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Seasonal ecophysiology of an endangered coastal species, the yellow-horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz)

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Abstract

Glaucium flavum Crantz. is a short-lived perennial herb distributed in coastal zones from the Black Sea to southern, western and north-western Europe. Despite its diminishing area of distribution and potential pharmacological value, little is known about the ecophysiological features of this coastal species. We investigated the photosynthetic performance of G. flavum by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigment concentration and leaf water content over the space of a year in a coastal habitat of SW Spain. We also measured the variation in total concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, calcium and magnesium, in the leaves and soil, throughout the study period. G. flavum showed a high resistance to summer drought conditions which appeared to be due to the high degree of stomatal control. The potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II showed minimum values during the winter, indicating that low temperatures can produce negative effects within the photosynthetic apparatus. However, the marked decline in net photosynthesis during the winter seems to be mainly related to a loss of metabolic activity. Although leaf nutrient concentrations were, in general, within the normal ranges, phosphorus availability seems to be limited by the high calcium concentrations detected in the soil of the study site. Our study points out the efficiency of the different physiological adaptations of this rare and endangered coastal species in coping with the strong seasonal variability of the Mediterranean climate.

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Abbreviations

A:

net photosynthetic rate

Chl a+b :

chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b

Ci:

intercellular CO2 concentration

Cx+c :

carotenoids

F0 :

minimal fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state

Fs :

steady state fluorescence yield

Fv :

variable fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry

ΦPSII:

quantum efficiency of PSII

Gs:

stomatal conductance

LWC:

leaf water content

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching

RGR:

relative growth rate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080, Sevilla, España

    J. Cambrollé, S. Redondo-Gómez, E. Mateos-Naranjo, T. Luque & M. E. Figueroa

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  1. J. Cambrollé
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  2. S. Redondo-Gómez
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  3. E. Mateos-Naranjo
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  4. T. Luque
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  5. M. E. Figueroa
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Correspondence to J. Cambrollé.

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Cambrollé, J., Redondo-Gómez, S., Mateos-Naranjo, E. et al. Seasonal ecophysiology of an endangered coastal species, the yellow-horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz). Russ J Ecol 45, 215–222 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413614030023

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413614030023

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