The effects of phenolic acids on the photosynthetic characteristics and growth of Populus × euramericana cv. 'Neva' seedlings

Abstract

Populus × euramericana cv. 'Neva' is an important tree species in northern China. In the study, we used its potted oneyear-old seedlings as experimental material and established three treatments (CK, 0.5X, and 1.0X) according to the concentrations of phenolic acids in order to examine the effects of different concentrations on the photosynthetic characteristics and growth of poplar. With increasing concentrations of phenolic acids, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal limitation, transpiration rate, apparent quantum yield, photochemical quenching coefficient, electron transport rate, chlorophyll content, and total biomass decreased significantly. The intercellular CO 2 concentration, light-compensation point, nonphotochemical quenching, malondialdehyde content, and root/shoot ratio increased significantly. Peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities initially decreased and then increased. We concluded that phenolic acids significantly inhibited poplar's photosynthesis and the higher phenolic acid concentration, the greater inhibition of photosynthesis occurred. This inhibition effect was mainly caused by nonstomatal factors. Phenolic acids induced noticeable photoinhibition, resulted in the irreversible damage of membrane structure, and then changed intracellular metabolic processes. To cope with phenolic acid stress, poplar seedlings increased dissipation of excess light energy and distributed relatively more biomass to underground parts within carbon allocation.

Appropriate Removal of Forest Litter is Beneficial to Pinus tabuliformis Carr. Regeneration in a Pine and Oak Mixed Forest in the Qinling Mountains, China

“…Studies have shown that allelochemicals inhibit the synthesis of indoleacetic acid and gibberellin, thus hindering germination in target plants [35]. Similarly, allelochemicals may affect plant photosynthesis, and further alter cell respiration and metabolism, thereby affecting plant growth [36]. These studies on allelopathic mechanisms support our experimental results.…”

Allelopathic effects of phenolic acids on seedling growth and photosynthesis in Rhododendron delavayi Franch.

“…This finding may be related to the promotion of Chl content by R. delavayi mycorrhizal fungi (Lin et al 2011, Jing 2013. Under normal circumstances, PN decreases along with the Chl content (Wang 2015, Xie et al 2018. In this study, under the three kinds of phenolic stress, Chl a, Chl b, and total Chl were extremely negatively correlated with PN, and the results of the RDA analysis showed that Chl a was the main factor influencing the photosynthetic characteristics ( Fig.…”

“…Photosynthesis may be inhibited by reducing the amount of functional reaction centers of PSII (Dwyer et al 2012). The maximum quantum yield of the PSII primary photochemistry was depressed, which has yet to be studied (Lu et al 2018, Xie et al 2018. PA had no effect on the leaf stomata of R. delavayi.…”

Enhancing the thermotolerance of tomato seedlings by heat shock treatment

“…We can conclude that high temperature seriously damaged the cells of tomato seedlings, and heat shock could alleviate heat stress. Antioxidant enzymes, such as POD, CAT, and SOD, are the most important enzymes for scavenging free radicals, maintaining the balance between free radical production and elimination in plant cells (Xie et al 2018). There have been many reports on the comparative effects of SOD, CAT, and POD activities exposed to high temperature stress (Zhu et al 2010, Yuan et al 2011, Wang et al 2014.…”