Impact of intraspecific competition on photosynthetic apparatus efficiency in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants

Abstract

Unfavourable growth conditions significantly determine the yield of crop plants. Intraspecific competition is a condition in which plants compete with each other for environmental resources. An excessive density contributes to increased competition within species, which results in disruption of photosynthesis process. According to this idea, experiments were conducted to investigate the photosynthetic response of potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants to excessive congestion. Two potato varieties of different earliness classes (Vineta and Satina) were used to evaluate the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus based on chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence measurements under stress conditions. Changes in Chl contents of the tested plants were also analysed. In relation to intraspecific competition, we can conclude that the Vineta variety was less sensitive to this stress factor. In contrast, the photosynthetic apparatus of the Satina variety showed less efficient functioning under these conditions. In this study, the application of Chl fluorescence was presented for the first time in order to analyse the effects of intraspecific competition in plants.

Divergent strategies displayed by potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars to cope with soil drought

“…This indicates that photosystem II was unaffected by water deficiency, which implies that chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were unable to distinguish between drought‐tolerant and ‐susceptible potato cultivars. Our results are in agreement with the claim that the maximum quantum yield of the primary photochemical reaction (Fv/Fm ratio) is not a sensitive indicator of plant drought resistance (Kalaji et al., ; Olechowicz et al., ). On the contrary, the performance index of PSII (PI ABS ), which is used to quantify the effects of environmental factors such as chilling, heat or drought on photosynthesis (Appenroth, Stockel, Srivastava, & Strasser, ; Clark, Landolt, Bucher, & Strasser, ; Michael, Ilektra, Theodora, Chrysovalantou‐Irene, & Ioannis, ), remained practically unchanged in tolerant, Tajfun and Gwiazda cultivars, and decreased significantly in the leaves of the sensitive potato cultivars.…”

Drought Tolerance of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) by Improved Photosynthetic Characteristics and an Efficient Antioxidant Enzyme Activities Under a Split-Root System

“…By analyzing photosynthesis, it is possible to determine the degree of resistance to adverse conditions of the environment, e.g., excessive congestion (Prasad et al, 2015; Olechowicz et al, 2018). Photosynthesis is progressively reduced during drought, but the reason for this reduction is unclear at the seedling stage of soybean.…”

Response of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Plants to Spraying by Hydrogen Peroxide

“…The fluorescence signal was collected in the red actinic light with a peak wavelength of 627 nm light diode source and applied for 1 s at the maximal available intensity of 3500 µmol m −2 s −1 . Fluorescence measurements were assessed in dark-adapted (30 min) leaves, using the leaf-clips which were put on the adaxial leaf blades away from the leaf vein [40,41]. Two measurements were made on each pot.…”