Combining Ability Analyses of Net Photosynthesis Rate in Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

In perspective of breeding high-yield hybrid pepper varieties, combining ability analysis of net photosynthesis rate at different phases of flowering and fruit setting in pepper was made with 15 cross combinations from 6 parents by （1/2） n （n- 1） diallel crosses. There are relatively large differences not only in general combining ability （GCA） effect among different parents and at different phases of flowering and fruit setting, but also in specific combining ability （SCA） effect among different hybrids. There are relatively large GCA effects in late parents but relatively less GCA effects in early parents. No obvious laws have been found in the relationship between SCA effects and maturity of hybrids. Variances of SCA are larger than those of GCA. Heritability is less but influence of environment is larger. Correlation analysis of combining ability between net photosynthesis rate and agronomic character or resistances to main diseases has showed that correlation coefficients of GCA are relatively large at the medium phase and the late phase of flowering and fruit setting. Net photosynthesis rate is more relative to leaf characters and fruit characters. Correlation coefficients of SCA are relatively large at the early phase and the late phase of flowering and fruit setting. Net photosynthesis rate is more relative to leaf characters and plant characters at the early phase but to plant characters and fruit characters at the late phase. Correlation coefficients of SCA between net photosynthesis rate and resistances to main diseases are larger than those of GCA. The combining abilities of net photosynthesis rate at different phases of flowering and fruit setting are positively correlated with those of yield per plant. The combining ability is an important parameter of breeding of high photosynthesis hybrid pepper varieties.

CO_2, H_2O exchange and stomatal regulation of regenerated Camptotheca acuminata plantlets during ex vitro acclimatization

For finding the changes in CO2, H20 exchange and their stomatal regulation during ex vitro acclimatization of regenerated Camptotheca acuminata plantlets, the net photosynthesis rate （Pn）, respiration rate （Ro）, light compensation point （Lc） and light saturation point （Ls）, transpiration rate （Tr）, stomatal conductance （gs） and water use efficiency（WUE） were measured during 37 days of ex vitro acclimatization. The results showed that Pn sharply increased until 29 days, then slightly decreased. A substantial decrease in Lc and a substantial increase of Ls in the former two weeks were observed, indicating the light regime enlargement for effective leaf photosynthesis. Tr and gs abruptly decreased during the first week then linearly increased until 29days ex vitro acclimatization, reflecting the strong regulation effect of stomata on water changes of ex vitro acclimating plantlets. Stomatal regulation effect on CO2 exchange was different from that on water exchange, i.e. P, was almost independent of gs during the first week, while P. was significantly correlated with gs thereafter （i.e. dual patterns）. Different from dual patterns of gs-Pn relation, the Tr monotonously linearly increased with gs. Furthermore, WUE was almost independent on gs during the first week, while a marked decreasing tendency with gs was found thereafter. At the beginning of the acclimatization, WUE was mainly determined by photosynthetic capacity, while transpiration becomes a main determinant factor for WUE from 7 to 37 days＇ acclimatization.

Studies on photoprotective mechanism of desert plant Reaumuria soongorica under progressive soil drying

Reaumuria soongorica （pall.） Maxim, a perennial desert semi-shrub, is widely found in semi-arid areas of China. It shows strong tolerance to drought, high temperature and intense radiation in its natural habitat. In the present study, photoprotective mechanism of R. soongorica was investigated by analyzing diurnal variations of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorecence parameters during progressive soil drying. The results show that leaf water potential of R. soongorica decreased when the soil water content dropped. Diurnal patterns of net photosynthetic rate （Pn） changed from ＂two peaks＂ to ＂one peak＂ under drought stress, and the leaf water use efficiency （WUE） increased under moderate drought and declined under severe drought. Pn , the primary maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII （Fv/Fm） and the quantum efficiency of non-cyclic electron transport of PSII （ΦPSII） decreased obviously at noon, and showed a photoinhibition phenomenon. But, the non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence （NPQ） soon reached its maximum in the day and then remained almost at the high level until 17：00, indicating that the xanthophylls cycle-dependent thermal energy dissipation played an important role. Diurnal variations of the original chlorophyll fluorescence （Fo） increased at first and then decreased. The increased value of F o under drought stress indicates that there was a reversible inactivation of PSII reaction center. These results indicate that the photoprotective mechanism in R. soongorica was the photoinhibition by using both the xanthophylls cycle-dependent thermal energy dissipation and the reversible inactivation of PSII reaction center under drought stress.

Environmental parameters and tree physiology in two semiarid land use systems in Brazil

To determine if reduced tree densities(number of trees per unit area) lead to changes in micro-meteorological and tree physiological characteristics, two areas with different tree densities were assessed. One was an agrosilvopastoral system(AGP) with low tree density, and the other, a secondary forest(SF) with greater tree numbers, both located in a semiarid region of Brazil. Data were collected simultaneously by two automated weather stations: rainfall, air(T_a) and soil temperatures(T_(s5 cm)), relative humidity(RHair), photosynthetically active radiation(PAR), soil moisture at two depths(M_(s30 cm)and M_(s50 cm)),and wind velocity(Vw). Net photosynthesis in Cordia oncocalyx Allema?o trees was measured with an infrared gas analyzer in February, March, May, July, August and September 2011, which encompasses a rainy period followed by a dry period. Average values of Ta, T_(s5 cm), Vwand PAR were greater and average values of RHairand M_(s50 cm) were lesser in the AGP. Photosynthetic rates were greater in plants growing under the AGP at the onset of the dry season when Vw, PAR and T_(s5 cm)were greater and M_(s50 cm) was lesser. Photosynthetic rates correlated strongly with physical parameters during the dry season, especially under SF. Differences in tree numbers between AGP and SF led to differences in physical environmental parameters;however, the latter had less influence on photosynthetic rates in C. oncocalyx during the rainy season. During the dry season, all physical parameters had an impact on net photosynthesis under SF but not under AGP. This indicates a certain independence of plants in AGP.

Leaf Gas Exchange,Photon Capture and Light Harvest in Aldina heterophylla along a Vegetation Gradient in the Amazon Rainforest

Adaptation along environmental gradients is presumed to induce physiological and biochemical leaf changes in plant species. In this paper, we report how leaf gas exchange, photon capture and light harvest for photosynthesis in Aldina heterophylla change along a vegetation gradient from low stature open vegetation on extremely nutrient-poor white sand (Campina, CP), through inter-mediate closet type (Campinarana, CR) to tall closed rain forest (RF). The pigment concentrations did not differ between the CP, CR and RF habitats. The performance index for the photosynthesis (PIABS) of individuals in RF and CP was approximately 30% higher than that in CR individuals. This species showed similar potential rates of photosynthesis in the different vegetation types;however, the dark respiration rates were higher in CP. Our results indicate that the differences in the leaves and soil nitrogen concentrations are not enough to change the levels of gas exchange. Other environmental features may be driving the observed morphological features in this gradient, in particular, the tree height.