PJB-2017-265
Diurnal and seasonal variations in photosynthesis, leaf water potential and soil water content of six alfalfa cultivars on the semiarid Loess Plateau
Z. Wang, J. B. Liu, J. Chen, M. Li, G.X. Su, B.C. Xu and J. Huang
Abstract
Leaf photosynthesis, leaf water potential and soil water content were compared among six commonly used alfalfa cultivars (i.e. Polaris, Alfalfaqueen, Algonquin, Sanditi, Ningxia, and Xinjiang Daye) in a semiarid region on the Loess Plateau from May to September 2014. Daily leaf water potential (ψL) was monitored at four-hour intervals at 6:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (PN) and transpiration rate (E) were measured at two-hour intervals on the same day from 6:00 to 18:00. The variation trend and difference of ψL, PN and E were analyzed among the six alfalfa cultivars. Cv. Polaris had significantly lower instantaneous and daily mean value in May, and there were no significant differences in other five cultivars and in other three months. Cvs. Ningxia and Xinjiang Daye had relatively lower daily mean PN value among the six cultivars in each month. Cv. Algonquin showed lower water potential gradient between ψML and ψSL in each month among the six cultivars. Our results suggest that introduced cultivars of alfalfa have similar fluctuations in photosynthesis and leaf water status as domestic cultivars, while they have relatively higher PN and water use efficiency (WUE), which is favorable for them to quickly adapt to the environment.
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