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Shade stress on maize seedlings biomass production and photosynthetic traits

Efeitos do estresse de sombra na produção de biomassa de mudas de milho e características fotossintéticas

ABSTRACT:

The responses of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, ‘LY336’ (shade tolerant) and ‘LC803’ (shade sensitive), to shade stress in a pot experiment conducted in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons were investigated. The impact of 50% shade stress treatment on shoot biomass, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was evaluated. The shoot biomass of the two maize hybrids was decreased significantly by shade stress treatment, for shade stress 7 d, the LC803 and LY336 were reduced by 56.7% and 44.4% compared with natural light. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of LY336 were not significantly affected by shade stress, whereas those of LC803 were significantly affected, the Fo increased under shade stress; however Fm, FV/FM and ΦPSII were decreased under shade stress. Among photosynthetic parameters measured, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate were significantly decreased compared with natural light, LY336 and LC803 reduction by 28.0%, 22.2%, 57.7% and 35.5%, 18.9%, 62.4%; however, intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) was significantly increased, for the two cultivars. Under shade stress for different durations (1, 3, 5, 7 d), Pn, Gs, Ci, and MDA content differed significantly between the two cultivars. Results indicated that different maize genotypes showed different responses to shading. Shade-tolerant genotypes are only weakly affected by shade stress.

Key words:
maizeshade stress; MDA; photosynthetic

RESUMO:

As respostas de duas cultivares de milho (Zea mays L.), ‘LY336’ (tolerante à sombra) e ‘LC803’ (sensível à sombra), ao estresse de sombra em um experimento em vaso conduzido nas safras de 2015 e 2016 foram investigadas. O impacto do tratamento de estresse de sombra de 50% na biomassa da parte aérea, parâmetros fotossintéticos, fluorescência da clorofila e teor de malondialdeído (MDA) foi avaliado. A biomassa da parte aérea dos dois híbridos de milho foi reduzida significativamente pelo tratamento de estresse de sombra, para estresse de sombra 7 d, o LC803 e LY336 foram reduzidos em 56,7% e 44,4% em comparação com a luz natural. Os parâmetros de fluorescência da clorofila de LY336 não foram significativamente afetados pelo estresse de sombra, enquanto aqueles de LC803 foram significativamente afetados, o Fo aumentou sob estresse de sombra, porém Fm, FV / FM e ΦPSII diminuíram sob estresse de sombra. Entre os parâmetros fotossintéticos medidos, a taxa fotossintética líquida (Pn), a condutância estomática (Gs) e a taxa de transpiração diminuíram significativamente em comparação com a luz natural, redução de LY336 e LC803 em 28,0%, 22,2%, 57,7% e 35,5%, 18,9%, 62,4 %, porém a concentração intercelular de CO2 (Ci) aumentou significativamente para as duas cultivares. Sob estresse de sombra para diferentes durações (1, 3, 5, 7 d), os teores de Pn, Gs, Ci e MDA diferiram significativamente entre as duas cultivares. Os resultados indicam que diferentes genótipos de milho apresentam diferentes respostas ao sombreamento. Os genótipos tolerantes à sombra são apenas fracamente afetados pelo estresse de sombra.

Palavras-chave:
maize; shade stress; MDA; fotossintético

INTRODUCTION:

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important crop worldwide after wheat and rice (WATTO et al., 2011). Domesticated maize is derived from a (sub) tropical progenitor, and has been imported and cultivated in many areas at higher latitudes around the world. In temperate regions, cultivated maize hybrids are subject to many abiotic stresses in the field, such as drought, high or low temperature, cloudy weather, and high rainfall. Among these abiotic stresses, cloudy weather from mid-June to mid-July in Huanghuaihai regions is the primary environmental factor that affects maize development, rain occurred frequently during the summer maize development season along with insufficient solar radiation(BAIZHAO REN, 2014BAIZHAO R. et al. Effects of waterlogging on the yield and growth of summer maize under field conditions. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, v.94, p.23-31, 2014.vailable from: <vailable from: https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps2013-175 >. Accessed: Oct. 02, 2013. doi: 10.4141/cjps2013-175.
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) persistent shading is a restrictive meteorological factor that affects normal plant development and reduces grain yield, especially when accompanied by an increase in plant density in many areas of the world.

Previous reports have shown that shading stress is an important abiotic factor that affects many aspects of maize development and reproduction. Chen C Y et al. observed that vegetative growth and kernel number are greatly reduced relative to controls when grown under more extreme shading treatment during vegetative development (CHEN et al., 2014CHEN, C. Y., et al. Effects of Shading on Grain-Filling Properties and Yield of Maize at Different Growth Stages. Acta Agronomica Sinica, v.40, p.1650, 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://10.3724/SP.J.1006.2014.01650 >. Accessed: Mar. 03, 2014. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2014.01650.4
https://10.3724/SP.J.1006.2014.01650...
). Some researchers reported that the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was significantly decreased after shading. The greatest reduction of Pn was from seedling to R6 treatment, followed shading from R1 to R6 and from V6 to R1treatment (BAIZHAO REN et al., 2016BAIZHAO, R.et al. Effects of shading on the photosynthetic characteristics and mesophyll cell ultrastructure of summer maize: The Science of Nature, v.103, p.67. 2016. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x >. Accessed: Jul. 20, 2013. doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x.
https://doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x...
). In addition, when plants are shaded during grain filling, the kernel weight and yield are reduced; thus, kernel number and grain yield may be enhanced or decline in response to increased irradiation or shading of plants, respectively, during the reproductive period (CUI et al., 2014CUI, H., et al. Effects of shading on spike differentiation and grain yield formation of summer maize in the field. International Journal of Biometeorology, v.59, p.1189-1200, 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1007/s00484-014-0930-5 >. Accessed: Nov.08, 2014. doi: 10.1007/s00484-014-0930-5.
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; WANG et al., 2020WANG, S. Post-Silking Shading Stress Affects Leaf Nitrogen Metabolism of Spring Maize in Southern China. Plants, v.9, p.210, 2020. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.3390/plants9020210 >. Accessed: Feb. 06, 2020.doi: 10.3390/plants9020210.
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). Shading of maize at different developmental stages not only decreases grain yield, but also affects the normal development of other agronomically important traits, such as reduction in internode length (FOURNIER & ANDRIEU, 2000FOURNIER, C., and B. ANDRIEU , Dynamics of the Elongation of Internodes in Maize ( Zea mays L.). Effects of Shade Treatment on Elongation Patterns. Annals of Botany, v.86, p.1127-1134, 2000. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1006/anbo.2000.1280 >. Accessed: Oct. 24, 2000. doi: 10.1006/anbo.2000.1280.
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), reduced Dry matter accumulation (GAO et al., 2017GAO, J., et al. Grain yield and root characteristics of summer maize (Zea mays L.) under shade stress conditions. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 203(6), 562-573,2017. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1111/jac.12210 >. Accessed: Mar. 09, 2017. doi: 10.1111/jac.12210.
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), delays in flowering and silking time (CUI et al., 2014; STRUIK, 1983STRUIK, P. C., Effects of short and long shading during differnet stages of growth on develpment, productivity and quality of forage maize (Zea mays L). Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science, v.31, p.101-124,1983.vailable from: <vailable from: https://doi:10.1016/0304-3924(83)90008-4 >. Accessed: Mar. 18, 1983. doi: 10.1016/0304-3924(83)90008-4.
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; WANG et al., 2020), decrease in kernel set in the apical ear region or varying degrees of barrenness (CUI et al., 2014), inhibition of silk elongation (FOURNIER & ANDRIEU, 2000; WANG et al., 2020), increase or decrease in plant height, delay in appearance of new leaves (STRUIK, 1983), and reduction in leaf thickness (WARD & WOOLHOUSE, 2006WARD, D. A.et al. Comparative effects of light during growth on the photosynthetic properties of NADP-ME type C4 grasses from open and shaded habitats. I. Gas exchange, leaf anatomy and ultrastructure*.Plant Cell & Environment , v.9, p.261-270, 2006. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1111/1365-3040.ep11611679 >. Accessed: Apr. 06, 2006. doi: 10.1111/1365-3040.ep11611679.
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). Yuan et al. identified a number of major quantitative trait loci (YUAN et al., 2012YUAN, L.et al. QTL Analysis of Shading Sensitive Related Traits in Maize under Two Shading Treatments: Plos One, v.7, p.e38696, 2012. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038696t >. Accessed: Jun. 19, 2012. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038696.
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), protein regulatory networks(GAO et al., 2020GAO, J., et al. Physiological and comparative proteomic analysis provides new insights into the effects of shade stress in maize (Zea mays L.). BMC Plant Biology, v. 20, 2020. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-2264-2 >. Accessed: Feb. 05, 2020.doi: 10.1186/s12870-020-2264-2.
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) and microRNAs (YUAN et al., 2016YUAN, L.et al. Differential miRNA expression in maize ear subjected to shading tolerance. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, v.38, p.80, 2016. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1007/s11738-016-2094-x >. Accessed: Feb. 26, 2016. doi: 10.1007/s11738-016-2094-x.
https://doi:10.1007/s11738-016-2094-x...
) that regulate the mechanism of shade tolerance.

Maize as C4 plant, that is high photosyntheticrates, Light intensity had significant effects on photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, light compensation point and light saturation point of leaves (BAIZHAO et al., 2016BAIZHAO, R.et al. Effects of shading on the photosynthetic characteristics and mesophyll cell ultrastructure of summer maize: The Science of Nature, v.103, p.67. 2016. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x >. Accessed: Jul. 20, 2013. doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x.
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; BELLASIO & GRIFFITHS, 2014BELLASIO, C., and H. GRIFFITHS . Acclimation of C4 metabolism to low light in mature maize leaves could limit energetic losses during progressive shading in a crop canopy. Journal of Experimental Botany, v.65, p.3725, 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1093/jxb/eru052 >. Accessed: Mar. 03, 2014. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eru052.
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; UBIEMA et al., 2012; WANG et al., 2017WANG, J.et al. Photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence reaction to different shade stresses of weak light sensitive maize. Pakistan Journal of Botany , v.49, p.1681-1688,2017.). The Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) has been used as a diagnostic tool to study the various environmental stresses, genotypic variation, altitudinal variation, and species-specific diurnal changes. Therefore, Fv/Fm is a sound method to diagnose seedling stock quality (AZAMAL et al., 2018AZAMAL,H., et al. Salicylic acid alleviates salinity-caused damage to foliar functions, plant growth and antioxidant system in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Br.). Agriculture and Food Security, v.7, p.44, 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s.40066-018-0194-0 >. Accessed: Jul. 05, 2018. doi: 10.1186/s.40066-018-0194-0.
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; BAKER & NEIL, 2008BAKER, N. R. Chlorophyll fluorescence: a probe of photosynthesis in vivo. Annu Rev Plant Biol, v.59, p.89, 2008. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.59.032607.092759 >. Accessed: Jul. 10, 2008. doi: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.59.032607.092759.
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; GETNET et al., 2015GETNET, Z., et al. Growth water status physiological biochemical and yield response of stay green sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties-A field trial under drought-prone area in amhara regional state Ethiopia: Journal of Agronomy, 14(4), 2015. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.10.3923/ja.2015.188.202 >. Accessed: Apr. 2015. doi: 10.3923/ja.2015.188.202.
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; HUSEN, 2009HUSEN, A., Growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and biochemical markers in clonal ramets of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) at nursery stage. New Forests, v.38, p.117-129, 2009. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.10.1007/s11056-009-9141-z >. Accessed: Apr. 02, 2009.doi: 10.1007/s11056-009-9141-z.
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, 2010HUSEN, A., Growth characteristics, physiological and metabolic responses of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) clones differing in rejuvenation capacity subjected to drought stress. Silvae Genetica, v.59, p.124-136,2010. vailable from: < vailable from: https://doi.10.1515/sg-2010-0015 >. Accessed: Apr. 10, 2010. doi: 10.1515/sg-2010-0015.
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; HUSEN et al., 2014HUSEN, A., et al. Growth, water status and leaf characteristics of Brassica carinata under drought and rehydration conditions. Brazilian Journal of Botany, v.37, p.217-227,2014. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.10.1007/s40415-014-0066-1 >. Accessed: Jun. 28, 2014. doi: 10.1007/s40415-014-0066-1.
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; HUSEN et al., 2012HUSEN, A., et al. Biodiversity Status in Ethiopia and Challenges, Environmental Pollution and Biodiversity, 2012. Available from: <Available from: https://ISBN:978-93-5056-149-2 >. Accessed: Jun. 28, 2012. ISBN:978-93-5056-149-2.
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; HUSSEIN et al., 2017HUSSEIN, M., et al. Salinity-induced modulation of plant growth and photosynthetic parameters in faba bean (Vicia faba) cultivars. Pakistan Journal of Botany, v.49, p.867-877, 2017. Available from: <Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317682051 >. Accessed: Jun. 28 2017.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication...
). Therefore, it is important to investigate shade stress effects on the photosynthetic characteristics of summer maize. Because of the light requirement characteristics of summer maize, Shading level, shading time and exposure time of shade stress changed the influence of shade stress on maize. Different photosensitive maize had different responses to shade stress.to some extent, the difference of weak photosensitivity of maize was inversely proportional to the negative tolerance of maize: maize sensitivity to low light will reduce shade tolerance. Luoyu336 (LY336 shade tolerance, Figure 1) and Lianchuang 803 (LC803 shade sensitivity, Figure 2) were used to reveal shade stress reactions in photosynthesis and fluorescence characteristics under shading condition. investigate changes of photosynthesis, physiological, and biochemical characteristics further make clear photosynthetic mechanisms of shade sensitive and shade tolerant maize under shading condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of shading on different shading maize variety that selection of high-yielding, shade-tolerant maize is a basis for maize breeding to enhance the low-light tolerance of elite hybrids.

Figure 1
Cobs of the shade-tolerant maize cultivar ‘Luoyu 336’ (LY336).

Figure 2
Cobs of the shade-sensitive maize cultivar ‘Lianchuang 803’ (LC803).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

STUDY SITE

The experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of the Luohe Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Luohe (34°48’N, 113°42’E), which is located in northern China. The average annual temperature and average annual precipitation at the study site are 14.3 °C and 840.9 mm, respectively. The soil in the experimental field is a yellow soil with contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potash of 12.7 g/kg, 45.3 mg/kg, 19.17 mg/kg, and 140.87 mg/kg, respectively.

Experimental design, plant material, and management practices

The maize hybrid ‘Luoyu 336’ (LY336; derived from the parents ‘R2005’ and ‘Chang 7’) shows strong tolerance of shading stress. LY336 is a popular cultivar with growers in the study area and the growth period is about 98 d. The hybrid ‘Lianchuang 803’ (LC803; bred from the parents ‘CT1669’ and ‘CT3354’) is sensitive to shading stress and has a growth period of about 102 d.

In the present experiment, natural light (the control; CK) and 50% shade treatment were applied. The 50% shade treatment was conducted from the seedling stage to the six-leaf stage and aimed to artificially simulate low light intensity. A movable scaffold 3 m high, 40 m long, and 8 m wide was covered with black polypropylene fabric to provide 50% reduction in incident light, and was placed in an East-West orientation. Only the upper side of the frame and the east- and west-facing sides to 2 m above the frame base were covered with shade fabric. The upper side of the frame was 2-2.5 m above the top of the crop canopy to create a microclimate within the frame otherwise comparable to the ambient environment of the field (Table 1). Data for atmospheric CO2 concentration, light intensity, relative humidity, and air temperature within the frame were recorded daily at 11:00 using a LI-6400 Portable Photosynthesis System (LI-COR, Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA). For each treatment, plants were cultivated in 20 plastic pails (height 20 cm, inner diameter 23 cm). Each pail contained 12.5 kg topsoil (0-20 cm depth) that was first sieved and blended. Seedlings of LY336 and LC803 were planted on 3 June 2015 and 10 June 2016. Before sowing, 12 g compound fertilizer (25% N, 18% P2O5, and 12% K2O) was incorporated in the soil of each pail and the soil was irrigated. After germination, a sufficient supply of water was provided throughout the growing season, preventing disease.

Table 1
Effects of shading treatment on the microclimate under the shade frame in the experimental field.

Measurement of biomass, photosynthetic parameters, and lipid peroxidation

Shoot biomass

When the maize plants attained the six-leaf stage, three representative plants were harvested by excising the shoot. The harvested plants were oven dried at 105 °C for 30 min, and thereafter at 85 °C until constant weight was attained.

Chlorophyll fluorescence

Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were recorded in parallel to gas exchange measurements on the same leaf (the sixth leaf) using a modulated fluorescence monitoring system (FMS-II, Hansatech, King’s Lynn, UK) when the sixth leaf was unfurled. The leaves were dark-adapted for 30 min before measurements were recorded. After 5 s, the light intensity was set at 75% of the maximum irradiance (>3000 μmol/m/s). Minimum (F o), maximum (F m), and variable (F v = F m-F o) fluorescence in the dark-modified condition, F v/F o ratio, and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (F v/F m) were recorded. The F v/F o ratio is used as an index of the potential photosynthetic capacity of photosystem II (PSII; Roháček 2002).

Photosynthetic parameters

Net photosynthetic rate (P n), transpiration rate (T r), stomatal conductance (G s), and intercellular CO2 concentration (C i) were determined using a LI-6400 portable open-flow gas exchange system (LI-COR) from 9:00 to 12:00. The photosynthetically active radiation was 1000 ± 12 μmol/m2/s, CO2 concentration was 350 ± 2 cm3/m3, leaf temperature was 28.0 ± 0.8 °C, and atmospheric flow rate was 0.5 dm3/min.

Malondialdehyde content

The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was measured using the thiobarbituric acid reaction as described by HEATH & PACKER (1968). A fresh leaf sample (0.5 g) was homogenized in 10 mL of 5% trichloroacetic acid. The homogenate was centrifuged at 15,000 ×g for 10 min. To a 2 mL aliquot of the supernatant, 4 mL of 0.5% thiobarbituric acid in 20% trichloroacetic acid was added. The mixture was heated at 95 °C for 30 min, then quickly cooled in an ice bath and centrifuged at 10,000 ×g for 10 min. The absorbance of the supernatant was recorded at 532 and 600 nm. After subtracting the non-specific absorbance at 600 nm, the MDA content was calculated using its molar extinction coefficient (155 mM/cm) and the results expressed as nanomoles (MDA) per gram fresh weight.

Statistical analysis

As the experimental results were consistent in 2015 and 2016, the averages for the 2 years were calculated. Three replicate measurements were recorded for all data and subjected to analysis of variance using Microsoft EXCEL and SPSS statistical software.

RESULTS:

Shoot biomass

Dry matter accumulation has a major impact on maize yield. Under natural light, the shoot biomass of LC803 was higher than that of LY336. Shading stress significantly influenced shoot biomass at the seeding stage (Figure 3). Under shading, the shoot biomass of the two cultivars was severely diminished compared with that under natural light, but the percentage reduction differed between the cultivars. Under shading for 7 d, the shoot biomass of LC803 was reduced by 56.7% and that of LY336 was reduced by 44.4% compared with the biomass produced under natural light.

Figure 3
Effect of shading treatment on aboveground biomass of the maize cultivars ‘Luoyu 336’ (LY336) and ‘Lianchuang 803’. LY336-CK: LY336 natural light; LY336-S: LY336 50% shading; LC803-CK: LC803 natural light; LC803-S: LC803 50% shading.0d,1d,3d,5d,7d that mean shade treatment day.

Chlorophyll fluorescence

Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters revealed that the F o of LY336 increased non-significantly by 3.9% in the shading treatment, whereas the F o of LC803 increased significantly by 32.1% in the shading treatment (P < 0.05), compared with that under natural light (Table 2). The F m of LC803 decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with that of the natural-light control, but a significant effect was not observed in LY336. Under natural light, the two cultivars exhibited a mean F V/F M ratio of approximately 0.81-0.83; under shading stress F V/F M decreased but only significantly in LC803. The ΦPSII decreased in both cultivars in response to shade treatment; this response was significant in LC803, for which ΦPSⅡ decreased by 23.3% (P < 0.05) .

Table 2
Effects of shading treatment on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the maize cultivars ‘Luoyu 336’ (LY336) and ‘Lianchuang 803’ (LC803) under low light stress.

MDA content

Malondialdehyde is the final product of lipid peroxidation and is often used as an index of lipid peroxidation, thus MDA content can reflect the stress tolerance of a plant. The smaller the increase in MDA content, the less the oxidative damage to cell membranes. The MDA content in the leaves of the two cultivars differed significantly between the shading treatment and control (Figure 4). The MDA contents in the shading treatments were increased compared with those of the natural-light control. The leaf MDA contents of LC803 were higher than those of LY336 under low light intensity. In LC803 the MDA content grown up under increased duration of low-light stress, whereas that LY336 remained similar to that observed under natural light.

Figure 4
Effect of shading treatment on malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the maize cultivars ‘Luoyu 336’ (LY336) and ‘Lianchuang 803’ (LC803).LY336-CK: LY336 natural light; LY336-S: LY336 50% shading; LC803-CK: LC803 natural light; LC803-S: LC803 50% shading.0d,1d,3d,5d,7d that mean shade treatment day.as figure 1.

Photosynthetic parameters

Analysis of photosynthetic parameters revealed that P n, T r, and G s were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) (Figure 5). The respective parameters for LY336 were decreased by 28.0%, 22.2%, and 57.7%, and those of LC803 were decreased by 35.5%, 18.9%, and 62.4%, respectively, compared with those under natural light. The C i of LY336 and LC803 increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with that under natural light. The C i of LC803 increased more substantially (by 28.7%) than that of LY336 under shade. Furthermore, the C i of LY336 was lower than that of LC803 under natural light, perhaps because the CO2 assimilation ability of mesophyll cells of LC803 was reduced.

Figure 5
Effect of shading treatment on a net photosynthetic rate (Pn), b transpiration rate (Tr), c stomatal conductance (Gs), and d intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of the maize cultivars ‘Luoyu 336’ (LY336) and ‘Lianchuang 803’ .LY336-CK: LY336 natural light; LY336-S: LY336 50% shading; LC803-CK: LC803 natural light; LC803-S: LC803 50% shading.

DISCUSSION:

For summer maize in Huanghuaihai region in China, shade stress is an important environmental stress factor that affects maize development. Artificial dioxide concentration increased. The research results are consistent with the predecessors (BAIZHAO et al., 2016BAIZHAO, R.et al. Effects of shading on the photosynthetic characteristics and mesophyll cell ultrastructure of summer maize: The Science of Nature, v.103, p.67. 2016. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x >. Accessed: Jul. 20, 2013. doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x.
https://doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x...
; WANG et al., 2017WANG, J.et al. Photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence reaction to different shade stresses of weak light sensitive maize. Pakistan Journal of Botany , v.49, p.1681-1688,2017.).

The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are commonly used to evaluate the photosynthetic efficiency of crops under adverse circumstances (HAMANI et al., 2020HAMANI, M., et al. Reduction in Photosynthesis of Cotton Seedling under Water and Salinity Stresses is Induced by both Stomatal and Non stomatal Limitations. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 2020. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2020173 >. Accessed: Nov. 2020. doi: 10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2020173.
https://doi.10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2020173...
), many studies have reported that changes of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are an important pointer (ZARCO-TEJADA et al., 2013ZARCO-TEJADA, PJ, et al. Relationships between net photosynthesis and steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence retrieved from airborne hyperspectral imagery. REMOTE SENS ENVIRON, v.2013, 136, p.247-258, 2013. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.1016/j.rse.2013.05.011 >. Accessed: May, 01, 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2013.05.011.
https://doi:10.1016/j.rse.2013.05.011...
). The changes of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are closely related to photosynthesis, which further reveals the adaptability of Paeonia under shading stress (WAN et al., 2020WAN, Y,et al. Shade effects on growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of three Paeonia species. PeerJ, v.8, p.e9316, 2020. Available from: <Available from: https://doi:10.7717/peerj.9316 >. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2020. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9316.
https://doi:10.7717/peerj.9316...
),the maximum photochemical conversion efficiency (Fv/Fm) decreased significantly in response to shading condition, especially LC803 decreased significantly than LY336, being the changing trend of ΦPSⅡ was similar. The above indicated that the light energy captured by the PSII antenna pigment is mainly used for photosynthesis under shading condition, and in order to the damage of under shading condition on the photosynthetic system, for ensure normal photosynthesis. Under the shading treatment, P n, F V/F M, and ΦPSII decreased significantly, which showed that PSII capacity was damaged. The decline in F V/F m was considered to be predominantly due to reduction in PSII efficiency. Both LY336 and LC803 showed a decrease in F V/F m under exposure to shade stress compared with that of the natural-light control, but the effect of shading was stronger in LC803. Although, P n, G s, and T r of LY336 and LC803 were decreased, the C i of LY336 and LC803 increased in response to shading treatment. Different maize genotypes showed different responses to shading. Shade-tolerant genotypes are only weakly affected by shade stress. Previous studies have shown that there are differences in photosynthetic rate and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under shade stress. Our experiment reached a similar conclusion. The main reason for the decrease of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) is the decrease of light intensity, in addition to the difference of adaptability to shading condition determined by the photosynthetic capacity of maize varieties, for example the shading physiological regulation mechanism of the shading tolerant maize (LY336) was better than that of the shading sensitive maize (LC803).

In conclusion, under shading condition, the photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence characters of LY336 were superior to LC803.The shade resistant mechanism was associated with highly photosynthetic rate mechanism.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was Supported by China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (nycytx-02-70).

We thank Robert McKenzie, PhD, from Liwen Bianji, Edanz Group China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

REFERENCES

  • CR-2020-1022.R2
  • 1
    Editors: Leandro Souza da Silva(0000-0002-1636-6643) Alessandro Dal’Col Lúcio(0000-0003-0761-4200)

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    27 Aug 2021
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    23 Nov 2020
  • Accepted
    24 May 2021
  • Reviewed
    18 July 2021
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