Abstract
Drought effects on leaf photosynthesis of A. germinans growing under two contrasting salinities were studied in a Venezuelan fringe mangrove. During both wet and dry seasons, severe chronic-photoinhibition at predawn was not observed but strong down regulation occurred at midday during both seasons. Carbon assimilation rates (A, μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) declined during the dry season from 11.9±1.8 to 7.0±1.5 and from 9.6±2.0 to 4.7±2.5 in plants from low and high salinity sites, respectively. Changes in carbon assimilation per unit of chlorophyll (A/Chl, mmol CO2 mol−1 Chl) were from 31.6±4.7 to 20.5±4.3 and from 21.9±4.7 to 15.2±8.2 in the low and high salinity plants, respectively. Therefore, neither changes in Chl nor seasonal differences in photoprotective down regulation could account fully for the decrease in leaf photosynthesis during drought. A reduction in CO2 diffusion due to lowered stomatal conductance was not large enough to explain such a dramatic effect of drought on leaf photosynthesis. Stomatal response could be mitigated by the capability of A. germinans for osmotic adjustment under high salinity and/or drought. However, this intracellular salt accumulation may reduce carbon assimilation capacity further by decreasing the metabolism of leaf cells, increasing dark respiration and/or photorespiration.
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Received: 10 June 1998 / Accepted: 5 October 1998
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Sobrado, M. Drought effects on photosynthesis of the mangrove, Avicennia germinans, under contrasting salinities. Trees 13, 125–130 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009744
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009744