Photosynthetica 2008, 46(4):604-610 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0101-1

Leaf and photosynthetic characteristics of pioneer and forest species in tropical montane habitats

M. A. Sobrado1,*
1 Laboratorio de Biología Ambiental de Plantas, Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela

Gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements of expanding and adult leaves of four plant species were compared under field conditions. The pioneer species (PS) tended to have thinner leaves with lower nitrogen content and higher stomatal density compared to forest species (FS). Expanding leaves featured lower photosynthetic pigment contents and gas exchange capacity than adult leaves consistent with an immature photosynthetic apparatus. At the time of maximum irradiance, sun-exposed leaves of both PS and FS showed alteration of initial, variable, and maximum fluorescence as well as their ratios indicating photoinhibition. However, leaves recovered to some extent at predawn, suggesting the activation of photoprotective mechanisms. Sun-exposed leaves had comparable responses to high irradiance.

Additional key words: Chletra; chlorophyll a fluorescence; Croton; Ficus; intercellular CO2 concentration; leaf age; Oyedea; photoinhibition; photoprotection; stomatal conductance

Received: June 10, 2008; Accepted: September 8, 2008; Published: December 1, 2008  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Sobrado, M.A. (2008). Leaf and photosynthetic characteristics of pioneer and forest species in tropical montane habitats. Photosynthetica, 46(4), 604-610. doi: 10.1007/s11099-008-0101-1
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. Baruch, Z., Hernández, A.B., Montilla, M.G.: [Growth dynamics, phenology and dry matter allocation in native and exotic grasses in a neotropical savanna.]-Ecotrópicos 2: 1-13, 1989. [In Span.]
    2. Bazzaz, F.C.: The physiological ecology in plant succession.-Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 10: 351-371, 1979. Go to original source...
    3. Bazzaz, F.A., Mezga, D.M.: Primary productivity and microenvironment in an Ambrosia dominated field.-Amer. Midland Naturalist 90: 70-78, 1973. Go to original source...
    4. Beardsell, D., Norden, U.: Ficus rubiginosa 'Variegata', a chlorophyll-deficient chimera with mosaic patterns created by cell divisions from the outer meristematic layer.-Ann. Bot. 94: 51-58, 2004. Go to original source...
    5. Caemmerer, S. von, Farquhar, G.D.: Some relationships between the biochemistry of photosynthesis and the gas exchange of leaves.-Planta 153: 376-387, 1981. Go to original source...
    6. Chow, W.S.: Photoprotection and photoinhibition.-In: Bittar, E.E., Barber, J. (ed.): Advances in Molecular and Cell Biology. Molecular Process of Photosynthesis. Pp. 151-196. JAI Press, Greenwich 1994. Go to original source...
    7. Cordón, G.B., Lagorio, M.G.: Optical properties of the adaxial and abaxial faces of leaves. Chlorophyll fluorescence, absorption and scattering coefficients.-Photochem. photobiol. Sci. 6: 873-882, 2007. Go to original source...
    8. Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III: Photoprotection and other responses of plants to high light stress.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant mol. Biol. 43: 599-626, 1992. Go to original source...
    9. Esau, K.: Anatomy of Seed Plants. 2nd Ed.-Wiley, New York 1965.
    10. Hölscher, D., Leuschner, C., Bohman, K., Hagemeier, M., Juhrbandt, J., Tjitrosemito, S.: Leaf gas exchange of trees in old-grown and young secondary forest stands in Sulawesi, Indonesia.-Trees 20: 278-285, 2006. Go to original source...
    11. Huc, R., Ferhi, A., Guehl, J.M.: Pioneer and late stage tropical rainforest tree species (French Guiana) growing under common conditions differ in leaf gas exchange regulation, carbon isotope discrimination and leaf water potential.-Oecologia 99: 297-305, 1994. Go to original source...
    12. Kitajima, M., Butler, W.L.: Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and primary photochemistry in chloroplasts by dibromothymoquinone.-Biochim. biophys. Acta 376: 105-115, 1975. Go to original source...
    13. Krause, G.H., Virgo, A., Winter, K.: High susceptibility to photoinhibition of young leaves of tropical forest trees.-Planta 197: 583-591, 1995. Go to original source...
    14. Larcher, W.: The effect of environmental and physiological variables on the carbon dioxide gas exchange of trees.-Photosynthetica 3: 167-198, 1969.
    15. Lichtenthaler, H.K., Buschmann, C., Knapp, M.: How to correctly determine the different chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and the chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio RFd of leaves with the PAM fluorometer.-Photosynthetica 43: 379-393, 2005. Go to original source...
    16. Lichtenthaler, H.K., Wellburn, A.R.: Determinations of total carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b of leaf extracts in different solvents.-Biochem. Soc. Trans. 603: 591-592, 1983. Go to original source...
    17. Long, S.P., Humphries, S., Falkowski, P.G.: Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in nature.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant mol. Biol. 45: 633-662, 1994. Go to original source...
    18. Mooney, H.A., Björkman, O., Hall, A.E., Medina, E., Tomlinson, P.B.: The study of the physiological ecology of tropical plants - current status and needs.-BioScience 30: 22-26, 1980. Go to original source...
    19. Monteith, J.L., Unsworth, M.H.: Principles of Environmental Physics.-Edward Arnold, London-New York-Melbourne-Auckland 1990.
    20. Parrish, J.A.D., Bazzaz, F.A.: Competitive interactions in plant communities of different successional ages.-Ecology 63: 314-320, 1982. Go to original source...
    21. Poorter, L., Kwant, R., Hernández, R., Medina, E., Werger, M.J.A.: Leaf optical properties in Venezuelan cloud forest trees.-Tree Physiol. 20: 519-526, 2000. Go to original source...
    22. Ranjbarfordoei, A., Samson, R., Van Damme, P.: Chlorophyll fluorescence performance of sweet almong [Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. Webb] in response to salinity stress induced by NaCl.-Photosynthetica 44: 513-522, 2006. Go to original source...
    23. Roháček, K.: Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters: the definitions, photosynthetic meaning, and mutual relationships.-Photosynthetica 40: 13-29, 2002. Go to original source...
    24. ©esták, Z.: Ratio of photosystem 1 and 2 particles in young and old leaves of spinach and radish.-Photosynthetica 3: 285-287, 1969.
    25. ©esták, Z.: Chlorophylls and carotenoids during leaf ontogeny.-In: ©esták, Z. (ed.): Photosynthesis During Leaf Development. Pp. 76-106. Academia, Praha; Dr W. Junk Publ., Dordrecht-Boston-Lancaster 1985. Go to original source...
    26. ©esták, Z., ©iffel, P.: Leaf-age related differences in chlorophyll fluorescence.-Photosynthetica 33: 347-369, 1997.
    27. Sobrado, M.A.: Leaf photosynthesis and water loss as influenced by leaf age and seasonal drought in an evergreen tree.-Photosynthetica 32: 563-568, 1996.
    28. Sobrado, M.A.: Hydraulic characteristics and leaf water use efficiency in trees from tropical montane habitats.-Trees 17: 400-406, 2003. Go to original source...
    29. Sobrado, M.A.: Leaf characteristics and diurnal variation of chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves of the 'Bana' vegetation of the Amazon region.-Photosynthetica 46: 202-207, 2008. Go to original source...
    30. Steyermark, J., Huber, O.: [Flora the Avila National Park.]-Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales, Caracas 1978 [In Span.].
    31. Weng, J.H.: Underestimate of photosystem 2 efficiency in the field due to high temperature resulting from leaf clipping and its amendment.-Photosynthetica 44: 467-470, 2006. Go to original source...
    32. Wilhelmová, N., Procházková, D., ©indelářová, M., ©indelář, L.: Photosynthesis in leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. infected with tobacco mosaic virus.-Photosynthetica 43: 597-602, 2005. Go to original source...
    33. Witkowski, E.T.F., Lamont, B.B.: Leaf specific mass confounds leaf density and thickness.-Oecologia 88: 486-493, 1991. Go to original source...

    Return to the content