Photosynthetica 1997, 33(2):277-289 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1022124732716

Functional responses of Acer species to two simulated forest gap environments: leaf-level properties and photosynthesis

T.T. Lei1, M.J. Lechowicz1
1 Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Seedlings of eight forest maple (Acer L.) species were grown outdoors through a full season under two irradiation treatments: (a) "gap edge" with a photosynthetic photon flux density of 30 µmol m-2 s-1 and a red:far-red ratio of 0.55, and (b) "gap centre" with 400 µmol m-2 s-1 and a red:far-red ratio of 1.12. Area-based leaf nitrogen concentration was greater in gap centre-grown seedlings, whereas, except for A. saccharum, area-based chlorophyll (Chl) (a+b) was higher in gap edge-grown plants. There was also a significantly lower Chl a/b ratio in gap edge-grown plants. Maximum photosynthetic rate (P max ) was 60 % higher in the gap-centre treatment. These results are consistent with the functional expectation that shade-acclimated plants will increase their radiant-energy harvesting capacity as a result of limited photon input while gap-acclimated plants will operate more efficiently under bright irradiance by increasing their carboxylation capacity. This inverse relationship between the capacity of the light-harvesting component and the carboxylation component is, however, only partially supported by Chl fluorescence measurements of intact leaves. Compared to gap centre-grown plants, the lower total fluorescence quenching in gap edge-grown plants indicated a lower carboxylation capacity that was in accord with the observed P max . However, edge-grown seedlings did not show the expected improvement in light-harvesting efficiency and reduction in electron transport of photosystem 2 inferred from their marginally greater t1/2 and lower Fv/Fm, respectively. Hence while maples acclimated to different irradiation levels by adjusting leaf N and Chl contents, they showed limited acclimation potential at the photosystem level. Variations in the leaf traits examined had only minor effect on low irradiance photosynthesis and sunfleck utilization.

Additional key words: chlorophyll content; chlorophyll fluorescence; gap edge; irradiance; leaf nitrogen content; maple; red:far red irradiation; respiration; specific leaf mass

Published: March 1, 1997  Show citation

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Lei, T.T., & Lechowicz, M.J. (1997). Functional responses of Acer species to two simulated forest gap environments: leaf-level properties and photosynthesis. Photosynthetica, 33(2), 277-289. doi: 10.1023/A:1022124732716
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