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Moderate water stress causes different stomatal and non‐stomatal changes in the photosynthetic functioning of P haseolus vulgaris L . genotypes
Author(s) -
Ramalho J. C.,
Zlatev Z. S.,
Leitão A. E.,
Pais I. P.,
Fortunato A. S.,
Lidon F. C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.12018
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , biology , photosystem ii , photoprotection , xanthophyll , photoinhibition , chlorophyll fluorescence , horticulture , botany
The impact of moderate water deficit on the photosynthetic apparatus of three P haseolus vulgaris L . cultivars, P lovdiv 10 (P10), Do brudjanski Ran ( DR ) and P relom ( P rel), was investigated. Water shortage had less impact on leaf hydration, RWC (predawn and midday) and predawn water potential in P rel. RW C and Ψ p were more reduced in P 10, while there was no osmotic adjustment in any cultivar. Although drought drastically reduced stomatal opening in P 10 and DR , reduced A max indicated non‐stomatal limitations that contributed to the negligible P n . These limitations were on potential thylakoid electron transport rates of PSI and II, pointing to photosystem functioning as a major limiting step in photosynthesis. This agrees with decreases in actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (F v ′/F m ′), quantum yield of photosynthetic non‐cyclic electron transport (ϕ e ) and energy‐driven photochemical events (q P ), although the impact on these parameters would also include down‐regulation processes. When compared to DR , P rel retained a higher functional state of the photosynthetic machinery, justifying reduced need for photoprotective mechanisms (non‐photochemical quenching, zeaxanthin, lutein, β‐carotene) and maintenance of the balance between energy capture and dissipative pigments. The highest increases in fructose, glucose, arabinose and sorbitol in P rel might be related to tolerance to a lower oxidative state. All cultivars had reduced A max due to daytime stomatal closure in well‐watered conditions. Under moderate drought, P rel had highest tolerance, higher leaf hydration and maintenance of important photochemical use of energy. However, water shortage caused appreciable non‐stomatal limitations to photosynthesis linked to regulation/imbalance at the metabolic level (and growth) in all cultivars. This included damage, as reflected in decreased potential photosystem functioning, pointing to higher sensitivity of photosynthesis to drought than is commonly assumed.