Characteristics of Light Availability Under Forest Canopies and Its Influences on Photosynthesis of Understory Plants

Available light under forest canopies includes two components, diffuse light and direct light (sunflecks), and is characterized as low and highly dynamic. Understory habitats under different forest types experience different light conditions. Sunflecks as a critical resource for understory plants have great importance on carbon gain of understory plants. Under the light-limiting habitat, understory plants exhibit a high light utilization efficiency attributed by a post-illumination CO2 uptake. Although different species have different photosynthetic responses, shade plants appear to be acclimated to respond more quickly and efficiently to sunflecks. This acclimation includes a faster induction, relatively lower rate of induction loss, lower photosynthetic compensation point, and higher water use efficiency. The process that shade plants harvest light energy is not well known. Studies of photosynthetic responses to sunflecks in natural conditions are rare. Little is known about constraints on sunfleck utilization, which may change seasonally. Extensive field studies in conjunction with laboratory investigations will be needed to further understand potential and actual constraints on sunfleck utilization. Most studies on photosynthetic responses to fluctuating light condition were done in the level of leaves. Fluctuating light utilization on the basis of whole plants and populations presents future challenges to ecologists.

Effects of planting dates and shading on carbohydrate content,yield,and fiber quality in cotton with respect to fruiting positions

Two cotton（Gossypium hirsutum L.） cultivars, Kemian 1（cool temperature-tolerant） and Sumian 15（cool temperaturesensitive） were used to study the effects of cool temperature on carbohydrates, yield, and fiber quality in cotton bolls located at different fruiting positions（FP）. Cool temperatures were created using late planting and low light. The experiment was conducted in 2010 and 2011 using two planting dates（OPD, the optimized planting date, 25 April; LPD, the late planting date, 10 June） and two shading levels of crop relative light rate（CRLR, 100 and 60%）. Compared with fruiting position 1（FP1）, cotton yield and yield components（fiber quality, leaf sucrose and starch content, and fiber cellulose） were all decreased on FP3 under all treatments. Compared with OPD-CRLR 100%, other treatments（OPD-CRLR 60%, LPD-CRLR 100%, and LPD-CRLR 60%） had significantly decreased lint yield at both FPs of both cultivars, but especially at FP3 and in Sumian 15; this decrease was mainly caused by a large decline in boll number. All fiber quality indices decreased under late planting and shading except fiber length at FP1 with OPD-CRLR 60%, and a greater reduction was observed at FP3 and in Sumian 15. Sucrose content of the subtending leaf and fiber increased under LPD compared to OPD, whereas it decreased under CRLR 60% compared to CRLR 100%, which led to decreased fiber cellulose content. Therefore, shading primarily decreased the ＂source＂ sucrose content in the subtending leaf whereas late planting diminished translocation of sucrose towards cotton fiber. Notably, as planting date was delayed and light was decreased, more carbohydrates were distributed to leaf and bolls at FP1 than those at FP3, resulting in higher yield and better fiber quality at FP1, and a higher proportion of bolls and carbohydrates allocated at FP3 of Kemian 1 compared to that of Sumian 15. In conclusion, cotton yield and fiber quality were reduced less at FP1 compared to those at FP3 under low temperature and low light conditions. Thus, reduced cotton yield and fiber quality loss can be minimized by selecting low temperature tolerant cultivars under both low temperature and light conditions.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis facilitates apricot seedling(Prunus sibirica L.)growth and photosynthesis in northwest China

Arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi can successfully enhance photosynthesis(P_(n))and plants growth in agricultural or grassland ecosystems.However,how the symbionts affect species restoration in sunlight-intensive areas remains largely unexplored.Therefore,this study’s objective was to assess the effect of AM fungi on apricot seedling physiology,within a specific time period,in northwest China.In 2010,an experimental field was established in Shaanxi Province,northwest China.The experimental treatments included two AM fungi inoculation levels(0 or 100 g of AM fungal inoculum per seedling),three shade levels(1900,1100,and 550µmol m^(−2) s^(−1)),and three ages(1,3,and 5 years)of transplantation.We examined growth,Pn,and morphological indicators of apricot(Prunus sibirica L.)seedling performances in 2011,2013,and 2015.The colonization rate in mycorrhizal seedlings with similar amounts of shade is higher than the corresponding controls.The mycorrhizal seedling biomass is significantly higher than the corresponding non-mycorrhizal seedling biomass.Generally,P_(n),stomatal conductance(G_(s)),transpiration rate(T_(r)),and water use efficiency are also significantly higher in the mycorrhizal seedlings.Moreover,mycorrhizal seedlings with light shade(LS)have the highest Pn.WUE is increased in non-mycorrhizal seedlings because of the reduction in T_(r),while T_(r) is increased in mycorrhizal seedlings with shade.There is a significant increase in the N,P,and K fractions detected in roots compared with shoots.This means that LS had apparent benefits for mycorrhizal seedlings.Our results also indicate that AM fungi,combined with LS,exert a positive effect on apricot behavior.