| title: | Stomatal conductance, sensitivity and photosynthesis of temperate deciduous trees |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6823 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.9. Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology 1.14. Ecology 4.3. Sylviculture, Forestry |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Estonian University of Life Sciences |
| head of project: | Krõõt Aasamaa |
| duration: | 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2009 |
| description: | Stomatal conductance and sensitivity to rapid changes in several different environmental factors will be studied: the relations between the stomatal sensitivities, the dynamics of the sensitivities during season, the role of direct responses of stomatal guard cells to environment. The mechanism that causes the positive correlation between the photosynthesis intensity and stomatal conductance, is also studied. Also, the characteristics of water use and photosynthesis of trees growing in vegetation filters of wastewater purification systems are analysed. Main hypotheses: 1) Not only the stomatal sensitivity to changes in water potentials, but also the stomatal sensitivities to other main environmental factors, is related to the hydraulic conductance of shoots. The species characterised with low hydraulic conductance and slow growth, are most sensitive to the environmental changes that evoke a decrease in the stomatal conductance, and the species characterised with high hydraulic conductance and fast growth, are most sensitive to the environmental changes that cause an increase in the stomatal conductance. During the drought periods, the stomatal sensitivity increases to the factors that decrease the stomatal conductance, and stomatal sensitivity decreases to the factors that increase the stomatal conductance. Drought affects the stomatal sensitivity of all the tree species, but has stronger influence to the slow-growing species. 2) The role of direct responses of stomatal guard cells to environment is the highest in the most sensitive reactions of stomata. 3) Malate is an important signalling agent that coordinates the stomatal conductance with the photosynthesis intensity. 4) The species and clones characterised with the highest light harvesting efficiency of photosynthesis apparatus and the most ‘prodigal’ water use, have the highest productivity in the vegetation filters of wastewater purification systems in Estonia. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Krõõt Aasamaa | Eesti Maaülikool | ||
| 2. | Katrin Heinsoo | |||
| 3. | Allar Padari | |||
| 4. | Anu Sõber | |||