Seasonal Eco-Physiology Characteristics of Four Evergreen Rhododendron Species to the Subalpine Habitats

Forests

Lan Yang¹  Huie Li¹  Qiqiang Guo²  Shuli Wang³  Hong Quan³ 

[1] College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China;Institute for Forest Resources & Environment of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China;Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Ministry of Education, Tibet Agriculture and Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China;

关键词: Rhododendron;    physiological characteristics;    photosynthetic efficiency;    protective enzymes;    osmotic adjustment substrates;    pigment content;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f13050653

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Four evergreen broadleaf Rhododendron spp. (Rhododendrons), namely, Rhododendron aganniphum, R. nyingchiense, R. wardii, and R. triflorum, occur in harsh subalpine habitats in the southwest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), China. Considering that the four Rhododendrons cannot escape their unique environment, they must evolve a set of adaptations to survive, but the information is lacking. To uncover their physiological adaptation characteristics, in the present study, we monitored their physiological characteristics by determination of their seasonal variation in antioxidant enzyme activity, osmotic adjustment substrates, and carbohydrate contents, and their pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency. The results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) activities and proline content of four Rhododendrons had a significant difference in autumn and were insignificant in summer. Specifically, R. aganniphum had the maximum protective enzyme activity and proline content in winter as well as chl a, b, and car contents. The values of maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm), photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of four Rhododendrons were significantly higher in summer than in other seasons. The lower qP indicated the four Rhododendrons were susceptible to photoinhibition. Overall, the four Rhododendrons had similar physical characteristics in subalpine habitats. The parameters of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), the actual quantum yield of PSII, the non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching, and chlorophyll a content increased in summer. Meanwhile, the protective enzyme activity and total soluble sugar content, proline content, and carotenoid content increased in spring, autumn, and winter. These results suggested that the four Rhododendrons can adapt to subalpine habitats by heat dissipation to avoid the damage of excessive radiation during the warm season while scavenging reactive oxygen and increasing the intracellular fluid concentration to avoid damage caused by chilling temperatures during the cold seasons. These findings would provide a reference for the conservation and application of these valuable ornamental evergreen broadleaf Rhododendrons, and enrich theory of plant eco-physiology in the high altitudes of the QTP.

【 授权许可】

Unknown