JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2017, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (04): 64-70.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201609014

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Study on photosynthetic characteristics of five ornamental crabapple

WU Qifei1, 2, FAN Junjun1, 2, ZHAO Mingming1, 2, ZHOU Ting1, LI Qianhui1, ZHANG Dandan1, ZHANG Wangxiang1, 2*   

  1. 1. Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
    2.Yangzhou Crabapple Horticulture Co., Ltd.,Yangzhou 225200, China
  • Online:2017-08-18 Published:2017-08-18

Abstract: 【Objective】The present study investigated the relationship between the photosynthetic physiology and growth of ornamental crabapples, in order to provide a theoretical basis for effectively introducing and cultivating new varieties of ornamental crabapple with different light-demand characteristics. 【Method】The diurnal variation law of photosynthesis and light response curve of 1-year-old specimens from five ornamental crabapple cultivars with various growth speeds(Malus ‘Candymint', ‘Centurion', ‘Rainbow', ‘Mary Potter', and ‘Lisa')were measured. 【Results】①Growth rate was significantly positively correlated with the maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pn,max), with both growth rate and Pn,max increasing as follows: ‘Lisa' > ‘Rainbow' > ‘Mary Potter' >‘Centurion' > ‘Candymint'. ②Meanwhile, the diurnal variation of ‘Mary Potter' was “bimodal”(i.e., “midday depression”), which was caused by stomatal limitation, whereas the diurnal variation of the other four varieties was “single peak”. ③The light compensation points(PLCP)of different crabapple varieties were higher than 20 μmol/(m2·s), which showed positive plant characteristics. However, theirs light requirement were different, PLCP range was 27-67 μmol/(m2·s), and light saturation point(PLSP)ranged from 574 to 976 μmol/(m2·s). Among the five cultivars, ‘Lisa' possessed a low PLCP and high PLSP, indicating strong adaptability to light conditions, a high growth rate, and the ability to reach a wide range of areas, and ‘Candymint' possessed a high PLCP and low PLSP, indicating relatively weak adaptability to light conditions, a low growth rate, and a narrow range of cultivable areas. 【Conclusion】There was a significant positive correlation between the growth index and maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pn,max)of the five ornamental crabapple cultivars. We suggest that Pn,max can be used as an indicator of the early growth of ornamental crabapples, and to guide the application of breeding varieties of crabapple, production practices and new varieties of breeding.

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