Spatial and age-dependent modifications of photosynthetic capacity in four Mediterranean oak species

Functional Plant Biology : FPB
Ulo NiinemetsWolfram Beyschlag

Abstract

Drought is one of the most important limitations of photosynthesis in Mediterranean climates. However, Mediterranean sclerophyllous species with long-lived leaves also support extensive and dynamic canopies, with potentially large spatial and age-dependent gradients. We studied within-canopy and temporal patterns in foliage structure, chemistry and photosynthesis in the evergreen species Quercus coccifera L., Q. ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. in Bol. and Q. suber L. and in the semi-deciduous marcescent species Q. faginea Lam. to determine the role of within-canopy shading and leaf age on foliage functioning. There was a 2.5-fold within-canopy gradient in leaf dry mass per unit area (MA) that was accompanied by a 3-fold range in area-based leaf nitrogen (N) content, the capacity for photosynthetic electron transport (Jmax) and maximum Rubisco carboxylase activity (Vcmax), while the fractional investments of leaf nitrogen in electron transport (FB) and in Rubisco (FR) were relatively constant within the canopy. Leaf aging led to increased MA, larger or constant mass-based N content, larger phosphorous (P) and structural carbon contents, but decreased movable cation contents. Age-dependent increases in MA and N per dry mass ...Continue Reading

References

Mar 29, 2001·Tree Physiology·E SaurD N Fife
Apr 23, 2004·Nature·Ian J WrightRafael Villar

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Citations

May 26, 2016·Photosynthesis Research·Christos Chondrogiannis, George Grammatikopoulos
Nov 29, 2016·The New Phytologist·Alistair RogersSönke Zaehle
Jun 22, 2010·Plant, Cell & Environment·Laurent MissonMatthew G Letts
Mar 11, 2011·Plant, Cell & Environment·Gregorio EgeaAntonio Diaz-Espejo
Jul 10, 2007·Plant, Cell & Environment·Antonio Diaz-EspejoJosé Enrique Fernández
Feb 16, 2016·The New Phytologist·Cecilia Chavana-BryantFrance F Gerard
Oct 16, 2010·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Dennis D BaldocchiDario Papale
Apr 12, 2019·The Science of the Total Environment·Cecilia Chavana-BryantFrance F Gerard

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