Relationship between net photosynthesis and nitrogen in Scots pine: Seasonal variation in seedlings and shoots (original) (raw)
Abstract
The relationship between light saturated net photosynthesis (Amax) and nitrogen concentration (N) was studied in needles of both Scots pine seedlings, grown at three relative growth rates (2,6 and 8%) controlled by nutrient addition rate, and Scots pine shoots collected from four sites with different fertility. In the seedlings, Amax was measured on 14 different dates starting at the beginning of the second growing season and ending when growth of the new shoot and the secondary needles had finished. In shoots from the natural stands Amax of the previous-year shoots was measured on 6 dates throughout the growing season.
Both in seedlings and shoots, the correlation between Amax and N was poor, when data from all sampling dates were taken together. However, Amax was correlated with N in most instances when the age of the needles was considered and the data were examined either at weekly intervals (seedlings) or separately for each sampling date (shoots). The slope of the Amax vs N relationship varied greatly between sampling dates. In the seedlings the correlation between Amax and N was strongest by the time when the new needles were developing. In the shoots the correlation was significant from mid June until mid August, while no correlation was found in the beginning and at the end of the growing season.
Our data indicate that in pine needles the photosynthesis-nitrogen relationship is more complex than in broadleaved species. Contrary to the broadleaved species, where the correlation is independent of sampling time, in this conifer the time of the year affects the correlation and there are phases during the growing season when the correlation is poor or nonexistent.
Access this article
We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.
Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
Amax:
light saturated net photosynthesis
kPa:
kilopascal
N:
nitrogen concentration in the needles
PFD:
photon flux density (400–700 nm)
RGR:
relative growth rate
References
- Andersson L-Å, Bengtson C, Falk S O and Larsson S 1977 Cultivation of pine and spruce seedlings in climate chambers. Swed. Con. For. Proj. Tech. Rep. 5, 17.
Google Scholar - Cajander A K 1949 Forest types and their significance. Acta For. Fenn. 56, 71.
Google Scholar - Ericsson A 1979 Effects of fertilization and irrigation on the seasonal changes of carbohydrate reserves in different age-classes of needle on 20-year-old Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris). Physiol. Plant. 45, 270–280.
Google Scholar - Evans J R 1989 Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationship in leaves of C3 plants. Oecologia 78, 9–19.
Google Scholar - Fife D N and Nambiar E K S 1984 Movement of nutrients in radiata pine needles in relation to the growth of shoots. Ann. Bot. 54, 303–314.
Google Scholar - Field C and Mooney H A 1986 The photosynthesis-nitrogen relationship in wild plants. In On the Economy of Form and Function. Ed. T JGivnish. pp 25–55. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Google Scholar - Gezelius K 1986 Free amino acids and total nitrogen during shoot development in Scots pine seedlings. Physiol. Plant. 67, 435–441.
Google Scholar - Gezelius K and Hallé n M 1980 Seasonal variation in ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity in Pinus sylvestris. Physiol. Plant. 48, 88–98.
Google Scholar - Helmisaari H-S 1990 Temporal variation in nutrient concentrations of Pinus sylvestris needles. Scand. J. For. Res. 5, 177–193.
Google Scholar - Ingestad T 1979 Mineral nutrient requirements of Pinus silvestris and Picea abies seedlings. Physiol. Plant. 45, 373–380.
Google Scholar - Larcher W 1980 Physiological Plant Physiology (2 ed). Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Google Scholar - Lähdesmäki P and Pietiläinen O 1989 Seasonal variation in nitrate reductase activity and concentration of NO3 -, NO2 -, and NH4 + in buds and needles of Scots pine. Aquilo Ser. Bot. 26, 7–11.
Google Scholar - Nambiar E K S and Fife D N 1987 Growth and nutrient retranslocation in needles of radiata pine in relation to nitrogen supply. Ann. Bot. 60, 147–156.
Google Scholar - Näsholm T and Ericsson A 1990 Seasonal changes in amino acids, proteins and total nitrogen in needles of fertilized Scots pine trees. Tree Physiol. 6, 267–281.
Google Scholar - Oker-Blom P, Lahti T and Smolander H 1992 Photosynthesis in Scots pine shoots: a comparison of two models of shoot photosynthesis in direct and diffuse radiation fields. Tree Physiol. 10, 111–125.
Google Scholar - Pietiläinen and Lähdesmäki P 1986 Free amino acid and protein levels, and γ-glutamyltransferase activity in Pinus sylvestris apical buds and shoots during the growing season. Scand. J. For. Res. 1, 387–395.
Google Scholar - VanKeulen H, Goudriaan J and Seligman N G 1989 Modelling the effects of nitrogen on canopy development and crop growth. In Plant Canopies: their Growth, Form and Function. Eds. GRussel, BMarshall and P GJarvis. pp 83–104. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Google Scholar
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
- Suonenjoki Research Station, Finnish Forest Research Institute, SF-77600, Suonenjoki, Finland
E. M. Vapaavuori, A. H. Vuorinen, P. J. Aphalo & H. Smolander
Authors
- E. M. Vapaavuori
- A. H. Vuorinen
- P. J. Aphalo
- H. Smolander
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vapaavuori, E.M., Vuorinen, A.H., Aphalo, P.J. et al. Relationship between net photosynthesis and nitrogen in Scots pine: Seasonal variation in seedlings and shoots.Plant Soil 168, 263–270 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029337
- Issue date: January 1995
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029337