DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/25.3.4302
Original scientific paper
C3 and C4 photosynthetic performance in cold stress
2024, 25 (3) p. 819-832
Maja Matoša Kočar, Aleksandra Sudarić, Tomislav Duvnjak, Andrija Brkić, Lovro Vukadinović, Maja Mazur
Abstract
Early sowing to avoid summer stresses poses a significant risk of cold stress for warm-season crops such as soybean and maize in Croatia. To address the aforementioned issues, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of low-temperature treatment on early growth of soybean (C3) and maize (C4), highlighting the differences in photosynthetic responses and biomass changes. The findings revealed a significant low-temperature effect on the minimum fluorescence (F0), the maximum fluorescence (Fm) and the maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), with notable distinctions between C3 and C4 photosynthesis. Low temperatures had the most pronounced effect on the average performance index of overall photochemistry (PItotal). The PItotal of C4 maize was 41.5%, 34.4% and 42.9% higher than the PItotal of C3 soybean at the first (D1), second (D2) and third (D3) measurements under optimal environmental conditions. The difference increased to 140.3%, 104.8% and 52% in D1, D2 and D3 of the imposed low-temperature treatment, respectively. Maize exhibited greater PSII damage at low temperatures, indicating a weaker coping and repair mechanism compared to soybean. Soybean demonstrated a better adaptive response by reducing overall photosynthetic efficiency. The better adaptation to low temperatures in soybean compared to maize was evidenced by a lower loss of water tissue and dry matter.
Keywords
PItotal, photosynthesis, soybean, maize, climate change
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