title: [Photosynthesis and transpiration characteristics of female and male Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim individuals].
abstract: A field research was conducted on the photosynthesis and transpiration characteristics of dioecious Trichosanthes kirilowii individuals at four key development stages. At vegetative growth stage, the photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency of male individuals were higher than those of female individuals, and hence, male individuals entered into reproductive growth stage 22 days earlier than female individuals. After entering into reproductive growth stage, male individuals had higher photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance, but slightly lower water use efficiency than female individuals. As the female individuals started to reproductive growth, their photosynthesis rate and water use efficiency were significantly lower, while the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were higher than those of the male individuals. The effects of climate factors on the growth and development of T. kirilowii mainly occurred at its vegetative growth and early reproductive growth stages, and weakened at later reproductive growth stages. Higher temperature and lower relative humidity benefited the growth and development of T. kirilowii, and illumination could enhance the photosynthesis rate of T. kirilowii, especially its male individuals. After entering into reproductive growth stage, the photosynthesis rate of male individuals increased significantly with increasing illumination, but that of female individuals only had a slight increase, and the transpiration rate of male individuals as well as the photosynthesis rate of female individuals all increased significantly with increasing temperature.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China. liuyun19970205@163.com
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhang-cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Xiao-xue
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Wen-ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D029778:Trichosanthes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water