Photosynthetica 2021, 59(4):538-546 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2021.044

Effects of temperature and nitrogen application on photosynthetic characteristics and the absorption and distribution of carbon and nitrogen in apple plants

H.H. ZHANG†, H.F. LIU†, Z. LI, H.F. DING, Z.X. XUE, F.Y. ZHAO, S.L. YU, K. YU
The Key Laboratory of Characteristics of Fruit and Vegetable Cultivation and Utilization of Germplasm Resources of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China

Low temperature has negative effects on apple photosynthesis by inhibiting the accumulations of photosynthates and nitrogen. The interactive effects of low temperature and nitrogen application on photosynthetic parameters and the absorption and distribution of carbon and nitrogen in different organs were assessed to investigate if nitrogen application can relieve the low-temperature stress on gas exchange and the accumulations of carbon and nitrogen inside the apple plants. No matter under normal or low-temperature conditions, nitrogen application both improved the photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, and quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation of PSII as well as the absorption of carbon and nitrogen in roots, stems, and leaves. Thus, we conclude that nitrogen application can relieve the effects of low-temperature stress on photosynthesis and is of benefit for the accumulations of carbon and nitrogen in multiple organs of apple seedlings.

Additional key words: chlorophyll fluorescence; gas exchange; Malus sieversii; temperature stress; tracing technology.

Received: May 19, 2021; Revised: September 13, 2021; Accepted: September 16, 2021; Prepublished online: October 8, 2021; Published: December 17, 2021  Show citation

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ZHANG, H.H., LIU, H.F., LI, Z., DING, H.F., XUE, Z.X., ZHAO, F.Y., YU, S.L., & YU, K. (2021). Effects of temperature and nitrogen application on photosynthetic characteristics and the absorption and distribution of carbon and nitrogen in apple plants. Photosynthetica, 59(4), 538-546. doi: 10.32615/ps.2021.044
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