Drought-induced photosynthetic inhibition and autumn recovery in two Mediterranean oak species (Quercus ilex and Quercus suber).

Responses of leaf water relations and photosynthesis to summer drought and autumn rewetting were studied in two evergreen Mediterranean oak species, Quercus ilex spp. rotundifolia and Quercus suber. The predawn leaf water potential (Ψ(lPD)), stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic rate (A) at ambient conditions were measured seasonally over a 3-year period. We also measured the photosynthetic response to light and to intercellular CO2 (A/PPFD and A/C(i) response curves) under water stress (summer) and after recovery due to autumn rainfall. Photosynthetic parameters, Vc(max), J(max) and triose phosphate utilization (TPU) rate, were estimated using the Farquhar model. RuBisCo activity, leaf chlorophyll, leaf nitrogen concentration and leaf carbohydrate concentration were also measured. All measurements were performed in the spring leaves of the current year. In both species, the predawn leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate peaked in spring, progressively declined throughout the summer and recovered upon autumn rainfall. During the drought period, Q. ilex maintained a higher predawn leaf water potential and stomatal conductance than Q. suber. During this period, we found that photosynthesis was not only limited by stomatal closure, but was also downregulated as a consequence of a decrease in the maximum carboxylation rate (Vc(max)) and the light-saturated rate of photosynthetic electron transport (J(max)) in both species. The Vc(max) and J(max) increased after the first autumnal rains and this increase was related to RuBisCo activity, leaf nitrogen concentration and chlorophyll concentration. In addition, an increase in the TPU rate and in soluble leaf sugar concentration was observed in this period. The results obtained indicate a high resilience of the photosynthetic apparatus to summer drought as well as good recovery in the following autumn rains of these evergreen oak species.

Water-use strategies in two co-occurring Mediterranean evergreen oaks: surviving the summer drought.

In the Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands of southern Portugal, the main tree species are Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia Lam. (holm oak) and Quercus suber L. (cork oak). We studied a savannah-type woodland where these species coexist, with the aim of better understanding the mechanisms of tree adaptation to seasonal drought. In both species, seasonal variations in transpiration and predawn leaf water potential showed a maximum in spring followed by a decline through the rainless summer and a recovery with autumn rainfall. Although the observed decrease in predawn leaf water potential in summer indicates soil water depletion, trees maintained transpiration rates above 0.7 mm day(-1) during the summer drought. By that time, more than 70% of the transpired water was being taken from groundwater sources. The daily fluctuations in soil water content suggest that some root uptake of groundwater was mediated through the upper soil layers by hydraulic lift. During the dry season, Q. ilex maintained higher predawn leaf water potentials, canopy conductances and transpiration rates than Q. suber. The higher water status of Q. ilex was likely associated with their deeper root systems compared with Q. suber. Whole-tree hydraulic conductance and minimum midday leaf water potential were lower in Q. ilex, indicating that Q. ilex was more tolerant to drought than Q. suber. Overall, Q. ilex seemed to have more effective drought avoidance and drought tolerance mechanisms than Q. suber.

Acclimation of Myrtus communis to contrasting Mediterranean light environments - effects on structure and chemical composition of foliage and plant water relations.

Leaf anatomical and chemical characteristics, water relations and stomatal regulation were studied in the shrub Myrtus communis growing under two contrasting Mediterranean light environments (full light versus 30% of full light) during the spring-summer period. These studies aimed to assess plant response to the combined effects of light and water availability. Foliar morphology, anatomy and chemistry composition acclimated positively to light conditions. Leaves of sun-exposed plants were thicker (38.7%) than those of shaded plants, mainly due to increased palisade parenchyma thickness, had a higher nitrogen concentration and stomatal density than the shade ones, which maximized foliar area (>SLA) and Chl/N molar ratio to improve light interception. Chlorophyll concentration per leaf area (Chl(a)) was always higher in sun leaves while, as expressed on dry mass (Chl(m)), significant differences were only apparent in September, shade leaves presenting higher values. During the summer period Chl(a) and Chl(m) markedly declined in sun leaves and remained unchanged in shade ones. The ratio of chlorophyll a/b was not affected either by the light intensity or by the season. Shade leaves presented generally a higher concentration of soluble carbohydrates per dry mass. No significant differences in starch concentration were apparent between sun and shade leaves and a gradual depletion occurred during the water stress period. Maximum stomatal conductances correlated positively with predawn water potential. Throughout the season, sun plants always presented higher leaf conductance to water vapour and lower minimum leaf water potentials, indicating an interaction of light-environment on these water relation parameters. Stomatal closure constitutes a mechanism to cope with diurnal and seasonal water deficits, sun plants presenting a more efficient control of water losses during water deficiency period. In addition, both sun and shade plants evidenced leaf osmotic adjustment ability in response to water stress, which was greater in sun ones.

Plant area index in Eucalyptus globulus plantations determined indirectly by a light interception method.

Plant area index (PAI) was estimated in 3-year-old plantations of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. from (i) allometric relationships obtained from biomass harvesting, and (ii) canopy transmittance measurements. Diffuse light canopy transmittance was measured with a multi-cone sensor consisting of five inverted cones to scan a hemisphere. Plant area index was calculated from transmittance measurements by the inversion method assuming an ellipsoidal angle distribution of uniformly distributed canopy elements, or by application of the Beer-Lambert Law using an empirically determined extinction coefficient (k) for diffuse light of 0.5. Plant area index values of the experimental plantations varied as a consequence of diffferent water and mineral nutrient application rates. The PAI estimated from biomass harvesting ranged from 1.61 to 4.04. The estimates of PAI obtained by the ellipsoidal angle distribution method were significantly different from those based on the allometric relationships or from transmittance measurements assuming a value of k for diffuse light of 0.5.