Photosynthetica 2010, 48(4):494-506 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0066-8

Characteristics of sun- and shade-adapted populations of an endangered plant Primulina tabacum Hance

K. M. Liang1,2, Z. F. Lin1, H. Ren1,*, N. Liu1, Q. M. Zhang1, J. Wang1, Z. F. Wang1, L. L. Guan1,2
1 Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
2 Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Primulina tabacum Hance is an endangered perennial herb distributed in calcium-rich and nitrogen-limited soil of the karst limestone areas in southern China. The morphological, ultrastructural, and physiological traits were determined for P. tabacum populations growing in three different environment conditions: twilight zone of a cave (site TZ, extremely low light intensity), at a cave entrance (site EZ, low light intensity), and in an open area (site OA, high light intensity). At site OA, P. tabacum plants were exposed to high light (635 μmol m-2 s-1 of mean daily photosynthetically active radiation) with drought stress, and expressed traits to minimize light capture and water loss. Compared to plants at sites EZ and TZ, those at site OA had thicker leaves with higher densities of stomata and pubescence, higher palisade/spongy ratio, higher light-saturated rate of net photosynthetic rate (Pmax), higher biomass, higher non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ), and higher light saturation point (LSP) but fewer grana per chloroplast and less thylakoid stacking per granum. In contrast, P. tabacum growing at the cave vicinities: EZ (mean daily irradiance 59 μmol m-2 s-1) and TZ (mean daily irradiance 11 μmol m-2 s-1) showed typical shade-adapted characteristics for optimum light capture. The presence of sun- and shade-adapted characteristics indicates that P. tabacum has different strategies to cope with different environments but whether these strategies reflect genetic selection or phenological plasticity is yet to be determined. Such variability in physiological and morphological traits is important for the survival of P. tabacum in heterogeneous light conditions.

Additional key words: cave microenvironment; chloroplast ultrastructure; ecophysiological trait; light adaptation; morphological structure; Primulina tabacum Hance

Received: March 26, 2010; Accepted: August 3, 2010; Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Liang, K.M., Lin, Z.F., Ren, H., Liu, N., Zhang, Q.M., Wang, J., Wang, Z.F., & Guan, L.L. (2010). Characteristics of sun- and shade-adapted populations of an endangered plant Primulina tabacum Hance. Photosynthetica, 48(4), 494-506. doi: 10.1007/s11099-010-0066-8
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Allan, P., Zhang, Z.-Z.: The distribution of plants in Scoska Cave, North Yorkshire, and their relationship to light intensity. - Int. J. Speleol. 30: 27-37, 2001. Go to original source...
    2. Anderson, J.M., Chow, W.S., De Las Rivas, J.: Dynamic flexibility in the structure and function of photosystem II in higher plant thylakoid membranes: the grana enigma. - Photosynth. Res. 98: 575-587, 2008. Go to original source...
    3. Barber, J.: Membrane surface charges and potentials in relation to photosynthesis. - Biochim. Biophys. Acta 594: 253-308, 1980. Go to original source...
    4. Berry, J.A., Downton, W.J.S.: Environmental regulation of photosynthesis. - In: Govindjee (ed.): Photosynthesis. Vol. II. Pp. 263-343. Academic Press, New York - London - Paris - San Diego - San Francisco - São Paulo - Sydney - Tokyo - Toronto 1982. Go to original source...
    5. Biswas, J.: The biodiversity of Krem Mawkhyrdop of Meghalaya, India, on the verge of extinction. - Cur. Sci. 96: 904-910, 2009.
    6. Biswas, J.: Kotumsar Cave biodiversity: a review of cavernicoles and their troglobiotic traits. - Biodiv. Conserv. 19: 275-289, 2010. Go to original source...
    7. Cao, M., Li, S.-J., Cao, L.-M., Zhang, D.-X.: [Pollen morphology of three Chinese endemic genera in Gesneriaceae.] - Guihaia 27: 669-672, 2007. [In Chin.]
    8. Craine, J.M., Reich, P.B.: Leaf-level light compensation points in shade-tolerant woody seedlings. - New Phytol. 166: 710-713, 2005. Go to original source...
    9. Ceulemans, R., Mousseau, M.: Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on woody plants. - New Phytol. 127: 425-446, 1994. Go to original source...
    10. Croteau, R.: Site of monoterpene biosynthesis in Majorana hortensis leaves. - Plant Physiol. 59: 519-520, 1977. Go to original source...
    11. Cuezva, S., Sanchez-Moral, S., Saiz-Jimenez, C., Canaveras, J.C.: Microbial communities and associated mineral fabrics in Altamira cave, Spain. - Int. J. Speleol. 38: 83-92, 2009. Go to original source...
    12. Culver, D.C., Master, L.L., Christman, M.C., Hobbs, H.H., III: Obligate cave fauna of the 48 contiguous United States. - Conserv. Biol. 14: 386-401, 2000. Go to original source...
    13. Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III, Barker, D.H., Logan, A.B., Bowling, D.R., Verhoeven, A.S.: Using chlorophyll fluorescence to assess the fraction of absorbed light allocated to thermal dissipation of excess excitation. - Physiol. Plant 98: 253-264, 1996. Go to original source...
    14. Dewar, R.C.: A simple model of light and water use evaluated for Pinus radiata. - Tree Physiol. 17: 259-265, 1997. Go to original source...
    15. Dijkstra, P., Schapendonk, A.H.C.M., Groenwold, K.O., Jansen, M., van de Geijn, S.C.: Seasonal changes in the response of winter wheat to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration grown in Open Top Chambers and field tracking enclosures. - Global Change Biol. 5: 563-576, 1999. Go to original source...
    16. Duan, W.-J., Ren, H., Fu, S.-L., Wang, J., Yang, L., Zhang, J.-P.: Natural recovery of different areas of a deserted quarry in South China. - J. Environ. Sci. 20: 476-481, 2008. Go to original source...
    17. Farquhar, G.D., von Caemmerer, S., Berry, J.A.: A biochemical model of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in leaves of C3 species. - Planta 149: 78-90, 1980. Go to original source...
    18. Farquhar, G.D., von Caemmerer, S.: Modelling of photosynthetic response to environmental conditions. - In: Lange, O.L., Nobel, P.S., Osmond, C.B., Ziegler, H. (ed.): Physiological Plant Ecology II. Water Relations and Carbon Assimilation. Pp. 549-587. Springer-Verlag, Berlin - Heidelberg - New York 1982. Go to original source...
    19. Fernández, M.D., Pieters, A., Azkue, M., Rengifo, E., Tezara, W., Woodward, F.I., Herrera, A.: Photosynthesis in plants of four tropical species growing under elevated CO2. - Photosynthetica 37: 587-599, 1999. Go to original source...
    20. Flora of China Editorial Committee.: [Flora of China.] - Science Press, Beijing 1990. [In Chin.]
    21. Güsewell, S., Koerselman, M.: Variation in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of wetland plants. - Perspect. Plant Ecol. Evol. Syst. 5: 37-61, 2002. Go to original source...
    22. Guerfel, M., Baccouri, O., Boujnah, D., Chaïbi, W., Zarrouk M.: Impacts of water stress on gas exchange, water relations, chlorophyll content and leaf structure in the two main Tunisian olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars. - Sci. Hort. 199: 257-263, 2009. Go to original source...
    23. Han, Z.-G., Lei, L.-M., Han, B.-P.: [In situ monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence using PAM fluorometer.] - Ecol. Sci. 3: 246-249, 2005. [In Chin.]
    24. Harbinson, J., Genty, B., Baker, N.R.: Relationship between the quantum efficiencies of photosystem I and II in pea leaves. - Plant Physiol. 90: 1029-1034, 1989. Go to original source...
    25. He, K.-J., Li, Y.-D.: [Plant resources of national protection grade I in Guangdong Province.] - J. Trop. Subtrop. Bot. 13: 519-525, 2005. [In Chin.]
    26. Horton, P., Wentworth, M., Ruban, A.: Control of the light harvesting function of chloroplast membranes: The LHCII-aggregation model for non-photochemical quenching. - FEBS Lett. 579: 4201-4206, 2005. Go to original source...
    27. Howarth, F.G.: Ecology of cave arthropods. - Ann. Rev. Entomol. 28: 365-389, 1983. Go to original source...
    28. Koerselman, W., Meuleman, A.F.M.: The vegetation N: P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation. - J. Applied Ecol. 33: 1441-1450, 1996. Go to original source...
    29. Kolb, D., Müller, M.: Light, conventional and environmental scanning electron microscopy of the trichomes of Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo var. styriaca and histochemistry of glandular secretory products. - Ann. Bot. 94: 515-526, 2004. Go to original source...
    30. Ko¹vancová, M., Urban, O., ©prtová, M., Hrstka, M., Kalina, J., Tomá¹ková, I., ©punda, V., Marek, M.V.: Photosynthetic induction in broadleaved Fagus sylvatica and coniferous Picea abies cultivated under ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations. - Plant Sci. 177: 123-130, 2009. Go to original source...
    31. Krajick, K.: Cave biologists unearth buried treasures. - Science 283: 2378-2381, 2001. Go to original source...
    32. Kubiske, M.E., Pregitzer, K.S.: Ecophysiological responses to simulated canopy gaps of two tree species of contrasting shade tolerance in elevated CO2. - Funct. Ecol. 11: 24-32, 1997. Go to original source...
    33. Lichtenthaler, H.K.: Adaptation of leaves and chloroplasts to high quanta fluence rates. - In: Akoyunoglou, G. (ed.): Photosynthesis. VI. Pp. 273-285. Balaban Int. Sci. Ser., Philadelphia 1981.
    34. Lichtenthaler, H.K.: Difference in morphology and chemical composition of leaves grown at different light intensities and qualities. - In: Baker, N.R., Davies, W.J., Ong, C.K. (ed.): Control of Leaf Growth. Pp. 201-221. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge - London - New York - New Rochelle - Melbourne - Sydney 1985.
    35. Lichtenthaler, H.K., Aè, A., Marek, M.V., Kalina, J., Urban, O.: Differences in pigment composition, photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll fluorescence images of sun and shade leaves of four tree species. - Plant Physiol. Biochem. 45: 577-588, 2007. Go to original source...
    36. Lin, Z.-F., Li, S.-S., Lin, G.-Z., Zheng, G.-C., Guo, J.-Y.: [Superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation in relation to senescence of rice leaves.] - J. Integr. Plant Biol. 6: 605-615, 1984. [In Chin.]
    37. Liu, G.-S.: Soil physical and chemical analysis and description of soil profiles. - Standards Press China, Beijing, 1996.
    38. Lu, R.-K.: [General status of nutrients (N, P, K) in soil of China.] - Acta Pedol. Sin. 26: 280-286, 1989. [In Chin.]
    39. Lusk, C.H., Reich, P.B, Montgomery, R.A., Ackerly, D.D., Cavender-Bares, J.: Why are evergreen leaves so contrary about shade? - Trends Ecol. Evol. 23: 299-303, 2008. Go to original source...
    40. Man, R., Lieffers, V.J.: Seasonal photosynthetic responses to light and temperature in white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings planted under an aspen (Populus tremuloides) canopy and in the open. - Tree Physiol. 17: 437-444, 1997. Go to original source...
    41. Matos, F.S., Wolfgramm, R., Gonçalves, F.V., Cavatte, P.C., Ventrella, M.C., DaMatta, F.M.: Phenotypic plasticity in response to light in the coffee tree. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 67: 421-427, 2009. Go to original source...
    42. Ni, X.-W., Huang, Y.-L., Wu, L., Zhou, R.-C., Deng, S.-L., Wu, D.-R., Wang, B.-S., Su, G.-H. Tang, T., Shi, S.-H.: Genetic diversity of the endangered Chinese endemic herb Primulina tabacum (Gesneriaceae) revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). - Genetica 127: 177-183, 2006. Go to original source...
    43. Northup, D.E., Lavoie, K.H.: Geomicrobiology of caves: A review. - Geomicrobiol. J. 18: 199-222, 2001. Go to original source...
    44. Peng, S.-L., Cheng, W.-C.: [Rare and Endangered Plants in Guangdong.] - Science Press, Beijing 2002. [In Chin.]
    45. Poulson, T.L., White, W.B.: The cave environment. - Science 165: 971-981, 1969. Go to original source...
    46. Prous, X., Ferreira, R.L., Martins, R.P.: Ecotone delimitation: Epigean-hypogean transition in cave ecosystems. - Austral Ecol. 29: 374-382, 2004. Go to original source...
    47. Raines, C.A.: Transgenic approaches to manipulate the environmental responses of the C3 carbon fixation cycle. - Plant Cell Environ. 29: 331-339, 2006. Go to original source...
    48. Ren, H., Ma, G.-H., Zhang, Q.-M., Guo, Q.F., Wang, J., Wang, Z.-F.: Moss is a key nurse plant for reintroduction of the endangered herb, Primulina tabacum Hance. - Plant Ecol. 209: 313-320, 2010a. Go to original source...
    49. Ren, H., Peng, S.-L., Zhang, D.-X., Jian, S.-G.: [The ecological and biological characteristics of an endangered plant, Primulina tabacum Hance] - Acta Ecologica Sinica 23: 1012-1017, 2003. [In Chin.]
    50. Ren, H., Zhang, Q.-M., Wang, Z.-F., Guo, Q.-F., Wang, J., Liu, N., Liang, K.-M.: Conservation and possible reintroduction of an endangered plant based on analysis of community ecology: a case study of Primulina tabacum Hance in China. - Plant Species Biol. 25: 43-50, 2010b. Go to original source...
    51. Ruzin, S.E.: Plant Microtechnique and Microscopy. - Oxford Univ. Press, New York - Oxford - 1999.
    52. Sack, L., Melcher, P.J., Liu, W.-H., Middleton E, Pardee T.: How strong is intracanopy leaf plasticity in temperate deciduous trees? - Amer. J. Bot. 93: 829-839, 2006. Go to original source...
    53. Sefton, C.A., Montagu, K.D., Atwell, B.J., Conroy, J.P.: Anatomical variation in juvenile eucalypt leaves accounts for differences in specific leaf area and CO2 assimilation rates. - Aust. J. Bot. 50: 301-310, 2002. Go to original source...
    54. Souza, R.P., Machado, E.C., Silva, J.A.B. Lagôa, A.M.M.A., Silveira, J.A.G.: Photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and some associated metabolic changes in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) during water stress and recovery. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 51: 45-56, 2004. Go to original source...
    55. Tessier, J.T., Raynal, D.J.: Use of nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in plant tissue as an indicator of nutrient limitation and nitrogen saturation. - J. Appl. Ecol. 40: 523-534, 2003. Go to original source...
    56. Tobin, E.M., Silverthorne, J.: Light regulation of gene expression in higher plants. - Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 36: 569-593, 1985. Go to original source...
    57. von Caemmerer, S, Evans, J.R., Hudson, G.S., Andrews, T.J.: The kinetics of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in vivo inferred from measurements of photosynthesis in leaves of transgenic tobacco. - Planta 195: 88-97, 1994. Go to original source...
    58. Walker, D.A.: Automated mesauerment of leaf photosynthetic O2 evolution as a function of photon flux density. - Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. London B 323: 313-326, 1989. Go to original source...
    59. Wang, Z.-F., Ren, H., Zhang, Q.-M., Ye, W.-H., Liang, K.-M., Li, Z.-C.: Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for Primulina tabacum, a critically endangered perennial herb. - Conserv. Genet. 10: 1433-1435, 2009. Go to original source...
    60. Werker, E.: Function of essential oil-secreting glandular hairs in aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae. A review. - Flavour Fragr. J. 8: 249-255, 1993. Go to original source...
    61. Wynne, J.J., Pleytez, W.: Sensitive ecological areas and species inventory of Actun Chapat Cave, VACA Plateau, Belize. - J. Cave Karst Stud. 67: 148-157, 2005.

    Return to the content