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Photosynthetic capacity and temperature responses of photosynthesis of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) acclimate to changes in ambient temperatures

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The aim of this study was to assess the temperature response of photosynthesis in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) to provide data for process-based growth modeling, and to test whether photosynthetic capacity and temperature response of photosynthesis acclimates to changes in ambient temperature. Net CO2 assimilation rate (A) was measured in rubber saplings grown in a nursery or in growth chambers at 18 and 28°C. The temperature response of A was measured from 9 to 45°C and the data were fitted to an empirical model. Photosynthetic capacity (maximal carboxylation rate, V cmax, and maximal light driven electron flux, J max) of plants acclimated to 18 and 28°C were estimated by fitting a biochemical photosynthesis model to the CO2 response curves (A–C i curves) at six temperatures: 15, 22, 28, 32, 36 and 40°C. The optimal temperature for A (T opt) was much lower in plants grown at 18°C compared to 28°C and nursery. Net CO2 assimilation rate at optimal temperature (A opt), V cmax and J max at a reference temperature of 25°C (V cmax25 and J max25) as well as activation energy of V cmax and J max (E aV and E aJ) decreased in individuals acclimated to 18°C. The optimal temperature for V cmax and J max could not be clearly defined from our response curves, as they always were above 36°C and not far from 40°C. The ratio J max25/V cmax25 was larger in plants acclimated to 18°C. Less nitrogen was present and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (V cmax25/N a) was smaller in leaves acclimated to 18°C. These results indicate that rubber saplings acclimated their photosynthetic characteristics in response to growth temperature, and that higher temperatures resulted in an enhanced photosynthetic capacity in the leaves, as well as larger activation energy for photosynthesis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Sornprach Thanisawanyangkura, Kumut Sangkhasila, Krissada Sangsing, Ela Frak and Kathy Steppe for helpful advice, to Jate Sathornkich, Pongpan Siripornpakdeekul and Rungroj Jitthongchai for help in construction of the air-temperature control system, to Marc Vandame for generous help during the experiment and help in leaf sample analysis, to Stéphane Ploquin for taking care of plants, to Michael Smith for helpful suggestion and providing some external parts of CO2 injector of LI-6400 in France, to the Michelin company in Clermont-Ferrand for providing rubber saplings and to **g Mai for help in growing plants and taking care of the saplings. This study was supported by DORAS Rubber Project-Kasetsart University, The Franco–Thai Cooperation Program in Higher Education and Research 2005, Cirad Incentive Program ‘Support to PhDs’, CRN (Cooperative Research Network) Scholarship-Thailand and Chulalongkorn University.

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  1. Boonthida Kositsup

    Present address: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Agriculture Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Boonthida Kositsup

  2. INRA, UMR1137, Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestières, 54280, Champenoux, France

    Pierre Montpied & Erwin Dreyer

  3. Nancy Université, UMR1137, 54500, Vandoeuvre, France

    Pierre Montpied & Erwin Dreyer

  4. Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Poonpipope Kasemsap

  5. UPR Ecosystèmes de Plantation, CIRAD, 34000, Montpellier, France

    Philippe Thaler

  6. INRA, Université Blaise Pascal, UMR 547 PIAF, Site INRA de Crouelle, 63100, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Thierry Améglio

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  1. Boonthida Kositsup
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Correspondence to Boonthida Kositsup.

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Communicated by R. Hampp.

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Kositsup, B., Montpied, P., Kasemsap, P. et al. Photosynthetic capacity and temperature responses of photosynthesis of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) acclimate to changes in ambient temperatures. Trees 23, 357–365 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-008-0284-x

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