Premium
Photosynthetic and anatomical responses of E ucalyptus grandis leaves to potassium and sodium supply in a field experiment
Author(s) -
BATTIELACLAU PATRICIA,
LACLAU JEANPAUL,
BERI CONSTANCE,
MIETTON LAURIANE,
MUNIZ MARTA R.ALMEIDA,
ARENQUE BRUNA CERSÓZIMO,
DE CASSIA PICCOLO MARISA,
JORDANMEILLE LIONEL,
BOUILLET JEANPIERRE,
NOUVELLON YANN
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12131
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , potassium , sodium , chemistry , sugar , assimilation (phonology) , botany , soil water , horticulture , biology , ecology , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
Although vast areas in tropical regions have weathered soils with low potassium ( K ) levels, little is known about the effects of K supply on the photosynthetic physiology of trees. This study assessed the effects of K and sodium ( Na ) supply on the diffusional and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in E ucalyptus grandis leaves. A field experiment comparing treatments receiving K (+ K ) or Na (+ Na ) with a control treatment ( C ) was set up in a K ‐deficient soil. The net CO 2 assimilation rates were twice as high in + K and 1.6 times higher in + Na than in the C as a result of lower stomatal and mesophyll resistance to CO 2 diffusion and higher photosynthetic capacity. The starch content was higher and soluble sugar was lower in + K than in C and + Na , suggesting that K starvation disturbed carbon storage and transport. The specific leaf area, leaf thickness, parenchyma thickness, stomatal size and intercellular air spaces increased in + K and + Na compared to C . Nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations were also higher in + K and + Na than in C . These results suggest a strong relationship between the K and Na supply to E . grandis trees and the functional and structural limitations to CO 2 assimilation rates.