Leaf development and photosynthetic properties of three tropical tree species with delayed greening

• Published in: Photosynthetica Vol. 43; no. 1
• Main Authors: Cai, Z.Q.(Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla (China). Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden)E-mail:czq@xtbg.org.cn, Slot, M.(Wageningen Univ. (Netherlands). Dept. of Environmental Sciences), Fan, Z.X.(Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla (China). Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; ANTHOCEPHALUS CHINENSIS; ANTHOCYANE; ANTHOCYANINS; ANTOCIANINAS; BROADLEAVED TREES; CARBON DIOXIDE; CHLOROPHYLLE; CHLOROPHYLLS; CLOROFILAS; COLOR; COLOUR; COULEUR; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; DIOXIDO DE CARBONO; DIOXYDE DE CARBONE; ENZYME ACTIVITY; ESTOMA; FEUILLE; FEUILLU; FLUORESCENCE; FLUORESCENCIA; FOTOINHIBICION; FOTOSINTESIS; FOTOSISTEMAS; FRONDOSAS; GROWTH; HOJAS; LEAF AREA; LEAVES; LITSEA; MADURACION; MATURATION; PEROXIDASAS; PEROXIDASES; PEROXYDASE; PESO; PHOTOINHIBITION; PHOTOSYNTHESE; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; PHOTOSYSTEME; PHOTOSYSTEMS; POIDS; STOMATA; STOMATE; SUPERFICIE FOLIAR; SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE; SUPEROXIDO DISMUTASA; SUPEROXYDE DISMUTASE; SURFACE FOLIAIRE; TRANSPIRACION; TRANSPIRATION; WEIGHT
• ISSN: 0300-3604; 1573-9058

Changes in leaves of Anthocephalus chinensis, Litsea pierrei and Litsea dilleniifolia were followed in order to elucidate the importance of photoprotective mechanisms during leaf ontogeny. Big leaves of A. chinensis expanded following an exponential pattern, the leaves of L. pierrei and L. dilleniifolia followed a sigmoidal pattern. The juvenile leaves of A. chinensis and L. pierrei contained anthocyanin. In all the species, the increase in maximum net photosynthetic rate was significantly related to changes in stomatal conductance and the leaf maturation period was positively related to the steady-state leaf dry mass per area. Dark respiration rate at developing stages was greater, and pre-dawn initial photochemical efficiency was lower than that of mature leaves. The young red leaves of A. chinensis and L. pierrei contained more protective enzymes (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase) than mature leaves. Red leaves may have higher antioxidant ability.