Cold Tolerance of the Photosynthetic Apparatus: Pleiotropic Relationship between Photosynthetic Performance and Specific Leaf Area of Maize Seedlings

To investigate the importance of light on healing and acclimatization, in the present study, grafted watermelon seedlings were exposed to darkness (D) or light, provided by blue (B), red (R), a mixture of R (68%) and B (RB), or white (W; 35% B, 49% intermediate spectra, 16% R) LEDs for 12 days. Survival ratio, root and shoot growth, soluble carbohydrate content, photosynthetic pigments content, and photosynthetic performance were evaluated. Seedling survival was not only strongly limited in D but the survived seedlings had an inferior shoot and root development, reduced chlorophyll content, and attenuated photosynthetic efficiency. RB-exposed seedlings had a less-developed root system. R-exposed seedlings showed leaf epinasty, and had the smallest leaf area, reduced chlorophyll content, and suppressed photosynthetic apparatus performance. The R-exposed seedlings contained the highest amount of soluble carbohydrate and together with D-exposed seedlings the lowest amount of chlorophyll in their scions. B-exposed seedlings showed the highest chlorophyll content and improved overall PSII photosynthetic functioning. W-exposed seedling had the largest leaf area, and closely resembled the photosynthetic properties of RB-exposed seedlings. We assume that, during healing of grafted seedlings monochromatic R light should be avoided. Instead, W and monochromatic B light may be willingly adopted due to their promoting effect on shoot, pigments content, and photosynthetic efficiency.

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Variability examination of photosynthetic pigment content and specific leaf area in individual maize (Zea mays L.) plants

Acta Agraria Debreceniensis ◽

10.34101/actaagrar/74/1681 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 153-157

Author(s):

Attila Simkó ◽

Szilvia Veres

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Photosynthetic Pigment ◽

Photosynthetic Apparatus ◽

Plant Production ◽

Content Ratio ◽

Maize Genotype ◽

Photosynthetic Pigment Content

Currently, maize is one of the most important crops (Zea mays L.) both globally and in Hungary. We compared physiological parameters of a maize genotype – p9903 – at two different experimental sites in a field experiment. Furthermore, we examined these parameters’ variability in individual plants on the leaves with different ages. Absolute chlorophyll content of the leaves were analysed, separately that of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. We also measured the absolute carotenoid contents of leaves. Furthermore, we calculated these photosynthetic pigments’ content ratio. Specific leaf area (SLA) and dry matter weight were also measured in order to characterise plant production. The results obviously reflect the decreasing in the efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus on the low yield site. Otherwise, we identify significant differences only in certain cases of leaves.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Specific leaf area and hydraulic traits explain niche segregation along an aridity gradient in Mediterranean woody species.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.726969026.793525380 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

David Merritt

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Woody Species ◽

Niche Segregation ◽

Aridity Gradient

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Phytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles on Tobacco Plants: Evaluation of Coating Effects on Photosynthetic Performance and Chloroplast Ultrastructure

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11030744 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 744

Author(s):

Petra Peharec Štefanić ◽

Karla Košpić ◽

Daniel Mark Lyons ◽

Lara Jurković ◽

Biljana Balen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide ◽

Photosynthetic Apparatus ◽

Chloroplast Ultrastructure ◽

Photosynthetic Performance ◽

Pigment Content ◽

Inhibitory Effects ◽

Tobacco Plants ◽

Agriculture And Food ◽

The Impact

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most exploited nanomaterial in agriculture and food production, and their release into the environment raises concern about their impact on plants. Since AgNPs are prone to biotransformation, various surface coatings are used to enhance their stability, which may modulate AgNP-imposed toxic effects. In this study, the impact of AgNPs stabilized with different coatings (citrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) and AgNO3 on photosynthesis of tobacco plants as well as AgNP stability in exposure medium have been investigated. Obtained results revealed that AgNP-citrate induced the least effects on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and pigment content, which could be ascribed to their fast agglomeration in the exposure medium and consequently weak uptake. The impact of AgNP-PVP and AgNP-CTAB was more severe, inducing a deterioration of photosynthetic activity along with reduced pigment content and alterations in chloroplast ultrastructure, which could be correlated to their higher stability, elevated Ag accumulation, and surface charge. In conclusion, intrinsic properties of AgNP coatings affect their stability and bioavailability in the biological medium, thereby indirectly contributing changes in the photosynthetic apparatus. Moreover, AgNP treatments exhibited more severe inhibitory effects compared to AgNO3, which indicates that the impact on photosynthesis is dependent on the form of Ag.

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El Niño-Southern Oscillation affects the water relations of tree species in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89835-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Palomo-Kumul ◽

Mirna Valdez-Hernández ◽

Gerald A. Islebe ◽

Manuel J. Cach-Pérez ◽

José Luis Andrade

Keyword(s):

Water Potential ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Tree Species ◽

Deciduous Species ◽

Mature Trees ◽

Seasonally Dry ◽

Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽

Dry Tropical Forests

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of ENSO 2015/16 on the water relations of eight tree species in seasonally dry tropical forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The functional traits: wood density, relative water content in wood, xylem water potential and specific leaf area were recorded during the rainy season and compared in three consecutive years: 2015 (pre-ENSO conditions), 2016 (ENSO conditions) and 2017 (post-ENSO conditions). We analyzed tree size on the capacity to respond to water deficit, considering young and mature trees, and if this response is distinctive in species with different leaf patterns in seasonally dry tropical forests distributed along a precipitation gradient (700–1200 mm year−1). These traits showed a strong decrease in all species in response to water stress in 2016, mainly in the driest site. Deciduous species had lower wood density, higher predawn water potential and higher specific leaf area than evergreen species. In all cases, mature trees were more tolerant to drought. In the driest site, there was a significant reduction in water status, regardless of their leaf phenology, indicating that seasonally dry tropical forests are highly vulnerable to ENSO. Vulnerability of deciduous species is intensified in the driest areas and in the youngest trees.

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