Photosynthetica 2003, 41(4):619-625 | DOI: 10.1023/B:PHOT.0000027529.82395.86

Interspecific Differences of Leaf Gas Exchange and Water Relations of Three Evergreen Mediterranean Shrub Species

A. Bombelli1,*, L. Gratani1
1 Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy

Leaf gas exchange and plant water relations of three co-occurring evergreen Mediterranean shrubs species, Quercus ilex L. and Phillyrea latifolia L. (typical evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs) and Cistus incanus L. (a drought semi-deciduous shrub), were investigated in order to evaluate possible differences in their adaptive strategies, in particular with respect to drought stress. C. incanus showed the highest annual rate of net photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs) decreasing by 67 and 69 %, respectively, in summer. P. latifolia and Q. ilex showed lower annual maximum PN and gs, although PN was less lowered in summer (40 and 37 %, respectively). P. latifolia reached the lowest midday leaf water potential (Ψ1) during the drought period (-3.54±0.36 MPa), 11 % lower than in C. incanus and 19 % lower than in Q. ilex. Leaf relative water content (RWC) showed the same trend as Ψ1. C. incanus showed the lowest RWC values during the drought period (60 %) while they were never below 76 % in P. latifolia and Q. ilex; moreover C. incanus showed the lowest recovery of Ψ1 at sunset. Hence the studied species are well adapted to the prevailing environment in Mediterranean climate areas, but they show different adaptive strategies that may be useful for their co-occurrence in the same habitat. However, Q. ilex and P. latifolia by their water use strategy seem to be less sensitive to drought stress than C. incanus.

Additional key words: adaptive strategies; Cistus incanus; leaf water potential; net photosynthetic rate; Phillyrea latifolia; Quercus ilex; relative water content; stomatal conductance; water stress

Published: December 1, 2003  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Bombelli, A., & Gratani, L. (2003). Interspecific Differences of Leaf Gas Exchange and Water Relations of Three Evergreen Mediterranean Shrub Species. Photosynthetica, 41(4), 619-625. doi: 10.1023/B:PHOT.0000027529.82395.86
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. Acherar, M., Rambal, S.: Comparative water relations of four Mediterranean oak species. - Vegetatio 99-100: 177-184, 1992. Go to original source...
    2. Angelopoulos, K., Dichio, B., Xiloyannis, C.: Inhibition of photosynthesis in olive trees (Olea europaea L.) during water stress and rewatering. - J. exp. Bot. 47: 1093-1100, 1996. Go to original source...
    3. Ashraf, M., Ahmad, A., McNeilly, T.: Growth and photosynthetic characteristics in pearl millet under water stress and different potassium supply. - Photosynthetica 39: 389-394, 2001. Go to original source...
    4. Castillo, J.M., Rubio Casal, A.E., Luque, C.J., Luque, T., Figueroa, M.E.: Comparative field summer stress of three tree species co-occurring in Mediterranean coastal dunes. - Photosynthetica 40: 49-56, 2002. Go to original source...
    5. Castro-Díez, P., Villar-Salvador, P., Pérez-Rontomé, C., Maestro-Martínez, M., Montserrat-Martí, G.: Leaf morphology, leaf chemical composition and stem xylem characteristics in two Pistacia (Anacardiaceae) species along a climatic gradient. - Flora 193: 195-202, 1998. Go to original source...
    6. Dickson, R.E., Tomlinson, P.T.: Oak growth, development and carbon metabolism in response to water stress. - Ann. Sci. forest. 53: 181-196, 1996. Go to original source...
    7. Faria, T., Silvério, D., Breia, E., Cabral, R., Abadia, A., Abadia, J., Pereira, J.S., Chaves, M.M.: Differences in the response of carbon assimilation to summer stress (water deficits, high light and temperature) in four Mediterranean trees species. - Physiol. Plant. 102: 419-428, 1998. Go to original source...
    8. Flexas, J., Gulías, J., Jonasson, S., Medrano, H., Mus, M.: Seasonal patterns and control of gas exchange in local populations of the Mediterranean evergreen shrub Pistacia lentiscus L. - Acta oecol. 22: 33-43, 2001. Go to original source...
    9. Grammatikopoulos, G.: Mechanisms for drought tolerance in two Mediterranean seasonal dimorphic shrubs. - Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 26: 587-593, 1999. Go to original source...
    10. Grantz, D.A.: Plant response to atmospheric humidity. - Plant Cell Environ. 13: 667-679, 1990. Go to original source...
    11. Gratani, L.: [Photosynthetic response and leaf morphological adaptations of some evergreen shrub species to microclimatic variations] - Ecol. Medit. 20: 61-71, 1994. [In Ital.]
    12. Gratani, L., Bombelli, A.: Leaf anatomy, inclination, and gas exchange relationships in evergreen sclerophyllous and drought semideciduous shrub species. - Photosynthetica 37: 573-585, 1999. Go to original source...
    13. Gratani, L., Bombelli, A.: Correlation between leaf age and other leaf traits in three Mediterranean maquis shrub species: Quercus ilex, Phillyrea latifolia and Cistus incanus. - Environ. exp. Bot. 43: 141-153, 2000. Go to original source...
    14. Infante, J.M., Damesin, C., Rambal, S., Fernández-Alés, R.: Modelling leaf gas exchange in holm-oak trees in southern Spain. - Agr. Forest Meteorol. 95: 203-223, 1999. Go to original source...
    15. Ivandic, V., Hackett, C.A., Zhang, Z.J., Staub, J.E., Nevo, E., Thomas, W.T.B., Forster, B.P.: Phenotypic responses of wild barley to experimentally imposed water stress. - J. exp. Bot. 51: 2021-2029, 2000. Go to original source...
    16. Jones, H.G.: Stomatal control of photosynthesis and transpiration. - J. exp. Bot. 49: 387-398, 1998. Go to original source...
    17. Kao, W.-Y., Forseth, I.N.: Diurnal leaf movement, chlorophyll fluorescence and carbon assimilation in soybean growth under different nitrogen and water availabilities. - Plant Cell Environ. 15: 703-710, 1992. Go to original source...
    18. Karabourniotis, G.: Light-guiding function of foliar sclereids in the evergreen sclerophyll Phillyrea latifolia: a quantitative approach. - J. exp. Bot. 49: 739-746, 1998. Go to original source...
    19. Kummerow, J.: Comparative anatomy of sclerophylls of Mediterranean climatic areas. - In: Di Castri, F., Mooney, H.A. (ed.): Mediterranean-type Ecosystems. Origin and Structure. Pp. 157-167. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1973. Go to original source...
    20. Leidi, E.O.: Leaf gas exchange of Pachyrhizus ahipa and P. erosus under water and temperature stress. - Photosynthetica 40: 375-381, 2002. Go to original source...
    21. Lo Gullo, M.A., Salleo, S.: Different strategies of drought resistance in three Mediterranean sclerophyllous trees growing in the same environmental conditions. - New Phytol. 108: 267-276, 1988. Go to original source...
    22. Miller, P.M., Eddleman, L.E., Miller, J.M.: Influence of vapor pressure deficit and soil moisture on gas exchange of Juniperus occidentalis. - Northwest Sci. 67: 147-155, 1993.
    23. Mitrakos, K., Christodoulakis, N.S.: Leaf structure diversity in Mediterranean evergreen sclerophyllous. - In: Margaris, N.S., Mooney, H.A. (ed.): Components of Productivity of Mediterranean-Climate Regions. Basic and Applied Aspects. Pp. 21-25. Dr W. Junk Publ., The Hague - Boston - London 1981. Go to original source...
    24. Nardini, A., Lo Gullo, M.A., Salleo, S.: Competitive strategies for water availability in two Mediterranean Quercus species. - Plant Cell Environ. 22: 109-116, 1999. Go to original source...
    25. Rambal, S.: Quercus ilex facing water stress: a functional equilibrium hypothesis. - Vegetatio 99-100: 147-153, 1992. Go to original source...
    26. Richter, H., Kikuta, S.B.: Osmotic and elastic components of turgor adjustment in leaves under stress. - In: Kreeb, K.H., Richter, H., Hinckley, T.M. (ed.): Structural and Functional Responses to Environmental Stresses. Pp. 129-137. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague 1989.
    27. Salleo, S., Lo Gullo, M.A.: Sclerophylly and plant water relations in three Mediterranean Quercus species. - Ann. Bot. 65: 259-270, 1990. Go to original source...
    28. Sánchez-Blanco, M.J., Rodríguez, P., Morales, M.A., Ortuño, M.F., Torrecillas, A.: Comparative growth and water relations of Cistus albidus and Cistus monspeliensis plants during water deficit conditions and recovery. - Plant Sci. 162: 107-113, 2002. Go to original source...
    29. Scotti Campos, P., Ramalho, J.C., Lauriano, J.A., Silva, M.J., do Céu Matos, M.: Effects of drought on photosynthetic performance and water relations of four Vigna genotypes. - Photosynthetica 36: 79-87, 1999. Go to original source...
    30. Tenhunen, J.D., Beyschlag, W., Lange, O.L., Harley, P.C.: Changes during summer drought in leaf CO2 uptake rates of macchia shrubs growing in Portugal: limitations due to photosynthetic capacity, carboxylation efficiency and stomatal conductance. - In: Tenhunen, J.D., Catarino, F.M., Lange, O.L., Oechel, W.C. (ed.): Plant Response to Stress. Functional Analysis in Mediterranean Ecosystems. Pp. 305-327. Springer-Verlag, Berlin - Heidelberg - New York - London - Paris - Tokyo 1987. Go to original source...
    31. Tenhunen, J.D., Lange, O.L., Harley, P.C., Beyschlag, W., Meyer, A.: Limitations due to water stress on leaf net photosynthesis of Quercus coccifera in the Portuguese evergreen scrub. - Oecologia 67: 23-30, 1985. Go to original source...
    32. Tezara, W., Mitchell, V.J., Driscoll, S.D., Lawlor, D.W.: Water stress inhibits plant photosynthesis by decreasing coupling factor and ATP. - Nature 401: 914-917, 1999. Go to original source...
    33. Tognetti, R., Minnocci, A., Peñuelas, J., Raschi, A., Jones, M.B.: Comparative field water relations of three Mediterranean shrub species co-occurring at a natural CO2 vent. - J. exp. Bot. 51: 1135-1146, 2000. Go to original source...
    34. Torrecillas, A., Alarcón, J.J., Domingo, R., Planes, J., Sánchez-Blanco, M.J.: Strategies for drought resistance in leaves of two almond cultivars. - Plant Sci. 118: 135-143, 1996. Go to original source...
    35. Werner, C., Correia, O., Beyschlag, W.: Two different strategies of Mediterranean macchia plants to avoid photoinhibitory damage by excessive radiation levels during summer drought. - Acta oecol. 20: 15-23, 1999. Go to original source...
    36. White, D.A., Turner, N.C., Galbraith, J.H.: Leaf water relations and stomatal behavior of four allopatric Eucalyptus species planted in Mediterranean southwestern Australia. - Tree Physiol. 20: 1157-1165, 2000. Go to original source...
    37. Wuenscher, J.E., Kozlowski, T.T.: Relationship of gas-exchange resistance to tree-seedling ecology. - Ecology 52: 1016-1023, 1971. Go to original source...

    Return to the content