Abstract
We tested the hypotheses that a reduction of incident light of 50 % over sun-acclimated leaves of water stressed kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. deliciosa) would (1) reduce stomatal limitations to carbon supply and (2) mitigate the inactivation of the primary photochemistry associated with photosystem (PS) II, thereby this increases carbon gain and water-use efficiency (WUE). Groups of field-grown vines were either shaded or left naturally exposed and subjected to progressive water stress in order to study moderately and severely droughted vines, while other groups were well irrigated. Daily variations in leaf gas exchange and midday chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence were determined once plants had −0.6 MPa (moderate stress) and −1.0 MPa pre-down leaf water potential (severe stress). Variations in Chl pigment content and specific leaf area (SLA) are also discussed. Results reveal that 50 % shade application maintained efficiency of PSII close to 0.8 even under severe drought so that to prevent its large decline (0.65) recorded in sunlit leaves. Under moderate stress level stomata behaviour dominated upon metabolic impairments of PSII. Reduction of irradiance increased WUE (15–20 %) in droughted vines, representing a valuable intervention to save photosynthetic apparatus and improve WUE in vines experiencing typical Mediterranean summer stresses.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- Chl:
-
chlorophyll
- E :
-
leaf transpiration
- F0 :
-
minimal fluorescence of dark-adapted state
- Fm :
-
maximum fluorescence of dark-adapted leaves
- g s :
-
stomatal conductance
- P N :
-
net photosynthetic rate
- PPFD:
-
photosynthetic photon flux density
- PSII:
-
photosystem II
- SLA:
-
specific leaf area
- VPD:
-
leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit
- Ψw :
-
leaf water potential
References
Alarcón, J.J., Ortuňo, M.F., Nicolás, E., Navarro, A., Torrecillasa, A.: Improving water-use efficiency of young lemon trees by shading with aluminised-plastic nets. — Agric. Water Manag. 82: 387–398, 2006.
Anyia, A.O., Herzog, H.: Water-use efficiency, leaf area and leaf gas exchange of cowpeas under mid-season drought. — Eur. J. Agron. 20: 327–339, 2004.
Bargali, K., Tewari, A.: Growth and water relation parameters in drought-stressed Coriaria nepalensis seedlings. — J. Arid Environ. 58: 505–512, 2004.
Buwalda, J.G., Green, T.G.A., Curtis, J.P.: Canopy photosynthesis and respiration of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. Deliciosa) vines growing in the field. — Tree Physiol. 10: 327–341, 1992.
Davies, W.J., Wilson, J.A., Sharp, R.E., Osonubi, O.: Control of stomatal behaviour in water-stressed plants. — In: Jarvis, P.G., Mansfield, T.A. (ed.): Stomatal Physiology. Pp. 163–185. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge — London — New York — New Rochelle — Melbourne — Sydney 1981.
Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III: Photoprotection and other response of plants to high light stress. — Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Molec. Biol. 43: 599–626, 1992.
Dobrowski, S.Z., Pushnik, J.C., Zarco-Tejada, P.J., Ustin, S.L.: Simple reflectance indices track heat and water stress-induced changes in steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence at the canopy scale. — Remote Sens. Environ. 97: 403–414, 2005.
FAO Statistic Division: http://faostat.fao.org/, access date March 18, 2008.
Ferguson, A.R.: Kiwifruit: a botanical review. — Hort. Rev. 6: 1–64, 1984.
Fernández, R.J., Reynolds, J.F.: Potential growth and drought tolerance of eight desert grasses: lack of a trade-off? — Oecologia 123: 90–98, 2000.
Flexas, J., Bota, J., Cifre, J., Escalona, J.M., Galmés, J., Gulías, J., Lefi, E.K., Martínez-Cañellas, S.F., Moreno, M.T., Ribas-Carbó, M., Riera, D., Sampol, B., Medrano, H.: Understanding down-regulation of photosynthesis under water stress: future prospects and searching for physiological tools for irrigation management. — Ann. Appl. Biol. 144: 273–283, 2004.
Flexas, J., Bota, J., Galmés, J., Medrano, H., Ribas-Carbó, M.: Keeping a positive carbon balance under adverse conditions: responses of photosynthesis and respiration to water stress. — Physiol. Plant. 127: 343–352, 2006.
Flexas, J., Medrano, H.: Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. — Ann. Bot. 89: 183–189, 2002.
Goudriaan, J., van Laar, H.H.: Modelling Potential Crop Growth Processes. Pp. 238. Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht — Boston — London, 1994.
Gratani, L., Varone, I.: Adaptive photosynthetic strategies of the Mediterranean maquis species according to their origin. — Photosynthetica 42: 551–558, 2004.
Green, S.R., Kirkham, M.B., Clothier, B.E.: Root uptake and transpiration: From measurements and models to sustainable irrigation. — Agric. Water Manag. 86: 165–176, 2006.
Greer, D.H., Laing, W.A.: Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in intact kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) leaves changes in susceptibility to photoinhibition and recovery during the growth season. — Planta 186: 418–425, 1992.
Greer, D.H., Halligan, E.A.: Photosynthetic and fluorescence light response for kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) leaves for different stages of development on vines grown at two different photon flux density. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 28: 373–382, 2001.
Gregoriou, K., Pontikis, K., Vemmos, S.: Effects of reduced irradiance on leaf morphology, photosynthetic capacity, and fruit yield in olive (Olea europaea L.). — Photosynthetica 45: 172–181, 2007.
Gucci, R., Massai R., Xiloyannis, C., Flore, J.A.: The effect of drought and vapour pressure deficit on gas exchange of young kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. Deliciosa) vines. — Ann. Bot. 77: 605–613, 1996.
Jifon, J.L., Syvertsen, J.P.: Moderate shade can increase net gas exchange and reduce photoinhibition in citrus leaves. — Tree Physiol. 23: 119–127, 2003.
Judd, M.J., Mc Aneney, K.J., Wilson, K.S.: Influence of water-stress on kiwifruit growth. — Irrig. Sci. 10: 303–311, 1989.
Khan, S.H., Rose, R., Haase, D.L., Sabin, T.E.: Effects of shade on morphology, chlorophyll concentration, and chlorophyll fluorescence of four Pacific Northwest conifer species. — New Forests 19: 171–186, 2000.
Knapp, A.K., Smith, W.K.: Stomatal and photosynthetic responses to variable sunlight. — Physiol. Plant. 78: 160–165, 1990.
Krause, G.H., Weis, E.: Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis — the basics. — Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Molec. Biol. 42: 313–349, 1991.
Lösch, R., Tenhunen, J.D.: Stomatal responses to humidity — phenomenon and mechanism. — In: Jarvis, P.G., Mansfield, T.A. (ed.): Stomatal Physiology. Pp. 137–161. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge — London — New York — New Rochelle — Melbourne — Sydney 1981.
Mansfield, T.A., Travis, A.J., Jarvis, R.J.: Responses to light and carbon dioxide. — In: Jarvis, P.G., Mansfield, T.A. (ed.): Stomatal Physiology. Pp. 119–135. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge — London — New York — New Rochelle — Melbourne — Sydney 1981.
Masojídek, J., Trivedi, S., Halshaw, L., Alexiou, A., Hall, D.O.: The synergistic effect of drought and light stresses in sorghum and pearl millet. — Plant Physiol. 96: 198–207, 1991.
Maxwell, K. Johnson, G.N.: Chlorophyll fluorescence — a practical guide. — J. Exp. Bot. 51: 659–668, 2000.
Montanaro, G., Dichio, B., Xiloyannis, C., Celano, G.: Light influences transpiration and calcium accumulation in fruit of kiwifruit plants (Actinidia deliciosa var. deliciosa). — Plant Sci. 170: 520–527, 2006.
Montanaro, G., Dichio, B., Xiloyannis, C.: Response of photosynthetic machinery of field-grown kiwifruit under Mediterranean conditions during drought and re-watering. — Photosynthetica 45: 533–540, 2007.
Moran, R.: Formulas for determination of chlorophyllous pigments extracted with N,N-dimethylformamide. — Plant Physiol. 69: 1376–1381, 1982.
Nicolás, E., Torrecillas, A., Dell Amico, J., Alarcón, J.J.: Sap flow, gas exchange, and hydraulic conductance of young apricot trees growing under a shading net and different water supplies. — J. Plant Physiol. 162: 439–447, 2005.
Parry, M.A.J., Flexas, J., Medrano, H.: Prospects for crop production under drought: research priorities and future directions. — Ann. Appl. Biol. 147, 211–226, 2005.
Powles, S.B.: Photoinhibition of photosynthesis induced by visible light. — Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 35: 15–44, 1984.
Quero, J.L., Villar, R., Marañón, T., Zamora, R.: Interactions of drought and shade effects on seedlings of four Quercus species: physiological and structural leaf responses. — New Phytol. 170: 819–833, 2006.
Sack, L., Grubb, P.J.: The combined impacts of deep shade and drought on the growth and biomass allocation of shade-tolerant woody seedlings. — Oecologia 131: 175–185, 2002.
Šircelj, H., Tausz, M., Grill, D., Batič, F.: Biochemical responses in leaves of two apple tree cultivars subjected to progressing drought. — J. Plant Physiol. 162: 1308–1318, 2005.
Snelgar, W.P., Hopkirk, G.: Effect of overhead shading on yield and fruit-quality of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). — J. Hortic. Sci. 63: 731–742, 1988.
Syvertsen, J.P.: Integration of water-stress in fruit-trees. — Hortsci. 20: 1039–1043, 1985.
Tardieu, F., Simonneau, T.: Variability among species of stomatal control under fluctuating soil water status and evaporative demand: modelling isohydric and anisohydric behaviours. — J. Exp. Bot. 49: 419–432, 1998.
Turner, N.C.: Techniques and experimental approaches for the measurement of plant water status. — Plant Soil 58: 339–366, 1981.
Valladares, F., Arrieta, S., Aranda, I., Lorenzo, D., Sánchez-Gómez, D., Tena, D., Suárez, F., Pardos, J.A.: Shade tolerance, photoinhibition sensitivity and phenotypic plasticity of Ilex aquifolium in continental Mediterranean sites. — Tree Physiol. 25: 1041–1052, 2005.
Wentworth, M., Murchie, E.H., Gray, J.E., Villegas, D., Pastenes, C., Pinto, M., Horton, P.: Differential adaptation of two varieties of common bean to abiotic stress. II. Acclimation of photosynthesis. — J. Exp. Bot. 57: 699–709, 2006.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Acknowledgements: We thank Metapontum Agrobios Soc. in Metaponto (Italy) for their kind offer of TDR Trase System. Research financially supported by the Italian Ministry for University and Research. Special grants BRIMET and PRIN2005.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Montanaro, G., Dichio, B. & Xiloyannis, C. Shade mitigates photoinhibition and enhances water use efficiency in kiwifruit under drought. Photosynthetica 47, 363–371 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0057-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0057-9