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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2017, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (5): 1473-1481.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201705.017

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Photosynthetic characteristics of Emmenopterys henryi seedlings and their relationships with environmental factors

GUO Lian-jin*, DU Jia-peng, WU Yan-ping, XIAO Zhi-peng, LIAO Ting, SHAO Xiu-juan   

  1. College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, Jiangxi, China
  • Received:2016-09-14 Revised:2017-02-15 Published:2017-05-18
  • Contact: *E-mail: guolianjin@163.com
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31360145)

Abstract: To find appropriate environment for Emmenopterys henryi seedlings and develop corresponding strategies for their natural regeneration, the net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, chlorophyll content, height, basal diameter and biomass of two-year old seedlings and the relationships with environmental factors were studied in different habitats, i.e., undercanopy, crown edge, forest gap, and forest edge. In the four habitats, the maximum photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was 50-1380 μmol·m-2·s-1, net photosynthetic rate of E. henryi seedlings showed singlet diurnal variation in undercanopy and crown edge, and showed a bimodal pattern in forest gap and forest edge. Seedlings were shade-tolerant plants with the low shade-tolerant ability. The order of light saturation point, light compensation point, and dark respiration of their functional leaves in different habitats was the same as follows: forest edge > forest gap > crown edge > undercanopy, and the order was inverse when sequenced by apparent quantum efficiency. Seedlings were highly adaptable to forest gap and crown edge, with higher transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency (WUE), and net photosynthetic rate. Seedlings in forest gap had lower leaf chlorophyll content, but they grew fast and therefore showed the maximum biomass. Net photosynthetic rate of the seedlings showed significant positive correlation with PAR and stomatal conductance. For undercanopy, seedling photosynthesis was facilitated by reducing canopy density and increasing light transmittance. For forest edge, vegetation cover should be increased with reducing light intensity to ensure rapid growth of the seedlings.