Plant Diversity ›› 2013, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 17-25.DOI: 10.7677/ynzwyj201312056

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Photosynthetic Ecophysiology of Three Species of Genus Rhododendron

 YANG  Ting-1、2, XU  Kun-3, YAN  Ning-1, LI  Shu-Yun-1, HU  Hong-1   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China;2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;3 Lijiang Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences,  Lijiang 674100, China
  • Received:2012-04-23 Online:2013-01-25 Published:2012-05-29

Abstract:

To understand the photosynthetic characteristics of three species of genus Rhododendron (R.decorum, R.yunnanense and R.rubiginosum), their gas exchanges and related leaf traits were investigated. The results showed that among the three species, lightsaturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax) was significantly correlated to maximum rate of RuBPmediated carboxylation(Vc max), maximum electron transport rate (Jmax) and stomatal conductance (gs) respectively (P≤0.01), but only the value for Vc max of three species was significantly different suggesting that photosynthesis of the three species was primarily limited by the Vc max. leaf nitrogen content, partitioning coefficients for leaf nitrogen in bioenergetics and in Rubisco were significantly related to Vc max and Jmax. R.decorum had a lower light saturation point (LSP) and higher light compensation point (LCP), a narrow range of light adaptability than the others. R.yunnanense showed the lowest LCP across species, but relatively high LSP, Pmax and a wider range of light adaptability. R.rubiginosum had the highest LCP and LSP, indicating that the photosynthesis of this species can adapt to high light.

Key words: Rhododendron, Photosynthesis, Leaf traits, Light intensity

CLC Number: