Photosynthetic response to water stress of the main grass species of southern patagonian steppe, Argentina

Comparative studies of basic physiological performance are needed to give insight of how grass species survive and grow under current and more severe drought predicted in the framework of climate change in arid steppe grasslands. In this study, photosynthetic performance and stomatal conductance (gs) were measured in leaves of six main grass species of southern Patagonian steppe, after exposing plants to different conditions of water availability. There was a negative linear relationship between photosynthesis at light saturation (Pmax) and plant water stress, expressed as pre-dawn leaf water potential (ψpd), mainly explained by the reduction in gs. A negative linear relationship was also observed between the photosynthetic efficiency (α) and the ψpd of plants, but only under moderate to severe water stress conditions. Grass species had different response to water stress graded in the following order: Pappostipa chrysophylla > Festuca gracillima > Rytidosperma virescens > Poa dusenii > Bromus setifolius. These results can assist to understand the natural spatial distribution of these species under arid conditions, to predict their performance under changing climate, and to select proper species for restoration plans in steppe grasslands.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Peri, Pablo Luis, Gyenge, Javier, Fernandez, María Elena
Format:	info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Elsevier 2024-10
Subjects:	Drought Stress, Leaf Water Potential, Stomatal Conductance, Steppes, Grasslands, Physiological Stress Resistance, Water Availability, Estrés de Sequia, Potencial Hídrico Foliar, Conductancia Estomática, Estepa, Pradera, Resistencia Fisiológica al Estrés, Disponibilidad del Agua, Grass Species, Photosynthetic Performance, Pre-dawn Leaf Water Potential, Especies de Pasto, Rendimiento Fotosintético, Potencial Hídrico de las Hojas antes del Amanecer, Región Patagónica,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/18433 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140196324000995 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2024.105219
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