Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance
Solar eclipses represent a natural and unexpected event for plants that can potentially affect photosynthetic performance at the individual level. This effect, however, has seldom been evaluated. Here, we measured the impact of a total solar eclipse on the photosynthetic rate of different tree speci...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/10/1353 |
| _version_ | 1797514576076472320 |
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| author | Marco A. Molina-Montenegro Cristian Atala Fernando Carrasco-Urra |
| author_facet | Marco A. Molina-Montenegro Cristian Atala Fernando Carrasco-Urra |
| author_sort | Marco A. Molina-Montenegro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Solar eclipses represent a natural and unexpected event for plants that can potentially affect photosynthetic performance at the individual level. This effect, however, has seldom been evaluated. Here, we measured the impact of a total solar eclipse on the photosynthetic rate of different tree species—located in the Bosque Fray Jorge National Park, Chile—with varying degrees of shade tolerance. Specifically, we assessed whether the rapid and progressive light limitation facilitated by a solar eclipse would negatively impact the photosynthetic responses of these tree species and whether their photosynthetic performance would have a greater decrease when the percentage of eclipse shadow was higher, particularly in the less shade-tolerant species. To accomplish this, we compared daily changes in the photosynthetic rates of three tree species during a control (non-eclipse) vs. an eclipse day that occurred on 2 July 2019. Overall, tree species showed differences between a non-eclipse and eclipse day in the daily dynamics of their photosynthetic performance, with this trend being most evident at the peak of the solar eclipse. Additionally, each species showed a different pattern of de-epoxidation in accordance with its degree of shade tolerance. Our results suggest that solar eclipses negatively affect the photosynthesis of the studied Chilean tree species, which may be related to energy dissipation capacity via the de-epoxidation of xanthophyll pigments. This effect was more evident in shade-intolerant species, indicating that eclipses can present different consequences for the overall performance of various plant species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:33:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4f9692b952240eb979ea20a10da406f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:33:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4f9692b952240eb979ea20a10da406f2023-11-22T18:18:20ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-10-011210135310.3390/f12101353Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade ToleranceMarco A. Molina-Montenegro0Cristian Atala1Fernando Carrasco-Urra2Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Campus Lircay, Talca 3460000, ChileFacultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Curauma, Valparaíso 2340000, ChileInstituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Campus Lircay, Talca 3460000, ChileSolar eclipses represent a natural and unexpected event for plants that can potentially affect photosynthetic performance at the individual level. This effect, however, has seldom been evaluated. Here, we measured the impact of a total solar eclipse on the photosynthetic rate of different tree species—located in the Bosque Fray Jorge National Park, Chile—with varying degrees of shade tolerance. Specifically, we assessed whether the rapid and progressive light limitation facilitated by a solar eclipse would negatively impact the photosynthetic responses of these tree species and whether their photosynthetic performance would have a greater decrease when the percentage of eclipse shadow was higher, particularly in the less shade-tolerant species. To accomplish this, we compared daily changes in the photosynthetic rates of three tree species during a control (non-eclipse) vs. an eclipse day that occurred on 2 July 2019. Overall, tree species showed differences between a non-eclipse and eclipse day in the daily dynamics of their photosynthetic performance, with this trend being most evident at the peak of the solar eclipse. Additionally, each species showed a different pattern of de-epoxidation in accordance with its degree of shade tolerance. Our results suggest that solar eclipses negatively affect the photosynthesis of the studied Chilean tree species, which may be related to energy dissipation capacity via the de-epoxidation of xanthophyll pigments. This effect was more evident in shade-intolerant species, indicating that eclipses can present different consequences for the overall performance of various plant species.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/10/1353xanthophyll cyclephotosynthesisshade tolerance |
| spellingShingle | Marco A. Molina-Montenegro Cristian Atala Fernando Carrasco-Urra Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance Forests xanthophyll cycle photosynthesis shade tolerance |
| title | Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance |
| title_full | Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance |
| title_fullStr | Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance |
| title_short | Differential Impact of an Eclipse on Photosynthetic Performance of Trees with Different Degrees of Shade Tolerance |
| title_sort | differential impact of an eclipse on photosynthetic performance of trees with different degrees of shade tolerance |
| topic | xanthophyll cycle photosynthesis shade tolerance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/10/1353 |
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