Photosynthetic responses of a C(3) and three C(4) species of the genus Panicum (s.l.) with different metabolic subtypes to drought stress.
Young plants of Panicum bisulcatum (C(3)), Zuloagaea bulbosa [NADP-malic enzyme (ME)-C(4)], P. miliaceum (NAD-ME-C(4)) and Urochloa maxima [phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK)-C(4)] were subjected to drought stress (DS) in soil for 6 days. The C(3) species showed severe wilting symptoms at higher soil water potential (-1.1 MPa) and relative leaf water content (77 %) than in the case of the C(4) species (-1.5 to -1.7 MPa; 58-64 %). DS decreased photosynthesis, both under atmospheric and under saturating CO(2). Stomatal limitation of net photosynthesis (P(N)) in the C(3), but not in the C(4) species was indicated by P(N)/C(o) curves. Chlorophyll fluorescence of photosystem II, resulting from different cell types in the four species, indicated NADPH accumulation and non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis in all four species, even under high CO(2). In the NAD-ME-C(4) and the PCK-C(4) species, DS plants showed increased violaxanthin de-epoxidase rates. Biochemical analyses of carboxylating enzymes and in vitro enzyme activities of the C(4) enzymes identified the most likely non-stomatal limiting steps of photosynthesis. In P. bisulcatum, declining RubisCO content and activity would explain the findings. In Z. bulbosa, all photosynthesis enzymes declined significantly; photosynthesis is probably limited by the turnover rate of the PEPC reaction. In P. miliaceum, all enzyme levels remained fairly constant under DS, but photosynthesis can be limited by feedback inhibition of the Calvin cycle, resulting in asp inhibition of PEPC. In U. maxima, declines of in vivo PEPC activity and feedback inhibition of the Calvin cycle are the main candidates for non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis under DS.
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, University of Frankfurt, Max von Laue Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
Sabrina U
SU
Alfonso
Wolfgang
W
Brüggemann
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008897:Panicum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; C046446:malate dehydrogenase-(oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NAD+); C031917:malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NADP+); D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase