Photosynthetica 2002, 40(4):553-559 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1024399919107

Stomatal and Mesophyll Limitations to Photosynthesis in One Evergreen and One Deciduous Mediterranean Oak Species

S. Mediavilla1, H. Santiago1, A. Escudero1
1 Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

In the evergreen Quercus rotundifolia and the co-existing deciduous Q. faginea we studied the diurnal variations in photosynthetic capacity (Pmax), measured as the rate of O2 evolution at photon and CO2 saturation, and in the rate of net CO2 assimilation (PN) in the field during the period of maximum photosynthetic activity. Our aim was to check the contribution of stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to the diurnal variation in photosynthesis, and to study the differences between both species. Q. faginea leaves displayed lower mass per unit area and higher nitrogen content than Q. rotundifolia leaves. The maximum stomatal conductance and PN in the field were higher in Q. faginea than in Q rotundifolia. Also Pmax of Q. faginea was higher than that of Q. rotundifolia. Both species attained in the field a high percentage of the Pmax (around 82 % for Q. faginea and 73 % for Q. rotundifolia). This indicates reduced stomatal limitation of photosynthesis under favourable conditions, especially in Q. faginea. PN underwent a sharp decrease towards mid-day in association with increase in the atmospheric vapour pressure deficit and decrease in the leaf water potential. Pmax was also reduced during mid-day. This demonstrated the contribution of mesophyll limitations to the PN in the two species under stress. The mesophyll limitation of photosynthesis seemed to be similar for both species, independently from the differences in leaf traits between them.

Additional key words: field gas exchange; leaf mass per unit area; leaf nitrogen content; leaf water potential; photosynthetic capacity; Quercus faginea; Quercus rotundifolia; vapour pressure deficit

Published: December 1, 2002  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Mediavilla, S., Santiago, H., & Escudero, A. (2002). Stomatal and Mesophyll Limitations to Photosynthesis in One Evergreen and One Deciduous Mediterranean Oak Species. Photosynthetica, 40(4), 553-559. doi: 10.1023/A:1024399919107
Share...
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. Beyschlag, W., Lange, O.L., Tenhunen, J.D.: Diurnal patterns of leaf internal CO2 partial pressure of the sclerophyll shrub Arbutus unedo growing in Portugal.-In: Tenhunen, J.D., Catarino, F.M., Lange, O.L., Oechel, W.C. (ed.): Plant Response to Stress. Pp. 355-368. Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York-London-Paris-Tokyo 1987. Go to original source...
    2. Björkman, O., Demmig, B.: Photon yield of O2 evolution and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics at 77 K among vascular plants of diverse origins.-Planta 170: 489-504, 1987. Go to original source...
    3. Caldwell, M.M., Meister, H.-P., Tenhunen, J.D., Lange, O.L.: Canopy structure, light microclimate and leaf gas exchange of Quercus coccifera L. in a Portuguese macchia: measurements in different canopy layers and simulations with a canopy model.-Trees 1: 25-41, 1986. Go to original source...
    4. Damesin, C., Rambal, S., Joffre, R.: Co-occurrence of trees with different leaf habit: a functional approach on Mediterranean oaks.-Acta oecol. 19: 195-204, 1998. Go to original source...
    5. Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III, Winter, K., Meyer, A., Schreiber, U., Pereira, J.S., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C., Lange, O.L.: Photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, photon yield of O2 evolution, photosynthetic capacity and carotenoid composition during the midday depression of the net CO2 uptake in Arbutus unedo growing in Portugal.-Planta 177: 377-387, 1989. Go to original source...
    6. Di Marco, G., Manes, F., Tricoli, D., Vitale, E.: Fluorescence parameters measured concurrently with net photosynthesis to investigate chloroplastic CO2 concentration in leaves of Quercus ilex L.-J. Plant Physiol. 136: 538-543, 1990. Go to original source...
    7. Epron, D., Dreyer, E., Picon, C., Guehl, J.M.: Relationship between CO2-dependent O2-evolution and photosystem II activity in oak (Quercus petraea) trees grown in the field and in seedlings grown in ambient or elevated CO2.-Tree Physiol. 14: 725-733, 1994. Go to original source...
    8. Evans, J.R.: Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants.-Oecologia 78: 9-19, 1989. Go to original source...
    9. Faria, T., García-Plazaola, J.I., Abadía, A., Cerasoli, S., Pereira, J.S., Chaves, M.M.: Diurnal changes in photoprotective mechanisms in leaves of cork oak (Quercus suber) during summer.-Tree Physiol. 16: 115-123, 1996. Go to original source...
    10. Farquhar, G.D., Sharkey, T.D.: Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 33: 317-345, 1982. Go to original source...
    11. Field, C., Merino, J., Mooney, H.A.: Compromises between water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency in five species of California evergreens.-Oecologia 60: 384-389, 1983. Go to original source...
    12. Gower, S.T., Reich, P.B., Son, Y.: Canopy dynamics and aboveground production of five tree species with different leaf longevities.-Tree Physiol. 12: 327-345, 1993. Go to original source...
    13. Grassi, G., Colom, M.R., Minotta, G.: Effects of nutrient supply on photosynthetic acclimation and photoinhibition of one-year-old foliage of Picea abies.-Physiol. Plant. 111: 245-254, 2001. Go to original source...
    14. Jones, H.G.: Plants and Microclimate.-Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1992.
    15. Kolb, T.E., Stone, J.E.: Differences in leaf gas exchange and water relations among species and tree sizes in an Arizona pine-oak forest.-Tree Physiol. 20: 1-12, 2000. Go to original source...
    16. Kubiske, M.E., Abrams, M.D.: Stomatal and nonstomatal limitations of photosynthesis in 19 temperate tree species on contrasting sites during wet and dry years.-Plant Cell Environ. 16: 1123-1129, 1993. Go to original source...
    17. Lange, O.L., Tenhunen, J.D., Braun, M.: Midday stomatal closure in Mediterranean type sclerophylls under simulated habitat conditions in an environmental chamber. I. Comparison of the behaviour of various European Mediterranean species.-Flora 172: 563-579, 1982. Go to original source...
    18. Lloyd, J., Syvertsen, J.P., Kriedemann, P.E., Farquhar, G.D.: Low conductances for CO2 diffusion from stomata to the sites of carboxylation in leaves of woody species.-Plant Cell Environ. 15: 873-899, 1992. Go to original source...
    19. Mediavilla, S., Escudero, A., Heilmeier, H.: Internal leaf anatomy and photosynthetic resource-use efficiency: interspecific and intraspecific comparisons.-Tree Physiol. 21: 251-259, 2001. Go to original source...
    20. Meir, P., Kruijt, B., Broadmeadow, M., Barbosa, E., Kull, O., Carswell, F., Nobre, A., Jarvis, P.G.: Acclimation of photosynthetic capacity to irradiance in tree canopies in relation to leaf nitrogen concentration and leaf mass per unit area.-Plant Cell Environ. 25: 343-357, 2002. Go to original source...
    21. Mitrakos, K.A.: A theory for Mediterranean plant life.-Acta oecol. 1: 245-252, 1980.
    22. Muraoka, H., Tang, Y., Terashima, I., Koizumi, H., Washitani, I.: Contributions of diffusional limitation, photoinhibition and photorespiration to midday depression of photosynthesis in Arisaema heterophyllum in the natural high light.-Plant Cell Environ. 23: 235-250, 2000. Go to original source...
    23. Nardini, A., LoGullo, M.A., Salleo, S.: Competitive strategies for water availability in two Mediterranean Quercus species.-Plant Cell Environ. 22: 109-116, 1999. Go to original source...
    24. Ni, B.-R., Pallardy, S.G.: Stomatal and nonstomatal limitations to net photosynthesis in seedlings of woody angiosperms.-Plant Physiol. 99: 1502-1508, 1992. Go to original source...
    25. Niinemets, U.: Components of leaf dry mass per area-thickness and density-alter leaf photosynthetic capacity in reverse directions in woody plants.-New Phytol. 144: 35-47, 1999. Go to original source...
    26. Osaki, M., Shinano, T.: Plant growth based on interrelation between carbon and nitrogen translocation from leaves.-Photosynthetica 39: 197-203, 2001. Go to original source...
    27. Poorter, H., Evans, J.R.: Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency of species that differ inherently in specific leaf area.-Oecologia 116: 26-37, 1998. Go to original source...
    28. Poorter, H., Remkes, C., Lambers, H.: Carbon and nitrogen economy of 24 wild species differing in relative growth rate.-Plant Physiol. 94: 621-627, 1990. Go to original source...
    29. Quick, W.P., Chaves, M.M., Wendler, R., David, M., Rodrigues, M.L., Passaharinho, J.A., Pereira, J.S., Adcock, M.D., Leegood, R.C., Stitt, M.: The effect of water stress on photosynthetic carbon metabolism in four species grown under field conditions.-Plant Cell Environ. 15: 25-35, 1992. Go to original source...
    30. Reich, P.B., Walters, M.B., Ellsworth, D.S.: From tropics to tundra: Global convergence in plant functioning.-Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. USA 24: 13730-13734, 1997. Go to original source...
    31. Sánchez-Rodríguez, J., Pérez, P., Martínez-Carrasco, R.: Photosynthesis, carbohydrate levels and chlorophyll fluorescence-estimated intercellular CO2 in water-stressed Casuarina aquisetifolia Forst. & Forst.-Plant Cell Environ. 22: 867-873, 1999. Go to original source...
    32. Strand, M.: Effect of mineral nutrient content on oxygen exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence in needles of Norway spruce.-Tree Physiol. 17: 221-230, 1997. Go to original source...
    33. Tenhunen, J.D., Lange, O.L., Gebel, J., Beyschlag, W., Weber, J.A.: Changes in photosynthetic capacity, carboxylation efficiency and CO2 compensation point associated with midday stomatal closure and midday depression of net CO2 exchange of leaves in Quercus suber.-Planta 162: 193-203, 1984. Go to original source...
    34. Tourneaux, C., Peltier, G.: Effect of water deficit on photosynthetic oxygen exchange measured using 18O2 and mass spectrometry in Solanum tuberosum L. leaf discs.-Planta 195: 570-577, 1995. Go to original source...
    35. Tretiach, M.: Photosynthesis and transpiration of evergreen Mediterranean and deciduous trees in an ecotone during a growing season.-Acta oecol. 14: 341-360, 1993.
    36. Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M., Webb, D.A.: Flora Europaea.-Cambridge University Press, London 1964.
    37. Valentini, R., Epron, D., De Angelis, P., Matteucci, G., Dreyer, E.: In situ estimation of net CO2 assimilation, photosynthetic electron flow and photorespiration in Turkey oak (Q. cerris L.) leaves: diurnal cycles under different levels of water supply.-Plant Cell Environ. 18: 631-640, 1995. Go to original source...
    38. Weng, J.-H., Hsu, F.-H.: Gas exchange and epidermal characteristics of Miscanthus populations in Taiwan varying with habitats and nitrogen applications.-Photosynthetica 39: 35-41, 2001. Go to original source...
    39. Wong, S.C., Cowan, I.R., Farquhar, G.D.: Stomatal conductance correlates with photosynthetic capacity.-Nature 282: 424-426, 1979. Go to original source...

    Return to the content