Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.003

Characteristics of photosynthetic function in different leaf ages of 'Tieton' sweet cherry in a greenhouse

J.Y. AI, F. CAI, Y. CHEN, M.L. HE, C. LUO, Q.J. ZHANG
Liaoning Institute of Pomology, 115009 Xiongyue, Liaoning, China

To clarify the stages of leaf growth and development, the young leaf stage was identified at 0-20 d after emergence (DAE). The functional stage was at 20-100 DAE, with the highest functional point at 80 DAE. The leaf aging stage occurred at 100-220 DAE. During the functional stage of leaf development, optimal photosynthetic parameters and anatomical structures were achieved; the leaf area (LA) was at its largest, and the thickening rate of the palisade parenchyma was the fastest. The palisade parenchyma and LA were closely related to photosynthetic characteristics. Stomatal opening and closing, and stomatal density were greater in the functional stage than in the early stage. Both decreased during the aging stage, and the net photosynthetic rate decreased.

Additional key words: aging stage; functional stage; leaf area; palisade parenchyma; stomatal density.

Received: October 11, 2025; Revised: December 29, 2025; Accepted: January 27, 2026; Prepublished online: February 18, 2026 

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. Ahmad S., Muhammad I., Wang G.Y. et al.: Ameliorative effect of melatonin improves drought tolerance by regulating growth, photosynthetic traits and leaf ultrastructure of maize seedlings. - BMC Plant Biol. 21: 368, 2021. Go to original source...
    2. Ai J.Y., Wu M., Cai F. et al.: Effect of branch-bagged shading on the photosynthetic physiology of sweet cherry leaves in a greenhouse environment. - Horticulturae 11: 136, 2025. Go to original source...
    3. Ai J.Y., Wu M., He M.L. et al.: Analysis of photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant activity of sweet cherry leaves during different development stages. - Acta Hortic. 1408: 391-396, 2024. Go to original source...
    4. Borsuk A.M., Brodersen C.R.: The spatial distribution of chlorophyll in leaves. - Plant Physiol. 180: 1406-1417, 2019. Go to original source...
    5. Borsuk A.M., Roddy A.B., Théroux-Rancourt G., Brodersen C.R.: Structural organization of the spongy mesophyll. - New Phytol. 234: 946-960, 2022. Go to original source...
    6. Buckley T.N.: The control of stomata by water balance. - New Phytol. 168: 275-292, 2005. Go to original source...
    7. Chartzoulakis K., Bosabalidis A., Patakas A., Vemmos S.: Effects of water stress on water relations, gas exchange and leaf structure of olive tree. - Acta. Hortic. 537: 241-247, 2000. Go to original source...
    8. Chatelet D.S., Clement W.L., Sack L. et al.: The evolution of photosynthetic anatomy in Viburnum (Adoxaceae). - Int. J. Plant Sci. 174: 1277-1291, 2013. Go to original source...
    9. Cui M., Vogelmann T.C., Smith W.K.: Chlorophyll and light gradients in sun and shade leaves of Spinacia oleracea. - Plant Cell Environ. 14: 493-500, 1991. Go to original source...
    10. Cutler D.F., Botha T., Stevenson D.W.: Plant Anatomy: An Applied Approach. Pp. 320. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2008.
    11. Du B.M., Zhu Y.H., Kang H.Z. et al.: Spatial variations in stomatal traits and their coordination with leaf traits in Quercus variabilis across Eastern Asia. - Sci. Total Environ. 789: 147757, 2021. Go to original source...
    12. Engineer C.B., Hashimoto-Sugimoto M., Negi J. et al.: CO2 sensing and CO2 regulation of stomatal conductance: advances and open questions. - Trends Plant Sci. 21: 16-30, 2016. Go to original source...
    13. Evans J.R.: Leaf anatomy enables more equal access to light and CO2 between chloroplasts. - New Phytol. 143: 93-104, 1999. Go to original source...
    14. Feng L., Raza M.A., Li Z. et al.: The influence of light intensity and leaf movement on photosynthesis characteristics and carbon balance of soybean. - Front. Plant Sci. 9: 1952, 2019. Go to original source...
    15. Gago J., Daloso D.M., Carriquí M. et al.: Mesophyll conductance: the leaf corridors for photosynthesis. - Biochem. Soc. T. 48: 429-439, 2020. Go to original source...
    16. Ghosh S., Mahoney S.R., Penterman J.N. et al.: Ultrastructural and biochemical changes in chloroplasts during Brassica napus senescence. - Plant Physiol. Biochem. 39: 777-784, 2001. Go to original source...
    17. He D., Yan E.-R.: Size-dependent variations in individual traits and trait scaling relationships within a shade-tolerant evergreen tree species. - Am. J. Bot. 105: 1165-1174, 2018. Go to original source...
    18. Ho Q.T., Berghuijs H.N.C., Watté R. et al.: Three-dimensional microscale modelling of CO2 transport and light propagation in tomato leaves enlightens photosynthesis. - Plant Cell Environ. 39: 50-61, 2016. Go to original source...
    19. Jahan E., Sharwood R.E., Tissue D.T.: Effects of leaf age during drought and recovery on photosynthesis, mesophyll conductance and leaf anatomy in wheat leaves. - Front. Plant Sci. 14: 1091418, 2023. Go to original source...
    20. Maia C.F., da Silva B.R.S., Batista B.L. et al.: 24-Epibrassinolide simultaneously stimulates photosynthetic machinery and biomass accumulation in tomato plants under lead stress: Essential contributions connected to the antioxidant system and anatomical structures. - Agronomy 12: 1985, 2022. Go to original source...
    21. Marchi S., Tognetti R., Minnocci A. et al.: Variation in mesophyll anatomy and photosynthetic capacity during leaf development in a deciduous mesophyte fruit tree (Prunus persica) and an evergreen sclerophyllous Mediterranean shrub (Olea europaea). - Trees 22: 559-571, 2008. Go to original source...
    22. McAdam S.A.M., Brodribb T.J.: The evolution of mechanisms driving the stomatal response to vapor pressure deficit. - Plant Physiol. 167: 833-843, 2015. Go to original source...
    23. 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...
    24. Mott K.A.: Opinion: Stomatal responses to light and CO2 depend on the mesophyll. - Plant Cell Environ. 32: 1479-1486, 2009. Go to original source...
    25. Nicotra A.B., Leigh A., Boyce C.K. et al.: The evolution and functional significance of leaf shape in the angiosperms. - Funct. Plant Biol. 38: 535-552, 2011. Go to original source...
    26. Nobel P.S., Zaragoza L.J., Smith W.K.: Relation between mesophyll surface area, photosynthetic rate, and illumination level during development for leaves of Plectranthus parviflorus Henckel. - Plant Physiol. 55: 1067-1070, 1975. Go to original source...
    27. Reich P.B., Walters M.B., Ellsworth D.S.: Leaf age and season influence the relationships between leaf nitrogen, leaf mass per area and photosynthesis in maple and oak trees. - Plant Cell Environ. 14: 251-259, 1991. Go to original source...
    28. Roth-Nebelsick A., Hacke U.G., Voigt D. et al.: Foliar water uptake in Pinus species depends on needle age and stomatal wax structures. - Ann. Bot.-London 131: 287-300, 2023. Go to original source...
    29. Steppe K., Niinemets Ü., Teskey R.O.: Tree size- and age-related changes in leaf physiology and their influence on carbon gain. - In: Meinzer F., Lachenbruch B., Dawson T. (ed.): Size- and Age-Related Changes in Tree Structure and Function. Tree Physiology. Vol. 4. Pp. 235-253. Springer, Dordrecht 2011. Go to original source...
    30. Terashima I., Araya T., Miyazawa S.-I. et al.: Construction and maintenance of the optimal photosynthetic systems of the leaf, herbaceous plant and tree: an eco-developmental treatise. - Ann. Bot.-London 95: 507-519, 2005. Go to original source...
    31. Terashima I., Hanba Y.T., Tholen D., Niinemets Ü.: Leaf functional anatomy in relation to photosynthesis. - Plant Physiol. 155: 108-116, 2011. Go to original source...
    32. Theroux-Rancourt G., Roddy A.B., Earles J.M. et al.: Maximum CO2 diffusion inside leaves is limited by the scaling of cell size and genome size. - Proc. Biol. Sci. 288: 20203145, 2021. Go to original source...
    33. Tholen D., Boom C., Zhu X.-G.: Opinion: Prospects for improving photosynthesis by altering leaf anatomy. - Plant Sci. 197: 92-101, 2012. Go to original source...
    34. Wang R., Yu G., He N. et al.: Latitudinal variation of leaf stomatal traits from species to community level in forests: linkage with ecosystem productivity. - Sci. Rep.-UK 5: 14454, 2015. Go to original source...
    35. Wright I.J., Dong N., Maire V. et al.: Global climatic drivers of leaf size. - Science 357: 917-921, 2017. Go to original source...
    36. Wright I.J., Reich P.B., Westoby M. et al.: The worldwide leaf economics spectrum. - Nature 428: 821-827, 2004. Go to original source...
    37. Wu H., Yin D., Rodríguez-Calcerrada J. et al.: Cone-bearing effects on photosynthetic traits do not change with needle age in Pinus koraiensis trees. - New Forest. 53: 607-626, 2022. Go to original source...

    Return