Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > FP > FP09284
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 37(8)

Effects of leaf development and phosphorus supply on the photosynthetic characteristics of perennial legume species with pasture potential: modelling photosynthesis with leaf development

Lalith D. B. Suriyagoda A B C E , Hans Lambers A , Megan H. Ryan A B and Michael Renton A B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Plant Biology and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

B Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

C Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka.

D CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: suriyl01@student.uwa.edu.au

Functional Plant Biology 37(8) 713-725 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP09284
Submitted: 21 November 2009  Accepted: 1 April 2010   Published: 26 July 2010

Abstract

Age-dependent changes in leaf photosynthetic characteristics (i.e. parameters of the light response curve (maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax), quantum yield (Φ) and the convexity parameter (θ)), stomatal conductance (gs) and dark respiration rate (Rd)) of an exotic perennial legume, Medicago sativa L. (lucerne), and two potential pasture legumes native to Australia, Cullen australasicum (Schltdl.) J.W. Grime and Cullen pallidum A. Lee, grown in a glasshouse for 5 months at two phosphorus (P) levels (3 (P3) and 30 (P30) mg P kg–1 dry soil) were tested. Leaf appearance rate and leaf area were lower at P3 than at P30 in all species, with M. sativa being the most sensitive to P3. At any leaf age, photosynthetic characteristics did not differ between P treatments. However, Pmax and gs for all the species and Φ for Cullen species increased until full leaf expansion and then decreased. The convexity parameter, θ, did not change with leaf age, whereas Rd decreased. The estimates of leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pleaf) obtained through simulations at variable Pmax and Φ were lower during early and late leaf developmental stages and at lower light intensities than those obtained when Φ was assumed to be constant (e.g. for a horizontally placed leaf, during the 1500°C days developmental period, 3 and 19% reduction of Pleaf at light intensities of 1500 and 500 µmol m–2 s–1, respectively). Therefore, developmental changes in leaf photosynthetic characteristics should be considered when estimating and simulating Pleaf of these pasture species.

Additional keywords: Australian native legumes, leaf age, light response curve, novel crops.


Acknowledgements

We thank two anonymous referees for their valuable suggestions, which greatly improved the original manuscript. This study was supported by the School of Plant Biology and the Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Western Australia. LDB Suriyagoda also appreciates the SIRF/UIS Scholarship awarded by the University of Western Australia and further scholarship support from the late Frank Ford.


References


Angus JF, Wilson JH (1976) Photosynthesis of barley and wheat leaves in relation to canopy models. Photosynthetica 10, 367–377. open url image1

Beadle NCW (1966) Soil phosphate and its role in molding segments of the Australian flora and vegetation, with special reference to xeromorphy and sclerophylly. Ecology 47, 992–1007.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Boedhram N (1998) Seasonal changes of leaf area distribution and light response curves and incorporation of vapor pressure deficit into a canopy photosynthesis model in corn. PhD Thesis, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.

Bouma TJ, De Visser R, Van Leeuwen PH, De Kock MJ, Lambers H (1995) The respiratory energy requirements involved in nocturnal carbohydrate export from starch-storing mature source leaves and their contribution to leaf dark respiration. Journal of Experimental Botany 46, 1185–1194.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Charles-Edwards DA (1981) ‘The mathematics of photosynthesis and productivity.’ (Academic Press: London)

Chiera J, Thomas J, Rufty T (2002) Leaf initiation and development in soybean under phosphorus stress. Journal of Experimental Botany 53, 473–481.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Cocks PS (2001) Ecology of herbaceous perennial legumes: a review of characteristics that may provide management options for the control of salinity and waterlogging in dryland cropping systems. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 137–151.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Constable GA, Rawson HM (1980) Effect of leaf position, expansion and age on photosynthesis, transpiration and water use efficiency of cotton. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 7, 89–100.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cordell D, Drangert JO, White S (2009) The story of phosphorus: global food security and food for thought. Global Environmental Change 19, 292–305.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dear BS, Li GD, Hayes RC, Hughes SJ, Charman N, Ballard RA (2007) Cullen australasicum (syn. Psoralea australasica): a review and some preliminary studies related to its potential as a low rainfall perennial pasture legume. The Rangeland Journal 29, 121–132.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

de Groot CC, Van den Boogaard R, Marcelis LFM, Harbinson J, Lambers H (2003) Contrasting effects of N and P deprivation on the regulation of photosynthesis in tomato plants in relation to feedback limitation. Journal of Experimental Botany 54, 1957–1967.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Denton MD, Sasse C, Tibbett M, Ryan MH (2006) Root distributions of Australian herbaceous perennial legumes in response to phosphorus placement. Functional Plant Biology 33, 1091–1102.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Dwyer LM, Stewart DW (1986) Effect of leaf age and position on net photosynthesis rates in maize (Zea mays L.). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 37, 29–46.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ehleringer J, Björkman O (1977) Quantum yields for CO2 uptake in C3 and C4 plants. Dependence on temperature, CO2, and O2 concentration. Plant Physiology 59, 86–90.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Evans JR , Seemann JR (1989) The allocation of protein nitrogen in the photosynthetic apparatus: cost, consequences, and control. In ‘Photosynthesis’. (Ed. WR Briggs) pp. 183–205. (Alan R Liss: New York)

Fick GW , Holt DA , Lugg DG (1988) Environmental physiology and crop growth. In ‘Alfalfa and alfalfa improvement. Agronomy Monograph No. 29’. (Eds AA Hanson, DK Barnes, RR Hill) pp. 164–194. (American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI)

Field F, Mooney HA (1983) Leaf age and seasonal effects on light, water, and nitrogen use efficiency in a California shrub. Oecologia 56, 348–355.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Fletcher AL, Moot DJ, Stone PJ (2008) Radiation use efficiency and leaf photosynthesis of sweet corn in response to phosphorus in a cool temperate environment. European Journal of Agronomy 29, 88–93.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Fredeen AL, Rao IM, Terry N (1989) Influence of phosphorus nutrition on growth and carbon partitioning in Glycine max. Plant Physiology 89, 225–230.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Friedrich JW, Huffaker RC (1980) Photosynthesis, leaf resistances, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase degradation in senescing barley leaves. Plant Physiology 65, 1103–1107.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Ghannoum O, Conroy JP (2007) Phosphorus deficiency inhibits growth in parallel with photosynthesis in a C3 (Panicum laxum) but not two C4 (P. coloratum and Cenchrus ciliaris) grasses. Functional Plant Biology 34, 72–81.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Griffiths FP (1949) Production and utilization of alfalfa. Economic Botany 3, 170–183.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Groom QJ, Baker NR, Long SP (1991) Photoinhibition of holly (Ilex aquifolium) in the field during the winter. Physiologia Plantarum 83, 585–590.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Handreck KA (1997) Phosphorus requirements of Australian native plants. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 241–289.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Heschel MS, Stinchcombe JR, Holsinger KE, Schmitt J (2004) Natural selection on light response curve parameters in the herbaceous annual, Impatiens capensis. Oecologia 139, 487–494.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Hollinger DY (1996) Optimality and nitrogen allocation in a tree canopy. Tree Physiology 16, 627–634.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Jacob J, Lawlor DW (1991) Stomatal and mesophyll limitations of photosynthesis in phosphate deficient sunflower, maize and wheat plants. Journal of Experimental Botany 42, 1003–1011.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Jacob J, Lawlor DW (1992) Dependence of photosynthesis of sunflower and maize leaves on phosphate supply, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate pool size. Plant Physiology 98, 801–807.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Khamis S, Chaillou S, Lamaze T (1990) CO2 assimilation and partitioning of carbon in maize plants deprived of orthophosphate. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 1619–1625.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Kirschbaum MUF, Bellingham DW, Cromer RW (1992) Growth analysis of the effects of phosphorus nutrition on seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 19, 55–66.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Kitajima K, Mulkey SS, Samaniego M, Wright SJ (2002) Decline of photosynthetic capacity with leaf age and position in two tropical pioneer tree species. American Journal of Botany 89, 1925–1932.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Kitson RE, Mellon MG (1944) Colorimetric determination of phosphorus as molybdovanadophosphoric acid. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry. Analytical Edition 16, 379–383.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Lambers H , Chapin FS III , Pons TL (2008) ‘Plant physiological ecology.’ 2nd edn. (Springer-Verlag: New York)

Leech RM , Baker NR (1983) The development of photosynthetic capacity in leaves. In ‘The growth and functioning of leaves’. (Eds JE Dale, FL Milthorpe) pp. 271–308. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)

Li GD, Lodge GM, Moore GA, Craig AD, Dear BS , et al . (2008) Evaluation of perennial pasture legumes and herbs to identify species with high herbage mass and persistence in mixed farming zones in southern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 449–466.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Littell RC , Milliken GA , Stroup WW , Wolfinger RD (1996) ‘SAS System for mixed models.’ (SAS Institute: Cary, NC)

Littell RC, Henry PR, Ammerman CB (1998) Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science 76, 1216–1231.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Lizaso JI, Batchelor WD, Boote KJ, Westgate ME, Rochette P, Moreno-Sotomayor A (2005) Evaluating a leaf-level canopy assimilation model linked to CERES-Maize. Agronomy Journal 97, 734–740.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Marshall B, Biscoe PV (1980) A model for C3 leaves describing the dependence of net photosynthesis on irradiance. II. Application to the analysis of flag leaf photosynthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany 31, 41–48.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Monsi M, Saeki T (2005) On the factor light in plant communities and its importance for dry matter production. Annals of Botany 95, 549–567.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Monteith J , Unsworth M (1990) ‘Principles of environmental physics.’ (Arnold: London)

Nelson DW , Sommers LE (1996) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In ‘Methods of soil analysis part 3 – chemical methods’. (Ed. DL Sparks) pp. 961–1010. (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)

Niinemets U, Kull O, Tenhunen JD (2004) Within canopy variation in the rate of development of photosynthetic capacity is proportional to integrated quantum flux density in temperate deciduous trees. Plant, Cell & Environment 27, 293–313.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Noguchi K, Sonoike K, Terashima I (1996) Acclimation of respiratory properties of leaves of Spinacia oleracea L., a sun species, and of Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don., a shade species, to changes in growth irradiance. Plant & Cell Physiology 37, 377–384.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Osborne B, Garrett M (1983) Quantum yields for CO2 uptake in some diploid and tetraploid plant species. Plant, Cell & Environment 6, 135–144.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Pang J, Tibbett M, Denton MD, Lambers H, Siddique KHM, Bolland MDA, Revell CK, Ryan MH (2010) Variation in seedling growth of 11 perennial legumes in response to phosphorus supply. Plant and Soil 328, 133–143.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Pearcy RW , Sims DA (1994) Photosynthetic acclimation to changing light environments: scaling from the leaf to the whole plant. In ‘Exploitation of environmental heterogeneity by plants’. (Eds MM Caldwell, RW Pearcy) pp. 145–174. (Academic Press: San Diego)

Peat WE (1970) Relationships between photosynthesis and light intensity in the tomato. Annals of Botany 34, 319–328. open url image1

Pieters AJ, Paul MJ, Lawlor DW (2001) Low sink demand limits photosynthesis under Pi deficiency. Journal of Experimental Botany 52, 1083–1091.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Plénet D, Etchebest S, Mollier A, Pellerin S (2000a) Growth analysis of maize field crops under phosphorus deficiency. I. Leaf growth. Plant and Soil 223, 117–130. open url image1

Plénet D, Mollier A, Pellerin S (2000b) Growth analysis of maize field crops under phosphorus deficiency. II. Radiation use efficiency, biomass accumulation and yield components. Plant and Soil 224, 259–272.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Potvin C, Lechowicz MJ, Tardif S (1990) The statistical analysis of ecophysiological response curves obtained from experiments involving repeated measures. Ecology 71, 1389–1400.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rao IM, Terry N (1989) Leaf phosphate status, photosynthesis and carbon partitioning in sugar beet. I. Changes in growth, gas exchange and Calvin cycle enzymes. Plant Physiology 90, 814–819.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Robinson K, Bell LW, Bennett RG, Henry DA, Tibbett M, Ryan MH (2007) Perennial legumes native to Australia – a preliminary investigation of nutritive value and response to cutting. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 170–176.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rodríguez D, Andrade FH, Goudriaan J (2000) Does assimilate supply limit leaf expansion in wheat grown in the field under low phosphorus availability? Field Crops Research 67, 227–238.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Sands PJ (1995) Modelling canopy production. I. Optimal distribution of photosynthetic resources. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 22, 593–601.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Sands PJ (1996) Modelling canopy production. III. Canopy light-utilisation efficiency and its sensitivity to physiological and environmental variables. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 23, 103–114.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Schachtman DP, Reid RJ, Ayling SM (1998) Phosphorus uptake by plants: from soil to cell. Plant Physiology 116, 447–453.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Shane MW, McCully ME, Lambers H (2004) Tissue and cellular phosphorus storage during development of phosphorus toxicity in Hakea prostrata (Proteaceae). Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 1033–1044.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Shirke PA (2001) Leaf photosynthesis, dark respiration and fluorescence as influenced by leaf age in an evergreen tree, Prosopis juliflora. Photosynthetica 39, 305–311.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Singsaas EL, Ort DR, Delucia EH (2001) Variation in measured values of photosynthetic quantum yield in ecophysiological studies. Oecologia 128, 15–23.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Small E (2009) Distribution of perennial Medicago with particular reference to agronomic potential for semiarid Mediterranean climate. In ‘New perennial legumes’. (Ed. SJ Bennett) pp. 57–80. (University of Western Australia Press: Perth)

Smillie RM (1962) Photosynthetic and respiratory activities of growing pea leaves. Plant Physiology 37, 716–721.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Stirling CM, Aguilera C, Baker NR, Long SP (1994) Changes in the photosynthetic light response curve during leaf development of field grown maize with implications for modelling canopy photosynthesis. Photosynthesis Research 42, 217–225.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Suzuki S, Nakamoto H, Ku MSB, Edwards GE (1987) Influence of leaf age on photosynthesis, enzyme activity, and metabolite levels in wheat. Plant Physiology 84, 1244–1248.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Thornley JHM (2002) Instantaneous canopy photosynthesis: analytical expressions for sun and shade leaves based on exponential light decay down the canopy and an acclimated non-rectangular hyperbola for leaf photosynthesis. Annals of Botany 89, 451–458.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Thornley JHM (2004) Acclimation of photosynthesis to light and canopy nitrogen distribution: an interpretation. Annals of Botany 93, 473–475.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Thornley JHM , Johnson IR (2000) ‘Plant and crop modelling: a mathematical approach to plant and crop physiology.’ (Blackburn Press: New Jersey)

Vance CP, Uhde-Stone C, Allan DL (2003) Phosphorus acquisition and use: critical adaptations by plants for securing a nonrenewable resource. New Phytologist 157, 423–447.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Witkowski ETF, Lamont BB, Walton CS, Radford S (1992) Leaf demography, sclerophylly and ecophysiology of two Banksias with contrasting leaf life spans. Australian Journal of Botany 40, 849–862.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Xie S, Luo X (2003) Effect of leaf position and age on anatomical structure, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration of Asian pear. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 44, 297–303. open url image1