Diurnal Change of the Photosynthetic Light-Response Curve of Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), an Emergent Aquatic Plant

Understanding plant physiological responses to high temperature is an important concern pertaining to climate change. However, compared with terrestrial plants, information about aquatic plants remains limited. Since the degree of midday depression of photosynthesis under high temperature depends on soil water conditions, it is expected that emergent aquatic plants, for which soil water conditions are always saturated, will show different patterns compared with terrestrial plants. We investigated the diurnal course of the photosynthetic light-response curve and incident light intensity for a freshwater emergent plant, buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata L.; Menyanthaceae) in a cool temperate region. The effect of midday depression was observed only on a very hot day, but not on a moderately hot day, in summer. The diurnal course of photosynthetic light-response curves on this hot day showed that latent morning reduction of photosynthetic capacity started at dawn, preceding the apparent depression around the midday, in agreement with results reported in terrestrial plants. We concluded that (1) midday depression of emergent plants occurs when the stress intensity exceeds the species’ tolerance, and (2) measurements of not only photosynthetic rate under field conditions but also diurnal course of photosynthetic light-response curve are necessary to quantify the effect of midday depression.

Effects of Epichloë sinensis Endophyte and Host Ecotype on Physiology of Festuca sinensis under Different Soil Moisture Conditions

This study explored the effects of the Epichloë sinensis endophyte on growth, photosynthesis, ionic content (K+ and Ca2+), phytohormones (abscisic acid—ABA, cytokinin—CTK, indolE−3-acetic acid—IAA, and gibberellin—GA), and elements—C, N, P (in the shoot and root) in two ecotypes of Festuca sinensis (ecotypes 111 and 141) under different soil water conditions (35% and 65% relative saturation moisture content (RSMC)). The results showed that 35% RSMC inhibited the plants’ growth, and compared with 65% RSMC, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the growth and photosynthesis indices, the contents of CTK and GA, Ca2+ concentration, and the contents of C, N, and P (in both the aboveground and underground parts) under 35% RSMC. E. sinensis had beneficial effects on host growth and stress tolerance. Under both 35% and 65% RSMC, the presence of E. sinensis significantly (p < 0.05) increased host plant height, tiller number, root length, root volume, shoot dry weight, chlorophyll content, and the rate of photosynthesis of both ecotypes. Furthermore, the shoot C, N, and P contents in plants infected with E. sinensis (E+) from the two ecotypes, under both conditions of RSMC, were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in corresponding plants that were not infected with E. sinensis (E−). Under 35% RSMC, the contents of ABA, K+, Ca2+, and root P contents in E+ plants were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in corresponding E− plants in both ecotypes. However, under 65% RSMC, root C, N, and P contents in E+ plants of ecotype 111 and 141 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in corresponding E− plants. In addition, the host ecotype also had effects on host growth and stress tolerance; the growth and photosynthetic indices of ecotype 141 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of ecotype 111 under 35% RSMC, which suggested that ecotype 141 is more competitive than ecotype 111 under water deficiency conditions. These findings suggest that the endophyte improved the host plant resistance to water deficiency by maintaining the growth of the plant, improving photosynthesis, accumulating K+ and Ca2+, promoting nutrient absorption, and adjusting the metabolism of plant hormones.

Drought influences the phytolith morphology variation and its occluded carbon of leaves in Dendrocalamus Ronganensis during growing season

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract:&amp;#160;&lt;/strong&gt;Being an important carbon (C) sink on Earth, phytolith occluded carbon (PhytOC) has been investigated in various soil-plant systems. Yet, the environmental factor (i.e., drought) is less studied on the variation of phytolith, its relative depositions in plant tissues, morphology variations, and occluded carbon in the soil-plant systems. In this study, we analyzed the monthly variations of phytolith production and phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) in the leaves of&lt;em&gt; Dendrocalamus ronganensis&lt;/em&gt; grown on a karst mountain in southwestern China. This study aimed to understand the drought factors influencing phytolith formation, morphology variation and carbon sequestration in plants. Our results showed that the phytolith assemblages and PhytOC between new and old leaves were significantly different, and varied with plant growth stages. The average PhytOC of old leaves and new leaves was 3.2% and 2.2%, respectively. In particular, both PhytOC and proportions of elongate, cuneiform and stomata phytolith in new leaves significantly decreased during drought months (from September to November).&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;This study suggests that PhytOC in plants is closely related to phytolith morphologies, and significantly affected by growth stage and hydrologic conditions of the growth environment. This indicates that we can improve the efficiency of phytolith carbon sequestration in plants and potentially reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide content by improving the soil water conditions required for plant growth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keywords: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Dendrocalamus ronganensis&lt;/em&gt;; phytolith; phytolith-occluded carbon; soil drought&lt;/p&gt;

The Growth Response of Pasture Brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) to Defoliation Frequency under Two Soil-Water Restriction Levels

Pasture brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) has the potential to increase current levels of herbage production and pasture persistence in New Zealand dryland, well-drained soils. However, there is little literature on the effect of defoliation management on growth of this grass under contrasting soil-water restriction levels. The growth physiology and performance of pasture brome were evaluated in pots in a glasshouse. Defoliation frequency (DF) treatments were applied based on three different accumulated growing degree-days (AGDD): 250, 500 and 1000 AGDD (high, medium, and low DF). At end of the first growing cycle (1000 AGDD), water availability was restricted to 20–25% of field capacity (FC) in half of the pots, while the other pots were maintained between 80–85% FC. Total accumulated herbage mass was positively related with the low DF and well-watered conditions (p < 0.05). At the final harvest, plants subjected to low DF had greater root mass than high and medium DF (p < 0.05). At each harvest, the leaf regrowth stage (LS) for low DF was 3.5, while for high and medium DF, the LS was 1.5 and 2.0; respectively. Tiller water-soluble carbohydrates were highest at the low DF and under 20–25% FC. Regardless of soil-water conditions, defoliation at 3.5 LS supports production, enhancing survival during a drought.

Interaction between nitrogen, soil water condition and herbicides in Urochloa plantaginea control in irrigated rice crop

ABSTRACT The present study sought to verify the existence of interactions between the soil water conditions, nitrogen and herbicides commonly used to control alexandergrass in irrigated rice crop. The experimental design was completely randomized, arranged in a 2 x 3 x 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to two soil water conditions (5 cm water depth and 100% soil water holding capacity [WHC]), three nitrogen doses (0, 80 and 160 kg of N ha-1) and four doses of herbicides (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 times the registration dose). The herbicides evaluated were cyhalofop-butyl, imazapyr + imazapic and imazethapyr. The treatments were repeated four times. Phytotoxicity and dry mass were evaluated 28 days after application. For cyhalofop-butyl and imazapyr + imazapic, the phytotoxicity at 100% WHC and 5 cm water depth conditions was higher in treatments with nitrogen fertilization. However, for imazethapyr under the 100% WHC condition of soil increased phytotoxicity in the absence of nitrogen fertilization. For the flooded condition, from the dose of 35 g of a.i. ha-1, the result in the control for the herbicide imazethapyr was optimized under the conditions of fertilization with 80 and 160 kg of N ha-1. Cyhalofop-butyl and imazapyr + imazapic undergo synergistic interaction with nitrogen fertilization and water status in the control efficiency, yet with imazethapyr, the synergistic interaction only occurs under 100% of soil WHC.

Application of biostimulants in tomato subjected to water deficit: Physiological, enzymatic and production responses

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the application of the biostimulants Seed+ and Crop+ on physiological and production variables and on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase - SOD and guaiacol peroxidase - POD) in tomato plants subjected to two soil water conditions. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in a 2 x 2 x 6 factorial scheme, with two times of application of the biostimulants (flowering and fruiting), two soil water conditions (50 and 100% of soil water holding capacity) and six biostimulants (control treatment; Seed+; Seed+ + Crop+ 1x; Seed+ + Crop+ 2x; Crop+ 1x; + Crop+ 2x). The exprimental design was completely randomized, with four repetitions. The biostimulants Seed+ and Crop+ increased the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), regardless of the time of application and water condition of the soil. The biostimulants Seed+ + Crop+ 2x and Crop+ 2x stood out in the pre-morning period, with an average Fv/Fm of 0.813, under the conditions tested. The highest SOD activity (372.12 U mg-1 of protein) was obtained with Crop+ 2x biostimulant in fruiting and under water deficit. For POD, when under water deficit, the best results were obtained with the biostimulants Seed+ + Crop+ 2x, Crop+ 1x and Crop+ 2x in flowering (810.94; 691.19 and 921.59 U mg-1 protein) and in fruiting (703.60; 800.00 and 972.62 U mg-1 protein). Thus, the use of Seed+ and Crop+ biostimulants can be an alternative to help mitigate the damage caused by water deficit in tomato crop.