Plant Adaptations

Outline: Photosynthesis and respiration Environmental controls on photosynthesis Plant adaptations to:
High and low light Water limitation Nutrient availability
Readings: Chapter 6

Conditions and Resources

Conditions are physical / chemical features of the environment
E.g. Temperature, humidity, pH, etc. Not consumed by living organisms (but may still be important to them)

Resources are consumed

Once used, they are unavailable to other organisms Plants: sunlight, water, mineral nutrients, Animals: prey organisms, nesting sites,

Plant Resources
Plants are autotrophs - make their own organic carbon form inorganic nutrients
Need light, ions, inorganic molecules

Plants are sessile

Grow towards nutrients

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Conversion of carbon dioxide into simple sugars
LIGHT

6CO2 + 12H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

Light reactions

Dark reactions
carboxylation

Photosynthetically Active Radiation, PAR

RESPIRATION C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

Net photosynthesis = Photosynthesis - Respiration

Photosynthesis involves gas exchange

Controls on photosynthesis
Light Water Nutrients Temperature

1. Light

PAR

Tradeoff
Shade plants grow better in the sun than in the shade, but sun plants grow faster than shade plants in direct sun

Shade plant

Sun plant

Tradeoff

Shade plants survive well in either sun or shade Sun plants cannot tolerate shade

Shade plant

Sun plant

 9 tree species of Macaranga from Borneo, Malaysia

Phenotypic plasticity
Most plants have the ability to alter their morphology (within limits) in response to light conditions

Phenotypic plasticity

Sun and shade leaves can exist within the same tree

More deeply lobed --> More rapid heat loss

Sun leaf thicker more cell layers more chloroplasts

Shade leaf flat thin larger surface area / unit weight

Sun leaves Leaves at many angles High saturation point High compensation point Produce more RUBISCO

Shade leaves

Horizontal leaves, single layer Low saturation point Low compensation point Produce less RUBISCO
Low respiration More chlorophyll Light availability limits photosynthesis rate

High respiration Less chlorophyll RUBISCO availability limits photosynthesis rate

2. Water

Transpiration

For transpiration to occur

atmosphere < leaf < root < soil

Water potential

w = p + + m
p= = hydrostatic pressure = = osmotic pressure m= = matric pressure

Stomata

Reduction in soil --> stomata close Species differ in tolerance to drying soils

Strategies for drought

i.

Avoiders
Short lifespan Wet season Seeds survive drought Drought deciduous species
Leaves shed in dry season

Strategies for drought

ii. Tolerators

Leaves transpire slowly Change orientation of leaves Sunken stomata

E.g. pines E.g. C4 --> reduces photorespiration E.g. CAM --> stomata open at night

More efficient photosynthesis

C4 photosynthesis

CAM photosynthesis

C4

CAM

CAM

% of grasses that are C4

Water absorption
Root hairs increase surface area

 Structure of the root system varies between species, depending on the amt. of soil moisture in their envt Individual species show phenotypic plasticity wet soil --> shallow roots near surface (greater oxygen availability) dry soil --> deep roots

3. Nutrients
Macronutrients needed in large amounts (e.g. C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) Micronutrients trace elements (e.g. Fe, Mn, B) Micro/macro refer to the quantity needed

Table 6-1

Nutrient uptake rates

Reach plateau with increasing nutrient concentration

Maximum growth rate of a plant reflects N availability in its natural habitat. A. stolonifera occurs on more nitrogen-rich soils than A. canina.

Evergreen leaves
Plants adapted to nutrient-poor conditions tend to have evergreen leaves

4. Effects of temperature
= Condition Increase temperature --> increase biochemical reaction rate At high temperature, enzymes denature --> death

 Gross photosynthetic rate increases up to a point with increasing temperature Respiration rate also increases with temperature. Net photosynthesis is maximal at a point slightly below that at which gross photosynthesis is maximal

Leaf temperature
> 95% of sunlight absorbed by a leaf becomes heat Cooling of leaves:
1. Transpiration 2. Convection (movement of cool air around a leaf)

C4 plants
Have higher temperature optima than C3

Phenotypic plasticity
Individual species can modify their Topt according to the changing seasons = acclimatization

Response to cold
Chilling injury Freezing - near, > 0 oC - cell membranes rupture - < 0 oC - ice inside cells = death - ice outside cells = dehydration (may survive) -may kill juveniles only

Saguaro cacti (S.W. United States) store large amounts of water; they can tolerate short periods of freezing temperatures

CLOSER TO HOME
Freeze-tolerant plants: frost hardening
When T decreases plants synthesize sugars, amino acids, other molecules to act as antifreeze.

Winter deciduous plants

Lose leaves in autumn Leaves very efficient in summer high photosynthesis rate Leaves cant survive freezing Costly in energy, nutrients to rebuild leaves

Chilling breaks seed dormancy for temperate/boreal spp. Germinates only in spring

Plants are phenotypically plastic