Photosynthetica 2016, 54(1):28-39 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-015-0122-5

Effects of different levels of water stress on leaf photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant enzyme activities of greenhouse tomato

X. K. Yuan1,2, Z. Q. Yang1,2,*, Y. X. Li1,2, Q. Liu2, W. Han1,2
1 School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
2 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Agricultural Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science &Technology, Nanjing, China

Two greenhouse experiments were conducted in order to investigate the effects of different levels of water stress on gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, and yield of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Jinfen 2). Four levels of soil water content were used: control (75 to 80% of field water capacity), mild water stress (55 to 60%), moderate water stress (45 to 50%), and severe water stress (35 to 40%). The controlled irrigation was initiated from the third leaf stage until maturity. The results of two-year trials indicated that the stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, light-saturated photosynthetic rate, and saturation radiation decreased generally under all levels of water stress during all developmental stages, while compensation radiation and dark respiration rate increased generally. Water stress also declined maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, electron transfer rate, and effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, while nonphotochemical quenching increased in all developmental stages. All levels of water stress also caused a marked reduction of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content in all developmental stages, while activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, and lipid peroxidation increased.

Additional key words: drought stress; malondialdehyde; nonstomatal limitation; PN, PPFD response curve; stomatal limitation

Received: June 5, 2014; Accepted: December 5, 2014; Published: March 1, 2016  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Yuan, X.K., Yang, Z.Q., Li, Y.X., Liu, Q., & Han, W. (2016). Effects of different levels of water stress on leaf photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant enzyme activities of greenhouse tomato. Photosynthetica, 54(1), 28-39. doi: 10.1007/s11099-015-0122-5
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. Bray E.A.: Plant responses to water deficit. - Trends Plant Sci. 2: 48-54, 1997. Go to original source...
    2. Beauchamp C., Fridovich I.: Superoxide dismutase: improved assay and an assay applicable to arylamide gels. - Anal. Biochem. 44: 276-287, 1971. Go to original source...
    3. 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...
    4. Baker N.R., Rosenqvist E.: Applications of chlorophyll fluorescence can improve crop production strategies: an examination of future possibilities. - J. Exp. Bot. 55: 1607-1621, 2004. Go to original source...
    5. Baquedano F.J., Castillo F.J.: Comparative ecophysiological effects of drought on seedlings of the Mediterranean watersaver Pinus halepensis and water-spenders Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex. - Trees 20: 689-700, 2006. Go to original source...
    6. Cakmak I, Horst W.J.: Effect of aluminium on lipid peroxidation superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activities in root tips of soybean (Glycine max). - Plant Physiol. 83: 463-468, 1991. Go to original source...
    7. Chaves M.M.: Effects of water deficits on carbon assimilation. - J. Exp. Bot. 42: 1-16, 1991. Go to original source...
    8. Cornic G.: Drought stress and high light effects on leaf photosynthesis. - In: Baker N.R., Bowyer J.R. (ed.): Photoinhibition of Photosynthesis from Molecular Mechanisms to the Field. Pp. 297-313. BIOS Scientific Publ., Oxford 1994.
    9. Cornic G.: Drought stress inhibits photosynthesis by decreasing stomatal aperture not by affecting ATP synthesis. - Trends Plant Sci. 5: 187-188, 2000. Go to original source...
    10. Cornic G., Fresneau C.: Photosynthetic carbon reduction and carbon oxidation cycles are the main electron sinks for photosystem II activity during a mild drought. - Ann Bot.-London 89: 887-894, 2002. Go to original source...
    11. Díaz-Vivancos P., Clemente-Moreno M.J., Rubio M. et al.: Alteration in the chloroplastic metabolism leads to ROS accumulation in pea plants in response to plum pox virus. - J. Exp. Bot. 59: 2147-2160, 2008. Go to original source...
    12. Egert M., Tevini M.: Influence of drought on some physiological parameters symptomatic for oxidative stress in leaves of chives (Allium schoenoprasum). - Environ. Exp. Bot. 48: 43-49, 2002. Go to original source...
    13. Elsheery N.I., Cao K.F.: Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and osmotic adjustment in two mango cultivars under drought stress. - Acta Physiol. Plant. 30: 769-777, 2008. Go to original source...
    14. Elvira S., Alonso R., Castillo F.J. et al: On the response of pigments and antioxidants of Pinus halepensis seedlings to Mediterranean climatic factors and long-term ozone exposure. - New Phytol. 138: 419-432, 1998. Go to original source...
    15. Farooq M.S., Basra M.A., Wahid A. et al: Improving the drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by exogenous application of salicylic acid. - J. Agron. Crop. Sci. 195: 237-246, 2009. Go to original source...
    16. Fracheboud Y., Haldimann P., Leipner J. et al.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a selection tool for cold tolerance of photosynthesis in maize (Zea mays L.). - J. Exp. Bot. 50: 1533-1540, 1999. Go to original source...
    17. Flexas J., Bota J., Loreto F. et al.: Diffusive and metabolic limitations to photosynthesis under drought and salinity in C3 plants. - Plant Biol. 6: 269-279, 2004. Go to original source...
    18. Galmés J., Medrano H., Flexas J.: Photosynthesis and photoinhibition in response to drought in a pubescent (var. minor) and a glabrous (var. palaui) variety of Digitalis minor. - Environ. Exp. Bot. 60: 105-111, 2007. Go to original source...
    19. Ghanati F., Morita A., Yokota H.: Induction of suberin and increase of lignin content by excess boron in tobacco cells. - Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 48: 357-364, 2002. Go to original source...
    20. Hernández J.A., Olmos E., Corpas F.J. et al.: Salt induced oxidative stress in chloroplasts of pea plants. - Plant Sci. 105: 151-167, 1995. Go to original source...
    21. Jiang M., Zhang J.: Water stress induced abscisic acid accumulation triggers the increased generation of reactive oxygen species and upregulates the activities of antioxidant enzymes in maize leaves. - J. Exp. Bot. 53: 2401-2410, 2002. Go to original source...
    22. Jaleel C.A., Gopi R., Manivannan P. et al.: Antioxidant potential and indole alkaloid profile variations with water deficits along different parts of two varieties of Catharanthus roseus. - Colloid Surface B 62: 312-318, 2008. Go to original source...
    23. Krause G.H.: Photoinhibition of photosynthesis. An evaluation of damaging and protective mechanisms. - Physiol. Plantarum 74: 566-574, 1988. Go to original source...
    24. Lawlor D.W.: The effects of water deficit on photosynthesis. - In: Smirnoff N. (ed.): Environment and Plant Metabolism. Flexibility and Acclimation. Pp. 129-160. BIOS Scientific Publishers, Oxford 1995.
    25. Loggini B., Scartazza A., Brugnoil E. et al.: Antioxidative defense system, pigment composition and photosynthetic efficiency in two wheat cultivars subjected to drought. - Plant Physiol. 119: 1091-1100, 1999. Go to original source...
    26. Lu C.M., Zhang J.H.: Modifications in photosystem II photochemistry in senescent leaves of maize plants. - J. Exp. Bot. 49: 1671-1679, 1998. Go to original source...
    27. Ma C., Wang Z.Q., Kong B.B. et al.: Exogenous trehalose differentially modulate antioxidant defense system in wheat callus during water deficit and subsequent recovery. - Plant Growth Regul. 70: 275-285, 2013. Go to original source...
    28. Maxwell K., Johnson G.N.: Chlorophyll fluorescence - a practical guide. - J. Exp. Bot. 51: 659-668, 2000. Go to original source...
    29. Medrano H., Escalona J.M., Bota J. et al.: Regulation of photosynthesis of C3 plants in response to progressive drought: stomatal conductance as a reference parameter. - Ann. Bot.- London 89: 895-905, 2002. Go to original source...
    30. Murkowski A.: Heat stress and spermidine: effect on chlorophyll fluorescence in tomato plants. - Biol. Plantarum 44: 53-57, 2001. Go to original source...
    31. Nouairi I., Ben Ammar W., Ben Youssef N. et al.: Antioxidant defense system in leaves of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and rape (Brassica napus) under cadmium stress. - Acta Physiol. Plant. 31: 237-247, 2009. Go to original source...
    32. Peri P.L., Arena G., Martínez Pastur M. et al.: Photosynthetic response to different light intensities, water status and leaf age of two Berberis species (Berberidaceae) of Patagonian steppe. - J. Arid. Environ. 75: 1218-1222, 2011. Go to original source...
    33. Plaut Z.: Sensitive of crop plant to water stress at specific developmental stages: Reevaluation of experimental findings. - Isr. J. Plant Sci. 43: 99-111, 1995. Go to original source...
    34. Prioul J.L., Chartier P.: Partitioning of transfer and carboxylation components of intracellular resistance to photosynthetic CO2 fixation: A critical analysis of the methods used. - Ann. Bot.- London 41: 789-800, 1977. Go to original source...
    35. Powles S.B.: Photoinhibition of photosynthesis induced by visible light. - Annu. Rev. Plant Phys. 35: 15-44, 1984. Go to original source...
    36. Ren J., Dai W.R., Xuan Z.Y. et al.: The effect of drought and enhanced UV-B radiation on the growth and physiological traits of two contrasting poplar species. - Forest Ecol. Manag. 239: 112-119, 2007. Go to original source...
    37. Shao H.B., Liang Z.S., Shao M.A. et al.: Dynamic changes of antioxidative enzymes of ten wheat genotypes at soil water deficits. - Colloid Surface B 42: 187-195, 2005. Go to original source...
    38. Sofo A., Dichio B., Montanaro G. et al.: Photosynthetic performance and light response of two olive cultivars under different water and light regimes. - Photosynthetica 47: 602-608, 2009. Go to original source...
    39. Smirnoff N.: The role of active oxygen in the response of plants to water deficit and desiccation. - New Phytol. 125: 27-58, 1993. Go to original source...
    40. Tezara W., Marín O., Rengifo E. et al.: Photosynthesis and photoinhibition in two xerophytic shrubs during drought. - Photosynthetica 43: 37-45, 2005. Go to original source...
    41. Tezara W., Mitchell V.J., Driscoll S.D. et al.: Water stress inhibits plant photosynthesis by decreasing coupling factor and ATP. - Nature 401: 914-917, 1999. Go to original source...
    42. Türkan I., Bor M., Özdemir F. et al.: Differential responses of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in the leaves of drought tolerant P. actifolius Gray and drought sensitive P. vulgaris L. subjected to polyethylene glycol mediated water stress. - Plant Sci. 168: 223-231, 2005. Go to original source...
    43. Vandoorne B., Mathieu A.S., Van den Ende W. et al.: Water stress drastically reduces root growth and inulin yield in Cichorium intybus (var. sativum) independently of photosynthesis. - J. Exp. Bot. 63: 4359-4373, 2012. Go to original source...
    44. Wagner P.A., Dreyer E.: Interactive effects of waterlogging and irradiance on the photosynthetic performance of seedlings from three oak species displaying different sensitivities (Quercus robur, Q. petraea and Q. rubra). - Ann. For. Sci. 54: 409-429, 1997. Go to original source...
    45. Wellburn A.R.: The spectral determination of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, as well as total carotenoids, using various solvents with spectrophotometers of different resolution. - J. Plant Physiol. 144: 307-313, 1994. Go to original source...
    46. Wu F.Z., Bao W.K., Li F.L. et al.: Effects of water stress and nitrogen supply on leaf gas exchange and fluorescence parameters of Sophora davidii seedlings. - Photosynthetica 46: 40-48, 2008. Go to original source...
    47. Wang F.Z., Wang Q.B., Kwon S.Y. et al.: Enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic rice plants expressing a pea manganese superoxide dismutase. - J. Plant Physiol. 162: 465-472, 2005. Go to original source...
    48. Xu Z.Z., Zhou G.S.: Combined effects of water stress and high temperature on photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and lipid peroxidation of a perennial grass Leymus chinensis. - Planta 224: 1080-1090, 2006. Go to original source...
    49. Yin C.Y., Berninger F., Li C.Y.: Photosynthetic responses of Populus przewalski subjected to drought stress. - Photosynthetica 44: 62-68, 2006. Go to original source...
    50. Younis Y.M., Ghirmay S., al-Shihry S.S.: African cucurbita pepo L.: Properties of seed and variability in fatty acid composition of seed oil. - Photochemistry 54: 71-75, 2000. Go to original source...
    51. Zhang J., Jia W., Yang J. et al.: Role of ABA in integrating plant responses to drought and salt stresses. - Field Crop. Res. 97: 111-119, 2006. Go to original source...
    52. Zheng B.S., Jing S.H., Yan Y.R.: [Research Methodology of Modern Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.] Pp. 189-198. China Meteorological Press, Beijing 2006. [In Chinese]

    Return to the content