Ecophysiological responses of Camellia japonica (Naidong) to different light and water conditions

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.201804.005

Abstract

Abstract: Camellia japonica (Naidong), a Tertiary relict species with abundant morphological characteristics and special genetic characteristics, is the northernmost distributed population of C. japonica. The seedlings of Naidong were subjected to two light regimes (65%, 15% of full sunlight, respectively) and three water supply regimes (75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity, respectively). Our objectives were to reveal the ecophysiological responses of Naidong under different drought and shade conditions and to examine the four existing hypotheses explaining the responses of Naidong seedlings to the interactions of shade and drought. The results showed that 15% of full sunlight reduced the growth of seedlings. Compared with those under 65% of full sunlight condition, the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and chlorophyll content of seedlings under 15% of full sunlight condition were decreased by 63.3%, 82.9% and 17.5%, respectively. In contrast, the specific leaf area, leaf water content and maximal quantum yield under 15% of full sunlight condition were enhanced by 60.3%, 8.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Drought limited the growth of seedlings,decreased their height and basal diameter. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of seedlings significantly decreased with the increases of drought stress, with their minimum values being 0.83 μmol·m^-2·s^-1, 0.30 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 and 11.56 mmol·m^-2·s^-1, respectively. With the increases of drought stress, the contents of peroxidase and catalase showed a general declining trend, but the contents of malondialdehyde and proline significantly increased. The treatment 15% of full sunlight alleviated the negative effects of drought on Naidong seedlings, which supported the above-ground facilitation hypothesis. Our results indicated that Naidong seedlings could respond and acclimate to environmental changes through various mechanisms, and the seedlings might normally grow under broad ranges of light and water stresses. In addition, providing ideal light and water conditions for the Naidong seedlings could facilitate its application in gardening.

LIU Cui-ju, GUO Xiao, WANG Kui-ling, LIU Qing-chao, SUN Ying-kun, JIANG Xin-qiang, LIU Qing-hua. Ecophysiological responses of Camellia japonica (Naidong) to different light and water conditions[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018, 29(4): 1125-1132.

References

[1] Wang Q-W (王庆伟), Yu D-P (于大炮), Dai L-M (代力民), et al. Research progress in water use efficiency of plants under global climate change. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2010, 21(12): 3255-3265 (in Chinese)
[2] Guo X, Guo W, Luo Y, et al. Morphological and biomass characteristic acclimation of trident maple (Acer buergerianum Miq.) in response to light and water stress. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 2013, 35: 1149-1159
[3] Wang K (王凯), Lei H (雷虹), Xia Y (夏扬), et al. Responses of non-structural carbohydrates of poplar seedlings to increased precipitation and nitrogen addition. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2017, 28(2): 399-407 (in Chinese)
[4] Zhang C-Y (张聪颖), Fang Y-M (方炎明), Ji H-L (姬红利), et al. Effects of shading on photosynthesis characteristics of Photinia ×frasery and Aucuba japonica var. variegate. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2011, 22(7): 1743-1749 (in Chinese)
[5] Wang J-S (王劲松), Li Y-H (李耀辉), Wang R-Y (王润元), et al. Preliminary analysis on the demand and review of progress in the field of meteorological drought research. Journal of Arid Meteorology (干旱气象), 2012, 30(4): 497-508 (in Chinese)
[6] Zhang XR, Xiang F, Wang RQ. Effects of soil moisture and light intensity on ecophysiological characteristics of Amorpha fruticosa seedlings. Journal of Forestry Research, 2013, 24: 293-300
[7] Martin P. Vegetation responses and feedbacks to climate: A review of models and processes. Climate Dynamics, 1993, 8: 201-210
[8] Li J-Q (李剑泉), Li Z-Y (李智勇), Yi H-R (易浩若). Interaction relation between forest and global climate change. Journal of Northwest Forestry University (西北林学院学报), 2010, 25(4): 23-28 (in Chinese)
[9] Zhang X-R (张秀茹). Effects of Different Water and Light Treatments on the Ecophysiological Characteristics of Amorpha fruticosa Seedlings. PhD Thesis. Jinan: Shandong University, 2010 (in Chinese)
[10] Aranda I, Castro L, Pardos M, et al. Effects of the interaction between drought and shade on water relations, gas exchange and morphological traits in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings. Forest Ecology and Management, 2005, 210: 117-129
[11] Quero JL, Villar R, Marañón T, et al. Interactions of drought and shade effects on seedlings of four Quercus species: Physiological and structural leaf responses. New Phytologist, 2006, 170: 819-834
[12] Holmgren M. Combined effects of shade and drought tulip poplar seedlings: Trade-off in tolerance or facilitation? Oikos, 2000, 90: 67-78
[13] Nobel PS. Physicochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology. Beijing: Science Press, 2010
[14] Smith T, Huston M. A theory of the spatial and temporal dynamics of plant communities. Plant Ecology, 1989, 83: 49-69
[15] Holmgren M, Scheffer M, Huston MA. The interplay of facilitation and competition in plant communities. Ecology, 1997, 78: 1966-1975
[16] Wang R-Q (王仁卿), Zhang S-P (张淑萍), Shi Z (石竹), et al. Study on the diversity and conservation of Camellia japonica in Qingdao. Journal of Shandong Forestry Science and Technology (山东林业科技), 1998(3): 1-5 (in Chinese)
[17] Lin L (林立), Hu Z-Y (胡仲义), Wang G-M (王国明). Analysis on genetic diversity of Camellia japonica in Zhoushan archipelago by ISSR markers. Journal of Plant Genetic Resources (植物遗传资源学报), 2013, 14(4): 594-599 (in Chinese)
[18] Zhang Q, Hao Q, Guo X, et al. Anther and ovule development in Camellia japonica (Naidong) in relation to winter dormancy: Climatic evolution considerations. Flora, 2017, 233: 127-139
[19] Wang K-L (王奎玲), Liu Q-H (刘庆华), Liu Q-C (刘庆超), et al. Conservation and utilization of wild germplasm resources of Camellia japonica. Journal of Chinese Urban Forestry (中国城市林业), 2007, 5(1): 54-56 (in Chinese)
[20] Wang X-F (王献溥), Zhang C-J (张春静). The endangered causes of Camellia japonica and its in-situ conservation in islands around Qingdao City, Shandong Province. Guihaia (广西植物), 1992, 12(3): 272-287 (in Chinese)
[21] Zhang Z-G (张治国), Wang R-Q (王仁卿). On island biodiversity of Qingdao offshore. Ⅱ. The spatial pattern of Camellia japonica population. Journal of Shandong University (山东大学学报), 1996, 33(4): 455-461 (in Chinese)
[22] Fu Z (符喆), Wang K-L (王奎玲), Liu Q-C (刘庆超), et al. Preliminary exploration on the hybridization of Camellia japonica. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-Occidentalis Sinica (西北农业学报), 2012, 21(9): 127-132 (in Chinese)
[23] Zhu X-T (朱向涛). Studies on Photosynthetic and Ecological Characters of Naidong Shancha (Camellia japonica L.). Master Thesis. Qingdao: Qingdao Agricultural University, 2007 (in Chinese)
[24] Chen J-Z (陈君枳), Sun Z (孙钊). Study on the Introduction of ‘Naidong’ Camellia (Camellia japonica L.). Forest Resources Management (林业资源管理), 2004(5): 68-70 (in Chinese)
[25] Yang K (杨凯), Sun Y-K (孙迎坤), Wang K-L (王奎玲), et al. Cloning and expression analysis of CjCor1 gene cDNA from Camellia japonica (Naidong). Bulletin of Botanical Research (植物研究), 2016, 36(5): 753-759 (in Chinese)
[26] Luo YJ, Guo WH, Yuan Y, et al. Increased nitrogen deposition alleviated the competitive effects of the introduced invasive plant Robinia pseudoacacia on the native tree Quercus acutissima. Plant and Soil, 2014, 385: 63-75
[27] Tang S-H (汤绍虎), Luo C (罗充). Experimental Course of Plant Physiology. Chongqing: Southwest Normal University Press, 2012 (in Chinese)
[28] Liu J-R (刘家尧), Liu X (刘新). Experimental Course of Plant Physiology. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2010 (in Chinese)
[29] Chai S-F (柴胜丰), Tang J-M (唐健民), Wang M-L (王满莲), et al. Photosynthetic and physiological characteristics of Camellia petelotii seedlings under drought stress. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica (西北植物学报), 2015, 35(2): 322-328 (in Chinese)
[30] Xu F, Guo WH, Xu W, et al. Habitat effects on leaf morphological plasticity in Quercus acutissima. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia Series Botanica, 2008, 50: 19-26
[31] Du N, Guo W-H, Zhang X-R, et al. Morphological and physiological responses of Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehd. to drought stress. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 2010, 32: 839-848
[32] Du N, Wang R, Liu J, et al. Morpholgical response of Vitex neguno var. heterophylla and Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa to the combined impact of drought and shade. Agroforestry Systems, 2013, 87: 403-416
[33] Stanton KM, Weeks SS, Dana MN, et al. Light exposure and shade effects on growth, flowering, and leaf morphology of Spiraea alba Du Roi and Spiraea tomentosa L. Hortscience, 2010, 45: 1912-1916
[34] Wang Y (王琰), Chen J-W (陈建文), Di X-Y (狄晓艳). Characterization of the responses of photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to water stress in seedlings of six provenances of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.). Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2011, 31(23): 7031-7038 (in Chinese)
[35] He X-L (贺学礼), Zhang H-S (张焕仕), Zhao L-L (赵丽莉). Effects of AM fungi and water stress on drought resistance of Artemisia ordosica in different soils. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology (植物生态学报), 2008, 32(5): 994-1001 (in Chinese)
[36] Flexas J, Medrano H. Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: Stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. Annals of Botany, 2002, 89: 183-189
[37] Yang H, Yang X, Zhang Y, et al. Chlorophyll fluorescence tracks seasonal variations of photosynthesis from leaf to canopy in a temperate forest. Global Chang Biology, 2017, 23: 2874-2886
[38] Ding L (丁龙), Zhao H-M (赵慧敏), Zeng W-J (曾文静), et al. Physiological responses of five plants in northwest China arid area under drought stress. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 2017, 28(5): 1455-1463 (in Chinese)
[39] Huang C, Wei G, Jie Y, et al. Effects of concentrations of sodium chloride on photosynthesis, antioxidative enzymes, growth and fiber yield of hybrid ramie. Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, 2014, 76: 86-93
[40] Pan X (潘昕), Qiu Q (邱权), Li J-Y (李吉跃), et al. Physiological indexes of six plant species from the Tibetan plateau under drought stress. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 2014, 34(13): 3558-3567 (in Chinese)
[41] Deng X (邓旭), Dong C (董晨), Zhang G-M (张广明). The effects of drought stress on the antioxidant resistance and osmotic adjusting substances content of two varieties seedling of Camellia nitidissima. Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops (热带作物学报), 2012, 33(6): 1034-1039 (in Chinese)