. Yield and key enzyme activities of C3 and C4 pathways were examined after anthesis in wheat cultivars of different drought resistance. The ear net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content of the spike bracts (glume, lemma, and palea), and relative water content slightly decreased under water deficit in drought resistant variety Pubing 143 (Pub) during the grain filling stage, whereas all parameters decreased significantly in drought sensitive variety Zhengyin 1 (Zhe). Grain 14C-photosynthate distribution rate fell by 3.8% in Pub and increased by 3.9% in Zhe. After harvest, the water-use efficiency of Zhe dropped by 18.7% under water deficit. Rubisco activity in ear organs declined significantly under water deficit, whereas activity of C4 pathway enzymes was significantly enhanced, especially that of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malate dehydrogenase. Water deficit exerted lesser influence on spike photosynthesis in Pub. Ear organs exhibited delayed senescence. Accumulation of photosynthetic carbon assimilates in ear bracts occurred mainly during the early grain filling and photosynthates were transported in the middle of grain filling. C4 pathway enzymes seem to play an important function in ear photosynthesis. We speculate that the high enzyme activity of the C4 pathway and the increased capacity of photosynthetic carbon assimilate transport were the reasons for the drought tolerance characteristics of ears.

Keywords: 14C-labelling; harvest index; malic enzyme; spike assimilate transport; Triticum aestivum L.

Received: August 10, 2014; Accepted: November 20, 2014; Published: March 1, 2015Show citation

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Jia, S., Lv, J., Jiang, S., Liang, T., Liu, C., & Jing, Z. (2015). Response of wheat ear photosynthesis and photosynthate carbon distribution to water deficit. Photosynthetica, 53(1), 95-109. doi: 10.1007/s11099-015-0087-4.
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