Seasonal and needle age-related variations in the biochemical characteristics of Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe

Abstract

Variations in the photosynthetic pigments and total carbohydrate contents of needles of different age classes (current-year, 1-year-old, 2-year-old and 3-year-old) of Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lambert) Holmboe trees in a young natural stand were investigated during the growing season. In current-year needles, total carbohydrate content was lower during June and July when the needle growth continued than in older age classes, but it was similar to other age classes in the months of August to October. Seasonal patterns of variations in total carbohydrate content were almost similar in 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old needles. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents increased from May to June, remained relatively constant or declined slightly during summer and autumn in 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old needles. In October, the pigment content was highest in 1-year-old needles, and lowest in 3-year-old needles. Our study indicated that total carbohydrate and pigment contents were affected by needle age classes and seasons.

Influence of Pollution on Photosynthesis Pigment Content in Needles of Picea abies and Picea pungens in Conditions of Development of Iron Ore Deposits

“…As for such an indicator the amount of chlorophylls (a + b) we should note that the results of author's research in general are the same as others: in the needles of P. abies from Ussuriisk, it was 1.11-1.38 mg/g of wet weight (Titova, 2010), and in the needles of P. pungens from the city of Dnipro (Ukraine), it was 0.99-1.7 mg/g of wet weight (Bessonova, Ponomar' ova, 2017). The peculiarities of pigment accumulation in conifers during the vegetation period are also confirmed by other studies: the most intensively this process takes place in May (Titova, 2013;Bessonova, Ponomar' ova, 2017), the smallest number is observed in September (Zarek, 2016;Deligöz et al, 2018). Our data also proved the previously statements (Kvilala et al, 2014;Verma, Chandra, 2014;Starikova et al, 2016Bessonova, Grytsay, 2018 on the overall decrease in the number of chlorophylls in plant photosynthetic apparatus under stress.…”

“…pallasiana (Lamb. ), was registered during the second half of the summer and autumn (Deligöz et al, 2018). It is noted that during prolonged droughts, the destruction of chlorophyll a is greater than b (Pavlov, 2005).…”

Coexistent Heteroblastic Needles of Adult Pinus canariensis C.Sm. ex DC. in Buch Trees Differ Structurally and Physiologically

“…This resembles the lack of diurnal fluctuations in the content of pigments described by Porcar-Castell et al (2012) for P. sylevestris [58]. Seasonally, Chl a+b can slightly decrease towards winter in conifers [52,59,60] but generally remains constant between summer and autumn [61], as was also the case of P. canariensis in our study and in previous studies with this species [52]. Overall, higher photochemical efficiency but lower Chl content were obtained in secondary needles of P. canariensis.…”

Understory junipers, and light environment effects on biomass, chemical composition, and nutrient contents of black pine seedlings

“…It has been revealed in previous studies that the change of chlorophyll pigments in coniferous species, such as black pine, Scots pine, spruce, and fir, varies according to plant age, leaf age, and light (or shade) conditions (Niinemets 2012;Turfan et al 2021;Deligöz et al 2018;Hernandez Velasco and Mattsson 2019;Pakharkova et al 2020). The lower Ch-a/Ch-b ratio and xanthophyll content of PSNJ seedlings were likely due to their competition with junipers for light (Deligöz et al 2018;Tran 2018). In a similar study, Tran (2018) reported that exposure of Fraxinus latifolia seedlings to low light conditions can cause a decrease in the Chl-a/Chl-b ratio.…”