Abstract:In this study, two naturally regenerated, five-year old shrubs, Prunus davidiana and Prunus sibirica L., in semi-arid and hilly-gully loess region were used to investigate their characteristics of gas exchange and the relationship with the environment. The study intended to provide a scientific basis for the rational allocation in vegetation construction. The temperature (Tc), CO2 concentration (Ca), and relative humidity (RH) in the air and photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) at the leaves′ levels were recorded with Li-6400. The diurnal courses of their net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and stomatal conductance (Gs) were measured in the field in the Chemingyu Forest Station in Shanxi, China (111°04′~111°21′ N,37°03′~37°20′ E).
The results showed that the diurnal change in characteristics of leaf-gas exchange parameters was different between P. davidiana and P. sibirica L. All measured physiological parameters, except transpiration rate (Tr), of P. davidiana exhibited a single peak of diurnal changes, while the style of diurnal change of P. sibirica L. in all measured physiological parameters presented double peaks. The decline of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in afternoon was mainly caused by non-stomatal limitation. The daily average Pn ((7.64±3.69) μmol?m-2?s-1) of P. davidiana was 46% higher than that ((529±2.97) μmol?m-2?s-1) of P. sibirica L., and the daily Tr ((2.21±1.02) mmol?m-2?s-1) was about 40% higher than that ((1.58±0.57) mmol?m-2?s-1) of P. sibirica L., and the daily water use efficiency was not significantly different between P. davidiana and P. sibirica L., and was respectively (2.89±1.52) and (2.54±1.37) μmol?mmol-1. Correlation analysis and regression analysis showed that the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) had the greatest effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, and CO2 concentration in field (Ca) played the second role. In addition, the photosynthetic parameters themselves had obvious correlations with each other.
It was concluded that P. davidiana and P. sibirica L. all put up higher Pn and WUE, and lower Tr physiological characteristics, thus they had better potentialities in Exploitation and utilization, and introduction and cultivation in semi-arid Loess Hilly region.