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Intra-annual Pattern of Photosynthesis, Growth and Stable Isotope Partitioning in a Poplar Clone Subjected to Ozone and Water Stress

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Abstract

An experiment in open-top chambers was carried out in summer 2008 in Curno (northern Italy) in order to study the effects of ozone and drought stress on net photosynthesis, growth and stable isotope partitioning on cuttings of an ozone-sensitive poplar clone (Oxford). The biomass (as dry weight) of stems, leaves and roots was assessed five times during the growing season on a set of plants intended for destructive measurements (set 1). Another set of plants (set 2) was used for repeated measurements (net photosynthesis) and then destroyed at the end of the experiment. The dry weight of the stems in set 1 plants was calculated using allometric relations. The results showed that drought stress had a strong effect on all the parameters assessed. Ozone did not have any effect on biomass allocation in woody stems and stable isotope composition but reduced root/shoot ratios and caused loss of leaves during the growing season. The loss of leaves in the lower part of the crown was partly recovered with the emission of new young leaves in the upper part, thus restoring the overall photosynthetic apparatus. We conclude that the metabolic costs suffered to repair damage and support growth, and the reduction in starch reserves in the roots can compromise growth and the capacity to cope with stress factors in subsequent years.

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Acknowledgments

The open-top chamber facilities at Curno, where this work was carried out, were established and are currently funded by the General Directorate for Environmental Quality of the Lombardy Region, in the context of the “Assessment of ozone air pollution on forest vegetation in the transalpine region of Lombardy and Canton Ticino” programme, in partnership with the Regional Agency for Services to Agriculture and Forests (E.R.S.A.F.) (project co-ordinator), the Lombardy Foundation for the Environment (F.L.A.) and the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (A.R.P.A.). The authors thank E.R.S.A.F. personnel for their valuable assistance at the Curno forest nursery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agri-food Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144, Firenze, Italy

    Martina Pollastrini, Rosanna Desotgiu & Filippo Bussotti

  2. IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione E. Mach, via E. Mach 1, 38010, San Michele all’Adige, Trentino, Italy

    Federica Camin & Luca Ziller

  3. Department of Mathematics and Physics, Catholic University, Via Musei 41, 25121, Brescia, Italy

    Riccardo Marzuoli & Giacomo Gerosa

Authors
  1. Martina Pollastrini
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  2. Rosanna Desotgiu
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  3. Federica Camin
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  4. Luca Ziller
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  5. Riccardo Marzuoli
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  6. Giacomo Gerosa
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  7. Filippo Bussotti
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Correspondence to Martina Pollastrini.

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Pollastrini, M., Desotgiu, R., Camin, F. et al. Intra-annual Pattern of Photosynthesis, Growth and Stable Isotope Partitioning in a Poplar Clone Subjected to Ozone and Water Stress. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1761 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1761-4

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