Seasonal decline in leaf photosynthesis in perennial switchgrass explained by sink limitations and water deficit

Tejera-Nieves, Mauricio; Abraha, Michael; Chen, Jiquan; Hamilton, Stephen K.; Robertson, G. Philip; Walker, Berkley James

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.1023571

Seasonal decline in leaf photosynthesis in perennial switchgrass explained by sink limitations and water deficit

Journal Article · Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Frontiers in Plant Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1023571· OSTI ID:1922709

Tejera-Nieves, Mauricio ^[1]; Abraha, Michael ^[2]; Chen, Jiquan ^[1]; Hamilton, Stephen K. ^[2]; Robertson, G. Philip ^[2]; Walker, Berkley James ^[1]

Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); Michigan State Univ., Hickory Corners, MI (United States)

Leaf photosynthesis of perennial grasses usually decreases markedly from early to late summer, even when the canopy remains green and environmental conditions are favorable for photosynthesis. Understanding the physiological basis of this photosynthetic decline reveals the potential for yield improvement. We tested the association of seasonal photosynthetic decline in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) with water availability by comparing plants experiencing ambient rainfall with plants in a rainfall exclusion experiment in Michigan, USA. For switchgrass exposed to ambient rainfall, daily net CO₂ assimilation ( A'_net) declined from 0.9 mol CO₂ m^-2 day^-1 in early summer to 0.43 mol CO₂ m^-2 day^-1 in late summer (53% reduction; P<0.0001). Under rainfall exclusion shelters, soil water content was 73% lower and A'_net was 12% and 26% lower in July and September, respectively, compared to those of the rainfed plants. Despite these differences, the seasonal photosynthetic decline was similar in the season-long rainfall exclusion compared to the rainfed plants; A'_net in switchgrass under the shelters declined from 0.85 mol CO₂ m^-2 day^-1 in early summer to 0.39 mol CO₂ m^-2 day^-1 (54% reduction; P<0.0001) in late summer. These results suggest that while water deficit limited A'_net late in the season, abundant late-season rainfalls were not enough to restore A'_net in the rainfed plants to early-summer values suggesting water deficit was not the sole driver of the decline. Alongside change in photosynthesis, starch in the rhizomes increased 4-fold (P<0.0001) and stabilized when leaf photosynthesis reached constant low values. Additionally, water limitation under shelters had no negative effects on the timing of rhizome starch accumulation, and rhizome starch content increased ~6-fold. These results showed that rhizomes also affect leaf photosynthesis during the growing season. Towards the end of the growing season, when vegetative growth is completed and rhizome reserves are filled, diminishing rhizome sink activity likely explained the observed photosynthetic declines in plants under both ambient and reduced water availability.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018409

OSTI ID:: 1922709

Journal Information:: Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Name: Frontiers in Plant Science Vol. 13; ISSN 1664-462X

Publisher:: Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
C4 photosynthesis
circadian
drought
perennial grass
photosyhthesis
sink limitation
source- sink- relationships
storage carbohydrates

Seasonal decline in leaf photosynthesis in perennial switchgrass explained by sink limitations and water deficit

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