KF Cao - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by KF Cao
Correlations between photosynthetic heat tolerance and leaf anatomy and climatic niche in Asian mangrove trees
Plant Biology
Photosynthetic heat tolerance (PHT) is a key predictor of plant response to climate change. Mangr... more Photosynthetic heat tolerance (PHT) is a key predictor of plant response to climate change. Mangroves are an ecologically and economically important coastal plant community comprised of trees growing at their physiological limits. Mangroves are currently impacted by global warming, yet the PHT of mangrove trees is poorly understood. In this study, we provide the first assessment of PHT in 13 Asian mangrove species, based on the critical temperature that causes the initial damage (TCrit) and the temperature that causes 50% damage (T50) to photosystem II. We tested the hypotheses that the PHT in mangroves is: (i) correlated with climatic niche and leaf traits, and (ii) higher than in plants from other tropical ecosystems. Our results demonstrated correlations between PHT and multiple key climate variables, the palisade to spongy mesophyll ratio and the leaf area. The two most heat‐sensitive species were Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina. Our study also revealed that mangrove trees...
New approaches for stabilizing slopes along a river valley in China: investigating the potential off local species for controlling landslides through the reinforcing effects off their root systems
National audienceThe foothills of Himalayan mountain ranges are areas where plant biodiversity is... more National audienceThe foothills of Himalayan mountain ranges are areas where plant biodiversity is extremely rich due to the semi-tropical climate and the wide variety of soil substrates. Landslides and erosion are frequent because of natural causes e.g. mountain orogeny and earthquakes, but are largely due to anthropological causes e.g. deforestation by logging and agriculture, road and dam construction. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach for slope stabilisation, by focussing on the careful management of degradation hotspots as well as biodiversity hotspots, and understanding better the processes leading to the formation of each type. We will study how plant roots reinforce soil, with an emphasis on rooting strategies of plants growing under strong ecological and mechanical constraints e.g. landslides and erosion. Our field site is in the Salween River valley, Yunnan province, southern China. We are currently examining root and shoot structure as well as mechanics of...
Using vegetation to stabilize steep slopes in Southern China: root biomechanics as a factor in the choice of species
National audienc
Thèse en éco-ingénierie, Nouvelle approche pour la stabilisation des pentes par les racines sur les points chauds de dégradation en Chine
National audienc
Special Feature: The destruction to forest ecosystems by the extremely heavy glaze and snow storms occurred in early 2008 in southern China
Plant functional types are more efficient than climate in predicting spectrums of trait variation in evergreen angiosperm trees of tropical Australia and China
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2021
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2020
Chilling is one of the main abiotic stresses that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane,... more Chilling is one of the main abiotic stresses that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane, in marginal tropical regions where chilling incidence occurs with seasonal changes. However, nanoparticles (NPs) have been tested as a mitigation strategy against diverse abiotic stresses. In this study, NPs such as silicon dioxide (nSiO 2 ; 5-15 nm), zinc oxide (nZnO; < 100 nm), selenium (nSe; 100 mesh), graphene (graphene nanoribbons [GNRs] alkyl functionalized; 2-15 μm × 40-250 nm) were applied as foliar sprays on sugarcane leaves to understand the amelioration effect of NPs against negative impact of chilling stress on photosynthesis and photoprotection. To this end, seedlings of moderately chilling tolerant sugarcane variety Guitang 49 was used for current study and spilt plot was used as statistical design. The changes in the level chilling tolerance after the application of NPs on Guitang 49 were compared with tolerance level of chilling tolerant variety Guitang 28. NPs treatments reduced the adverse effects of chilling by maintaining the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F v /F m ), maximum photo-oxidizable PSI (P m ), and photosynthetic gas exchange. Furthermore, application of NPs increased the content of light harvesting pigments (chlorophylls and cartinoids) in NPs treated seedlings. Higher carotenoid accumulation in leaves of NPs treated seedlings enhanced the nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of PSII. Among the NPs, nSiO 2 showed higher amelioration effects and it can be used alone or in combination with other NPs to mitigate chilling stress in sugarcane.
[Response of stomatal characteristics and its plasticity to different light intensities in leaves of seven tropical woody seedlings]
Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology / Zhongguo sheng tai xue xue hui, Zhongguo ke xue yuan Shenyang ying yong sheng tai yan jiu suo zhu ban, 2004
Stomatal characteristics and its plasticity in leaves of four canopy species, Shorea chinensis, P... more Stomatal characteristics and its plasticity in leaves of four canopy species, Shorea chinensis, Pometia tomentosa, Anthocephalus chinensis, Calophyllun polyanthum and three middle-layer species, Barringtonia pendula, Garcinia hanburyi, Horsfieldia tetratepala acclimated to different light conditions (8%, 25%, 50% and 100% of full sunlight) for more than one year were surveyed. All plant's stomata were distributed on the abaxial of leaves. Pometia tomentosa and Barringtonia pendula had higher stomatal density, and the guard cell length of Anthocephalus chinensis and Calophyllun polyanthum were much greater than others'. Stomatal density and stomatal index (ratio of stomatal numbers to epidermal cell number) were increased with growth irradiance increased, while numbers of stomata per leaf were higher in the low than the high relative PFD, and stomatal conductance of leaves was the highest in the 50% of sunlight except for Anthocephalus chinensis. The relative PFD had little e...
Plant Ecology, 2010
Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of research manuscripts from... more Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of research manuscripts from China published in international English language journals with a focus on plant ecology. This reflects the growing numbers of research and research-training institutions, the improved capacity of Chinese researchers to communicate their findings in English, and an expansion of international research collaborations. These trends may be partly attributable to more outward-looking government policies that recognize the broader economic, environmental and cultural values of international engagement, and policies that encourage talented scientists to stay in, or return to China, as well as the raised scientific prestige associated with publication of research in highly ranked international journals. With this increased international perspective, Chinese researchers are benefiting from greater access to plant ecological research in other parts of the world, while researchers from other parts of the world are discovering more about the plant ecology of China. Publication statistics suggest a trend of continued momentum from researchers in China to contribute to international journals related to plant ecology.
Photosynthetica, 2005
We investigated the physiological effect of night chilling (CN) on potted seedlings of two tropic... more We investigated the physiological effect of night chilling (CN) on potted seedlings of two tropical tree species, Calophyllum polyanthum and Linociera insignis, in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. Seedlings grown under 8, 25, and 50 % daylight for five months were moved to a 4-6 °C cold storage house for three consecutive nights, and returned to the original shaded sites during the day. CN resulted in strong suppression of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance for L. insignis, and reduced photorespiration rates, carboxylation efficiency, and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) at dawn and midday for both species. CN increased dawn and midday rates of non-photochemical quenching, and the contents of malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 for both species. CN also induced inactivation or destruction of PS2 reaction centres. The impacts of CN on tropical seedlings increased with the number of CN. Shading could significantly mitigate the adverse effects of CN for both species. After 3-d-recovery, gas exchange and fluorescence parameters for both species returned to pre-treatment levels in most cases. Thus CN induced mainly stomatal limitation of photosynthesis for L. insignis, and non-stomatal limitation for C. polyanthum. C. polyanthum was more susceptible to CN than L. insignis. Fog, which often occurs in Xishuangbanna, could be beneficial to chilling sensitive tropical seedlings in this area through alleviating photoinhibition or photodamage by reducing sunlight.
Photosynthetica, 2006
We investigated the acclimation of seedlings of three tropical rain forest sub-canopy Garcinia sp... more We investigated the acclimation of seedlings of three tropical rain forest sub-canopy Garcinia species (G. xanthochymus, G. cowa, and G. bracteata) after transfer from 4.5 (LI) to 40 % (HI) sunlight and 12.5 (MI) sunlight to HI (LH 1 and LH 2 denoting transfer from LI to HI and MI to HI transfer, respectively). The changes of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, net photosynthetic rate (P N ), dark respiration rate (R D ), Chl content per unit area (Chl area ), leaf mass per unit area (LMA), and seedling mortality were monitored over two months after transfer. These parameters together with leaf anatomy of transferred and control seedlings (kept in LI, MI, and HI) were also examined after two months. No seedlings died during the two months. F v /F m , P N , and Chl area of the transferred seedlings decreased in the first 3 to 12 d. LH 1 leaves showed larger reduction in F v /F m (>23 % vs. <16 %) and slower recovery of F v /F m than LH 2 leaves. P N started to recover after about one week of I transfer and approached higher values in all G. cowa seedlings and G. xanthochymus LH 1 seedlings than those before the transfer. However, P N of G. bracteata seedlings approached the values before transfer. The final P N values in leaves of transferred G. xanthochymus and G. cowa seedlings approached that of leaves kept in HI, while the final P N values of transferred leaves of G. bracteata were significantly lower than that of leaves grown under HI (p<0.05). R D of G. xanthochymus LH 1 seedlings and all G. cowa seedlings increased and approached the value of the seedlings in HI. The final Chl area of both G. xanthochymus and G. cowa approached the values before transfer, but that of G. bracteata did not recover to the level before transfer. The final Chl area of all transferred seedlings was not significantly different from that of seedlings in HI except that G. cowa LH 1 seedlings had higher Chl area than that in HI. LMA decreased within 2 d and then increased continuously until about 30 d and approached the value under HI. Spongy/palisade mesophyll ratio decreased after transfer because of the increase in palisade thickness. Leaf thickness did not change, so LMA increase of transferred seedlings was mainly due to the increase of leaf density. Thus the mature leaves under LI and MI of G. xanthochymus and G. cowa are able to acclimate to HI by leaf physiological and anatomical adjustment, while G. bracteata had limited ability to acclimate to HI.
Oecologia, 2010
Lianas are an important component of tropical forests and often abundant in open habitats, such a... more Lianas are an important component of tropical forests and often abundant in open habitats, such as treefall gaps, forest edges, and disturbed forests. The abundance of lianas in tropical forests has been increasing as a result of global environmental change and increasing forest fragmentation. In order to understand this phenomenon in terms of leaf functional traits and to evaluate their competitive potential, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis of leaves from 18 liana species and 19 tree species in a tropical seasonal rain forest. The results revealed that lianas were scattered in a group distinct from trees along the first axis of a principal component analysis using 15 leaf ecophysiological traits, being located at the quick-return end of the leaf economics spectrum, with higher specific leaf area and photosynthetic rates (A), higher photosynthetic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiencies, a lower leaf construction cost per unit leaf area (CC) and cost-benefit ratio (CC/A), and a shorter leaf life span (LLS). Trees showed the opposite trends. The results indicate that lianas can grow faster and capture resources more efficiently than trees in disturbed, open habitats. The positive relationship between LLS and CC/A revealed a trade-off between leaf construction cost and benefit over time. The 37 species analyzed had a mean foliar N/P ratio of 20, indicating that the forest was characterized by a P deficit. With an increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration, the higher nutrient use efficiency could benefit lianas more than trees in terms of productivity, possibly also contributing to the increasing abundance of lianas in nutrientlimited tropical forests.
1. Notwithstanding the actual scarcity of juvenile beeches, Fagus dominance in the mixed montane ... more 1. Notwithstanding the actual scarcity of juvenile beeches, Fagus dominance in the mixed montane beech forests of southern China will be maintained as long as the actual climate of this beech region persists. (This thesis) 2. In shaded environments within forests, minimizing self-shading is a common and general plant strategy which is followed, however, by means of numerous different modes of plant development. (This thesis) 3. Reiteration strategies in the form of basal sprouting and as mechanism of crown building define an important, frequently occurring but still under-documented developmental pattern allowing numerous tree species to survive in shade. (This thesis) 4. Modelling tree species' or forest ecosystem's responses to global climatic change should consider not only temperature and precipitation but also natural hazards. 5. Because natural events repeatedly open up the forest canopy and so stimulate forest regeneration and interfere with the competitive exclusion of species and also exert selective pressure on plant populations and therefore increase genetic fitness of successive generations for survival, such events should not be considered as "disasters" or 'disturbances' in natural forests. 6. Because chance plays an important role in ecology (cf. Hubbell & Foster 1986), many natural phenomena are unpredictable. 7. In recent Chinese policy, there have been three major steps towards deforestation: "steel production" in late 1950s, "grain production" between 1960s and 1970s and privatization of forests in 1980s. 8. Today, the Chinese government gives priority to economical development, whereas it can be demonstrated that education, scientific research, conservation of the environment and political reform are equally important. 9. To save natural resources and protect the environment, people in developed countries should limit their living requirements, people in developing countries should control their population growth.
Plant Ecology, 1999
Beech forests occur widely in the mountains on the main island of Japan. Wind storm is the major ... more Beech forests occur widely in the mountains on the main island of Japan. Wind storm is the major regime that causes canopy disturbances in these forests. Fagus crenata Blume is a dominant, and Acer mono Maxim., also a canopy species, co-occurs in these forests. It has been suggested that A. mono is less shade-tolerant than F. crenata. Using dendrochronological data, this study
Forest Ecology and Management, 2020
Woody debris represents a substantial reservoir of carbon in forests. Disentangling the effects o... more Woody debris represents a substantial reservoir of carbon in forests. Disentangling the effects of factors affecting wood decomposition rates is therefore important. We examined the abiotic and biotic factors affecting wood decomposition across a disturbance gradient from mature forest to open land in a tropical montane site in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Wood logs (n = 280) of two native species with contrasting wood specific gravity (WSG), Castanopsis mekongensis (0.75) and Litsea cubeba (0.42), were exposed on the ground for three years. For each log, WSG was monitored at intervals by taking cores from top-half (up) and bottom-half (down) of the log. Mass loss was measured at the end of the experiment. WSG loss rates were similar across the disturbance gradient and the species effect varied with core position. For Castanopsis, which had higher initial WSG and wood N concentration and much thicker bark, up-cores had consistently higher WSG loss over the study period. This species also had substantially higher WSG loss for upcores, but interspecific difference among down-cores was small. For mass loss, there was a complex interaction between species, habitat and the presence of termites. Litsea with low initial WSG experienced approximately twofold higher mass loss in the absence of termites, but the difference between species was smaller in the presence of termites. Both species experienced higher mass loss in open habitats than in forests, but the termite effect was smaller in open habitats especially for Litsea. There was no interspecific difference in susceptibility to termite infestation, but infestation rates were higher in regenerating forests and open land than in mature forest. WSG loss explained 0% and 19% of mass loss variation in Listea and Castanopsis, respectively, in absence of termites and 0% for both in the presence of termites. Afterlife effects of wood functional traits interact with abiotic conditions and decomposition processes (microbial decomposition, macro-organisms (termites), photo-degradation) in a complex manner to determine wood decomposition rates. WSG loss is not a reliable predictor of mass loss. These results have important implications for understanding the carbon cycle in tropical landscapes that are undergoing anthropogenic disturbance.
Photosynthetica, 2015
Lianas perform better than co-occurring trees in secondary forests or disturbed areas. Lianas and... more Lianas perform better than co-occurring trees in secondary forests or disturbed areas. Lianas and trees differ strikingly in water use strategy, which may result in a significant difference in photosynthetic light use between both growth forms. However, the difference in the photosynthetic efficiency and light energy dissipation between these two growth forms is poorly understood. Moreover, photorespiration is an important mechanism of photoprotection under conditions of high light. In this study, we used Bridelia stipularis (Linn.) Bl. (liana) and Strophioblachia fimbricalyx Boerl. (tree) in order to measure the response curves of the gas exchange and photosynthetic electron flow to the incident light gradients and intercellular CO2 concentration, as well as the hydraulic conductivity. We tested whether the photochemical efficiency and photorespiration differed between both growth forms. Our results clearly demonstrated that B. stipularis possessed a significantly higher stem and leaf specific hydraulic conductivity, total electron flow, and maximum rate of ribulose-1,5bisphosphate regeneration compared to the sympatric tree S. fimbricalyx. Correspondingly, B. stipularis exhibited a significantly higher photochemical quenching coefficient and electron flow to photorespiration relative to S. fimbricalyx under saturating light levels. We suggested that photorespiration might play an important role in photoprotection for both species under high light, but particularly for B. stipularis. These findings could enrich our knowledge of the superior photosynthetic and growth performance of lianas over the co-occurring trees.
Plant & cell physiology, 2010
Although cyclic electron flow (CEF) is essential for repair of PSII, it is unclear whether the CE... more Although cyclic electron flow (CEF) is essential for repair of PSII, it is unclear whether the CEF is stimulated and what the role of stability of PSI is during the recovery. In order to explore these two questions, mature leaves of Dalbergia odorifera were treated with the chilling temperature of 4°C under a photosynthetic flux density (PFD) of 650 μmol m(-2) s(-1) for 2 h and then were transferred to 25°C under a PFD of 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) for recovery. The maximum quantum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), the maximum photo-oxidizable P700 (P(m)), the energy distribution in PSII and the redox state of P700 at 25°C under a PFD of 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) were determined before and after chilling treatment and during subsequent recovery. We found that the CEF was significantly stimulated during the recovery after photodamage. There is a significant positive correlation between stimulation of CEF and photodamage of PSII during recovery. Our results indicated that CEF was significantly stimulat...
Tree Physiology, 2008
Diurnal and seasonal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of the uppermost-canopy... more Diurnal and seasonal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of the uppermost-canopy leaves of four evergreen dipterocarp species were measured on clear days. The trees, that were growing in a plantation stand in southern Yunnan, China, had canopy heights ranging from 17 to 22 m. In the rainy season, Dipterocarpus retusus Bl. had higher photosynthetic capacity (A max) than Hopea hainanensis Merr. et Chun, Parashorea chinensis Wang Hsie and Vatica xishuangbannaensis G.D. Tao et J.H. Zhang (17.7 versus 13.9, 11.8 and 7.7 lmol m À2 s À1 , respectively). In the dry season, A max in all species decreased by 52-64%, apparent quantum yield and dark respiration rate decreased in three species, and light saturation point decreased in two species. During the diurnal courses, all species exhibited sustained photosynthetic depression from midmorning onward in both seasons. The trees were able to regulate light energy allocation dynamically between photochemistry and heat dissipation during the day, with reduced actual photochemistry and increased heat dissipation in the dry season. Photorespiration played an important role in photoprotection in all species in both seasons, as indicated by a continuous increase in photorespiration rate in the morning toward midday and a high proportion of electron flow (about 30-65% of total electron flow) allocated to oxygenation for most of the day. None of the species suffered irreversible photoinhibition, even in the dry season. The sustained photosynthetic depression in the uppermost-canopy leaves of these species could be a protective response to prevent excessive water loss and consequent catastrophic leaf hydraulic dysfunction.
Tree Physiology, 2013
Drought stress can induce closure of stomata, thus leading to photoinhibition. The effects of pro... more Drought stress can induce closure of stomata, thus leading to photoinhibition. The effects of prolonged severe drought under natural growing conditions on photosystem I (PSI), photosystem II (PSII) and cyclic electron flow (CEF) in drought-tolerant tree species are unclear. In spring 2010, southwestern China confronted severe drought that lasted several months. Using three dominant evergreen species, Cleistanthus sumatranus (Miq.) Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae), Celtis philippensis Bl. (Ulmaceae) and Pistacia weinmannifolia J. Poisson ex Franch. (Anacardiaceae) that are native to a tropical limestone forest, we investigated the influence of this stress on PSI and PSII activities as well as light energy distribution in the PSII and P700 redox state. By the end of the drought period, predawn leaf water potential (Ψ pd) largely declined in each species, especially in C. sumatranus. Photosystem I activity strongly decreased in the three species, especially in C. sumatranus which showed a decrease of 65%. The maximum quantum yield of PSII after dark adaptation remained stable in P. weinmannifolia and C. philippensis but significantly decreased in C. sumatranus. Light response curves indicated that both linear electron flow and non-photochemical quenching were severely inhibited in C. sumatranus along with disappearance of CEF, resulting in deleterious excess light energy in PSII. We conclude that PSI is more sensitive than PSII to prolonged severe drought in these three drought-tolerant species, and CEF is essential for photoprotection in them.
Correlations between photosynthetic heat tolerance and leaf anatomy and climatic niche in Asian mangrove trees
Plant Biology
Photosynthetic heat tolerance (PHT) is a key predictor of plant response to climate change. Mangr... more Photosynthetic heat tolerance (PHT) is a key predictor of plant response to climate change. Mangroves are an ecologically and economically important coastal plant community comprised of trees growing at their physiological limits. Mangroves are currently impacted by global warming, yet the PHT of mangrove trees is poorly understood. In this study, we provide the first assessment of PHT in 13 Asian mangrove species, based on the critical temperature that causes the initial damage (TCrit) and the temperature that causes 50% damage (T50) to photosystem II. We tested the hypotheses that the PHT in mangroves is: (i) correlated with climatic niche and leaf traits, and (ii) higher than in plants from other tropical ecosystems. Our results demonstrated correlations between PHT and multiple key climate variables, the palisade to spongy mesophyll ratio and the leaf area. The two most heat‐sensitive species were Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina. Our study also revealed that mangrove trees...
New approaches for stabilizing slopes along a river valley in China: investigating the potential off local species for controlling landslides through the reinforcing effects off their root systems
National audienceThe foothills of Himalayan mountain ranges are areas where plant biodiversity is... more National audienceThe foothills of Himalayan mountain ranges are areas where plant biodiversity is extremely rich due to the semi-tropical climate and the wide variety of soil substrates. Landslides and erosion are frequent because of natural causes e.g. mountain orogeny and earthquakes, but are largely due to anthropological causes e.g. deforestation by logging and agriculture, road and dam construction. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach for slope stabilisation, by focussing on the careful management of degradation hotspots as well as biodiversity hotspots, and understanding better the processes leading to the formation of each type. We will study how plant roots reinforce soil, with an emphasis on rooting strategies of plants growing under strong ecological and mechanical constraints e.g. landslides and erosion. Our field site is in the Salween River valley, Yunnan province, southern China. We are currently examining root and shoot structure as well as mechanics of...
Using vegetation to stabilize steep slopes in Southern China: root biomechanics as a factor in the choice of species
National audienc
Thèse en éco-ingénierie, Nouvelle approche pour la stabilisation des pentes par les racines sur les points chauds de dégradation en Chine
National audienc
Special Feature: The destruction to forest ecosystems by the extremely heavy glaze and snow storms occurred in early 2008 in southern China
Plant functional types are more efficient than climate in predicting spectrums of trait variation in evergreen angiosperm trees of tropical Australia and China
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2021
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2020
Chilling is one of the main abiotic stresses that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane,... more Chilling is one of the main abiotic stresses that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane, in marginal tropical regions where chilling incidence occurs with seasonal changes. However, nanoparticles (NPs) have been tested as a mitigation strategy against diverse abiotic stresses. In this study, NPs such as silicon dioxide (nSiO 2 ; 5-15 nm), zinc oxide (nZnO; < 100 nm), selenium (nSe; 100 mesh), graphene (graphene nanoribbons [GNRs] alkyl functionalized; 2-15 μm × 40-250 nm) were applied as foliar sprays on sugarcane leaves to understand the amelioration effect of NPs against negative impact of chilling stress on photosynthesis and photoprotection. To this end, seedlings of moderately chilling tolerant sugarcane variety Guitang 49 was used for current study and spilt plot was used as statistical design. The changes in the level chilling tolerance after the application of NPs on Guitang 49 were compared with tolerance level of chilling tolerant variety Guitang 28. NPs treatments reduced the adverse effects of chilling by maintaining the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F v /F m ), maximum photo-oxidizable PSI (P m ), and photosynthetic gas exchange. Furthermore, application of NPs increased the content of light harvesting pigments (chlorophylls and cartinoids) in NPs treated seedlings. Higher carotenoid accumulation in leaves of NPs treated seedlings enhanced the nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of PSII. Among the NPs, nSiO 2 showed higher amelioration effects and it can be used alone or in combination with other NPs to mitigate chilling stress in sugarcane.
[Response of stomatal characteristics and its plasticity to different light intensities in leaves of seven tropical woody seedlings]
Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology / Zhongguo sheng tai xue xue hui, Zhongguo ke xue yuan Shenyang ying yong sheng tai yan jiu suo zhu ban, 2004
Stomatal characteristics and its plasticity in leaves of four canopy species, Shorea chinensis, P... more Stomatal characteristics and its plasticity in leaves of four canopy species, Shorea chinensis, Pometia tomentosa, Anthocephalus chinensis, Calophyllun polyanthum and three middle-layer species, Barringtonia pendula, Garcinia hanburyi, Horsfieldia tetratepala acclimated to different light conditions (8%, 25%, 50% and 100% of full sunlight) for more than one year were surveyed. All plant's stomata were distributed on the abaxial of leaves. Pometia tomentosa and Barringtonia pendula had higher stomatal density, and the guard cell length of Anthocephalus chinensis and Calophyllun polyanthum were much greater than others'. Stomatal density and stomatal index (ratio of stomatal numbers to epidermal cell number) were increased with growth irradiance increased, while numbers of stomata per leaf were higher in the low than the high relative PFD, and stomatal conductance of leaves was the highest in the 50% of sunlight except for Anthocephalus chinensis. The relative PFD had little e...
Plant Ecology, 2010
Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of research manuscripts from... more Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of research manuscripts from China published in international English language journals with a focus on plant ecology. This reflects the growing numbers of research and research-training institutions, the improved capacity of Chinese researchers to communicate their findings in English, and an expansion of international research collaborations. These trends may be partly attributable to more outward-looking government policies that recognize the broader economic, environmental and cultural values of international engagement, and policies that encourage talented scientists to stay in, or return to China, as well as the raised scientific prestige associated with publication of research in highly ranked international journals. With this increased international perspective, Chinese researchers are benefiting from greater access to plant ecological research in other parts of the world, while researchers from other parts of the world are discovering more about the plant ecology of China. Publication statistics suggest a trend of continued momentum from researchers in China to contribute to international journals related to plant ecology.
Photosynthetica, 2005
We investigated the physiological effect of night chilling (CN) on potted seedlings of two tropic... more We investigated the physiological effect of night chilling (CN) on potted seedlings of two tropical tree species, Calophyllum polyanthum and Linociera insignis, in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. Seedlings grown under 8, 25, and 50 % daylight for five months were moved to a 4-6 °C cold storage house for three consecutive nights, and returned to the original shaded sites during the day. CN resulted in strong suppression of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance for L. insignis, and reduced photorespiration rates, carboxylation efficiency, and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) at dawn and midday for both species. CN increased dawn and midday rates of non-photochemical quenching, and the contents of malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 for both species. CN also induced inactivation or destruction of PS2 reaction centres. The impacts of CN on tropical seedlings increased with the number of CN. Shading could significantly mitigate the adverse effects of CN for both species. After 3-d-recovery, gas exchange and fluorescence parameters for both species returned to pre-treatment levels in most cases. Thus CN induced mainly stomatal limitation of photosynthesis for L. insignis, and non-stomatal limitation for C. polyanthum. C. polyanthum was more susceptible to CN than L. insignis. Fog, which often occurs in Xishuangbanna, could be beneficial to chilling sensitive tropical seedlings in this area through alleviating photoinhibition or photodamage by reducing sunlight.
Photosynthetica, 2006
We investigated the acclimation of seedlings of three tropical rain forest sub-canopy Garcinia sp... more We investigated the acclimation of seedlings of three tropical rain forest sub-canopy Garcinia species (G. xanthochymus, G. cowa, and G. bracteata) after transfer from 4.5 (LI) to 40 % (HI) sunlight and 12.5 (MI) sunlight to HI (LH 1 and LH 2 denoting transfer from LI to HI and MI to HI transfer, respectively). The changes of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, net photosynthetic rate (P N ), dark respiration rate (R D ), Chl content per unit area (Chl area ), leaf mass per unit area (LMA), and seedling mortality were monitored over two months after transfer. These parameters together with leaf anatomy of transferred and control seedlings (kept in LI, MI, and HI) were also examined after two months. No seedlings died during the two months. F v /F m , P N , and Chl area of the transferred seedlings decreased in the first 3 to 12 d. LH 1 leaves showed larger reduction in F v /F m (>23 % vs. <16 %) and slower recovery of F v /F m than LH 2 leaves. P N started to recover after about one week of I transfer and approached higher values in all G. cowa seedlings and G. xanthochymus LH 1 seedlings than those before the transfer. However, P N of G. bracteata seedlings approached the values before transfer. The final P N values in leaves of transferred G. xanthochymus and G. cowa seedlings approached that of leaves kept in HI, while the final P N values of transferred leaves of G. bracteata were significantly lower than that of leaves grown under HI (p<0.05). R D of G. xanthochymus LH 1 seedlings and all G. cowa seedlings increased and approached the value of the seedlings in HI. The final Chl area of both G. xanthochymus and G. cowa approached the values before transfer, but that of G. bracteata did not recover to the level before transfer. The final Chl area of all transferred seedlings was not significantly different from that of seedlings in HI except that G. cowa LH 1 seedlings had higher Chl area than that in HI. LMA decreased within 2 d and then increased continuously until about 30 d and approached the value under HI. Spongy/palisade mesophyll ratio decreased after transfer because of the increase in palisade thickness. Leaf thickness did not change, so LMA increase of transferred seedlings was mainly due to the increase of leaf density. Thus the mature leaves under LI and MI of G. xanthochymus and G. cowa are able to acclimate to HI by leaf physiological and anatomical adjustment, while G. bracteata had limited ability to acclimate to HI.
Oecologia, 2010
Lianas are an important component of tropical forests and often abundant in open habitats, such a... more Lianas are an important component of tropical forests and often abundant in open habitats, such as treefall gaps, forest edges, and disturbed forests. The abundance of lianas in tropical forests has been increasing as a result of global environmental change and increasing forest fragmentation. In order to understand this phenomenon in terms of leaf functional traits and to evaluate their competitive potential, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis of leaves from 18 liana species and 19 tree species in a tropical seasonal rain forest. The results revealed that lianas were scattered in a group distinct from trees along the first axis of a principal component analysis using 15 leaf ecophysiological traits, being located at the quick-return end of the leaf economics spectrum, with higher specific leaf area and photosynthetic rates (A), higher photosynthetic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiencies, a lower leaf construction cost per unit leaf area (CC) and cost-benefit ratio (CC/A), and a shorter leaf life span (LLS). Trees showed the opposite trends. The results indicate that lianas can grow faster and capture resources more efficiently than trees in disturbed, open habitats. The positive relationship between LLS and CC/A revealed a trade-off between leaf construction cost and benefit over time. The 37 species analyzed had a mean foliar N/P ratio of 20, indicating that the forest was characterized by a P deficit. With an increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration, the higher nutrient use efficiency could benefit lianas more than trees in terms of productivity, possibly also contributing to the increasing abundance of lianas in nutrientlimited tropical forests.
1. Notwithstanding the actual scarcity of juvenile beeches, Fagus dominance in the mixed montane ... more 1. Notwithstanding the actual scarcity of juvenile beeches, Fagus dominance in the mixed montane beech forests of southern China will be maintained as long as the actual climate of this beech region persists. (This thesis) 2. In shaded environments within forests, minimizing self-shading is a common and general plant strategy which is followed, however, by means of numerous different modes of plant development. (This thesis) 3. Reiteration strategies in the form of basal sprouting and as mechanism of crown building define an important, frequently occurring but still under-documented developmental pattern allowing numerous tree species to survive in shade. (This thesis) 4. Modelling tree species' or forest ecosystem's responses to global climatic change should consider not only temperature and precipitation but also natural hazards. 5. Because natural events repeatedly open up the forest canopy and so stimulate forest regeneration and interfere with the competitive exclusion of species and also exert selective pressure on plant populations and therefore increase genetic fitness of successive generations for survival, such events should not be considered as "disasters" or 'disturbances' in natural forests. 6. Because chance plays an important role in ecology (cf. Hubbell & Foster 1986), many natural phenomena are unpredictable. 7. In recent Chinese policy, there have been three major steps towards deforestation: "steel production" in late 1950s, "grain production" between 1960s and 1970s and privatization of forests in 1980s. 8. Today, the Chinese government gives priority to economical development, whereas it can be demonstrated that education, scientific research, conservation of the environment and political reform are equally important. 9. To save natural resources and protect the environment, people in developed countries should limit their living requirements, people in developing countries should control their population growth.
Plant Ecology, 1999
Beech forests occur widely in the mountains on the main island of Japan. Wind storm is the major ... more Beech forests occur widely in the mountains on the main island of Japan. Wind storm is the major regime that causes canopy disturbances in these forests. Fagus crenata Blume is a dominant, and Acer mono Maxim., also a canopy species, co-occurs in these forests. It has been suggested that A. mono is less shade-tolerant than F. crenata. Using dendrochronological data, this study
Forest Ecology and Management, 2020
Woody debris represents a substantial reservoir of carbon in forests. Disentangling the effects o... more Woody debris represents a substantial reservoir of carbon in forests. Disentangling the effects of factors affecting wood decomposition rates is therefore important. We examined the abiotic and biotic factors affecting wood decomposition across a disturbance gradient from mature forest to open land in a tropical montane site in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Wood logs (n = 280) of two native species with contrasting wood specific gravity (WSG), Castanopsis mekongensis (0.75) and Litsea cubeba (0.42), were exposed on the ground for three years. For each log, WSG was monitored at intervals by taking cores from top-half (up) and bottom-half (down) of the log. Mass loss was measured at the end of the experiment. WSG loss rates were similar across the disturbance gradient and the species effect varied with core position. For Castanopsis, which had higher initial WSG and wood N concentration and much thicker bark, up-cores had consistently higher WSG loss over the study period. This species also had substantially higher WSG loss for upcores, but interspecific difference among down-cores was small. For mass loss, there was a complex interaction between species, habitat and the presence of termites. Litsea with low initial WSG experienced approximately twofold higher mass loss in the absence of termites, but the difference between species was smaller in the presence of termites. Both species experienced higher mass loss in open habitats than in forests, but the termite effect was smaller in open habitats especially for Litsea. There was no interspecific difference in susceptibility to termite infestation, but infestation rates were higher in regenerating forests and open land than in mature forest. WSG loss explained 0% and 19% of mass loss variation in Listea and Castanopsis, respectively, in absence of termites and 0% for both in the presence of termites. Afterlife effects of wood functional traits interact with abiotic conditions and decomposition processes (microbial decomposition, macro-organisms (termites), photo-degradation) in a complex manner to determine wood decomposition rates. WSG loss is not a reliable predictor of mass loss. These results have important implications for understanding the carbon cycle in tropical landscapes that are undergoing anthropogenic disturbance.
Photosynthetica, 2015
Lianas perform better than co-occurring trees in secondary forests or disturbed areas. Lianas and... more Lianas perform better than co-occurring trees in secondary forests or disturbed areas. Lianas and trees differ strikingly in water use strategy, which may result in a significant difference in photosynthetic light use between both growth forms. However, the difference in the photosynthetic efficiency and light energy dissipation between these two growth forms is poorly understood. Moreover, photorespiration is an important mechanism of photoprotection under conditions of high light. In this study, we used Bridelia stipularis (Linn.) Bl. (liana) and Strophioblachia fimbricalyx Boerl. (tree) in order to measure the response curves of the gas exchange and photosynthetic electron flow to the incident light gradients and intercellular CO2 concentration, as well as the hydraulic conductivity. We tested whether the photochemical efficiency and photorespiration differed between both growth forms. Our results clearly demonstrated that B. stipularis possessed a significantly higher stem and leaf specific hydraulic conductivity, total electron flow, and maximum rate of ribulose-1,5bisphosphate regeneration compared to the sympatric tree S. fimbricalyx. Correspondingly, B. stipularis exhibited a significantly higher photochemical quenching coefficient and electron flow to photorespiration relative to S. fimbricalyx under saturating light levels. We suggested that photorespiration might play an important role in photoprotection for both species under high light, but particularly for B. stipularis. These findings could enrich our knowledge of the superior photosynthetic and growth performance of lianas over the co-occurring trees.
Plant & cell physiology, 2010
Although cyclic electron flow (CEF) is essential for repair of PSII, it is unclear whether the CE... more Although cyclic electron flow (CEF) is essential for repair of PSII, it is unclear whether the CEF is stimulated and what the role of stability of PSI is during the recovery. In order to explore these two questions, mature leaves of Dalbergia odorifera were treated with the chilling temperature of 4°C under a photosynthetic flux density (PFD) of 650 μmol m(-2) s(-1) for 2 h and then were transferred to 25°C under a PFD of 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) for recovery. The maximum quantum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), the maximum photo-oxidizable P700 (P(m)), the energy distribution in PSII and the redox state of P700 at 25°C under a PFD of 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) were determined before and after chilling treatment and during subsequent recovery. We found that the CEF was significantly stimulated during the recovery after photodamage. There is a significant positive correlation between stimulation of CEF and photodamage of PSII during recovery. Our results indicated that CEF was significantly stimulat...
Tree Physiology, 2008
Diurnal and seasonal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of the uppermost-canopy... more Diurnal and seasonal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of the uppermost-canopy leaves of four evergreen dipterocarp species were measured on clear days. The trees, that were growing in a plantation stand in southern Yunnan, China, had canopy heights ranging from 17 to 22 m. In the rainy season, Dipterocarpus retusus Bl. had higher photosynthetic capacity (A max) than Hopea hainanensis Merr. et Chun, Parashorea chinensis Wang Hsie and Vatica xishuangbannaensis G.D. Tao et J.H. Zhang (17.7 versus 13.9, 11.8 and 7.7 lmol m À2 s À1 , respectively). In the dry season, A max in all species decreased by 52-64%, apparent quantum yield and dark respiration rate decreased in three species, and light saturation point decreased in two species. During the diurnal courses, all species exhibited sustained photosynthetic depression from midmorning onward in both seasons. The trees were able to regulate light energy allocation dynamically between photochemistry and heat dissipation during the day, with reduced actual photochemistry and increased heat dissipation in the dry season. Photorespiration played an important role in photoprotection in all species in both seasons, as indicated by a continuous increase in photorespiration rate in the morning toward midday and a high proportion of electron flow (about 30-65% of total electron flow) allocated to oxygenation for most of the day. None of the species suffered irreversible photoinhibition, even in the dry season. The sustained photosynthetic depression in the uppermost-canopy leaves of these species could be a protective response to prevent excessive water loss and consequent catastrophic leaf hydraulic dysfunction.
Tree Physiology, 2013
Drought stress can induce closure of stomata, thus leading to photoinhibition. The effects of pro... more Drought stress can induce closure of stomata, thus leading to photoinhibition. The effects of prolonged severe drought under natural growing conditions on photosystem I (PSI), photosystem II (PSII) and cyclic electron flow (CEF) in drought-tolerant tree species are unclear. In spring 2010, southwestern China confronted severe drought that lasted several months. Using three dominant evergreen species, Cleistanthus sumatranus (Miq.) Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae), Celtis philippensis Bl. (Ulmaceae) and Pistacia weinmannifolia J. Poisson ex Franch. (Anacardiaceae) that are native to a tropical limestone forest, we investigated the influence of this stress on PSI and PSII activities as well as light energy distribution in the PSII and P700 redox state. By the end of the drought period, predawn leaf water potential (Ψ pd) largely declined in each species, especially in C. sumatranus. Photosystem I activity strongly decreased in the three species, especially in C. sumatranus which showed a decrease of 65%. The maximum quantum yield of PSII after dark adaptation remained stable in P. weinmannifolia and C. philippensis but significantly decreased in C. sumatranus. Light response curves indicated that both linear electron flow and non-photochemical quenching were severely inhibited in C. sumatranus along with disappearance of CEF, resulting in deleterious excess light energy in PSII. We conclude that PSI is more sensitive than PSII to prolonged severe drought in these three drought-tolerant species, and CEF is essential for photoprotection in them.