Premium
Light‐Induced Adaptive Responses under Greenhouse and Controlled Conditions in the Fern Pteris cretica var. ouvrardii
Author(s) -
HARIRI M.,
PRIOUL J. L.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1978.tb01546.x
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , frond , fern , botany , pteris vittata , biology , irradiance , horticulture , photosynthetic capacity , ecology , hyperaccumulator , physics , soil water , quantum mechanics , soil contamination
Abstract The photosynthetic capabilities of the fern Pteris cretica var. ouvrardii were analysed by means of the light response curves of CO 2 exchange. In control growth conditions (greenhouse, low‐light: 20–32 W m −2 ); photosynthesis was shown to be saturated for low irradiance (20–25 W m −2 ); the saturating photosynthetic rate, very low as compared to higher plants, was due to an extremely high intracellular resistance. When irradiance during the photosynthesis measurement was higher than 60–80 W m −2 , a constant decline of net CO 2 exchange as a function of time was observed. When irradiance during growth was enhanced, whether in greenhouse (20–250 W m −2 ) or controlled (62 W m −2 ) conditions, the first fronds that had developed in the new condition from the crosier stage exhibited decreased net maximal photosynthesis and a decreased efficiency in low light, but saturating irradiance was unmodified. However, the fronds whose entire differentiation (from meristem) occurred under these moderate irradiances (plants defoliated of all fronds and crosiers at the time of transfer), possessed more efficient photosynthetic characteristics than control plants. Pteris is able to grow under extreme shade conditions (4–8 W m −2 ); light saturating photosynthesis and efficiency are higher under extreme shade than under control conditions. These adaptive characteristics indicate that Pteris is a well‐adapted shade species.