Photosynthetica 2013, 51(2):295-304 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-013-0026-1

Variations in leaf respiration across different seasons for Mediterranean evergreen species

R. Catoni1, L. Varone1, L. Gratani1,*
1 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Leaf respiration (R L) of evergreen species co-occurring in the Mediterranean maquis developing along the Latium coast was analyzed. The results on the whole showed that the considered evergreen species had the same R L trend during the year, with the lowest rates [0.83 ± 0.43 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, mean value of the considered species] in winter, in response to low air temperatures. Higher R L were reached in spring [2.44 ± 1.00 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, mean value] during the favorable period, and in summer [3.17 ± 0.89 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1] during drought. The results of the regression analysis showed that 42% of R L variations depended on mean air temperature and 13% on total monthly rainfall. Among the considered species, C. incanus, was characterized by the highest R L in drought [4.93 ± 0.27 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1], low leaf water potential at predawn (Ψpd= -1.08 ± 0.18 MPa) and midday (Ψmd = -2.75 ± 0.11 MPa) and low relative water content at predawn (RWCpd = 80.5 ± 3.4%) and midday (RWCmd = 67.1 ± 4.6%). Compared to C. incanus, the sclerophyllous species (Q. ilex, P. latifolia, P. lentiscus, A. unedo) and the liana (S. aspera), had lower R L [2.72 ± 0.66 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, mean value of the considered species], higher RWCpd (91.8 ± 1.8%), RWCmd (82.4 ± 3.2%), Ψpd (-0.65 ± 0.28 MPa) and Ψmd (-2.85 ± 1.20 MPa) in drought. The narrow-leaved species (E. multiflora, R. officinalis, and E. arborea) were in the middle. The coefficients, proportional to the respiration increase for each 10°C rise (Q10), ranging from 1.49 (E. arborea) to 1.98 (A. unedo) were indicative of the different sensitivities of the considered species to air temperature variation.

Additional key words: drought; leaf respiration; Mediterranean evergreen species; water stress

Received: May 4, 2012; Accepted: January 14, 2013; Published: June 1, 2013  Show citation

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Catoni, R., Varone, L., & Gratani, L. (2013). Variations in leaf respiration across different seasons for Mediterranean evergreen species. Photosynthetica, 51(2), 295-304. doi: 10.1007/s11099-013-0026-1
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