Effects of simulated warming on photosynthesis of typical desert shrubs in the Hexi Corridor

doi:10.11686/cyxb2024333

Abstract

Abstract:

With global climate warming， the climate in Northwest China is becoming increasingly warm and humid. This is significantly impacting plant growth and development， and physiological-ecological processes. However， the specific effect of climate warming on the photosynthesis of desert plants is still not fully understood. In this study， typical desert shrubs of the Hexi Corridor， including Nitraria sphaerocarpa， Haloxylon ammodendron， and Caragana korshinskii， along with the desert plant Tamarix ramosissima， were grown in open top chambers （OTCs） of varying heights （1.0， 1.8， and 2.3 m） to simulate increased temperatures， and the photosynthetic responses of these typical desert shrubs to warming were investigated. The results indicated that： 1） During the plant growing season （April to September）， the OTCs of 1.0， 1.8， and 2.3 m height increased the average air temperature by 1.7， 2.5， and 3.5 ℃， respectively； the soil temperature at 10 cm depth by 0.6， 1.2， and 1.8 ℃， respectively， and the soil temperature at 40 cm depth by 0.8， 1.2， and 1.8 ℃， respectively. 2） Warming significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate of the C₃ plants N. sphaerocarpa， T. ramosissima， and C. korshinskii， but had no significant effect on the C₄ plant H. ammodendron. Under increasing temperature， the net photosynthetic rate of C. korshinskii initially decreased before increasing. 3） Warming significantly increased stomatal conductance and the intercellular CO₂ concentration in N. sphaerocarpa， H. ammodendron， and C. korshinskii； however， in T. ramosissima， the stomatal conductance and intercellular CO₂ concentration initially increased before subsequently declining as the temperature increased. 4） Warming significantly increased the transpiration rate of H. ammodendron. The transpiration rate of C. korshinskii was increased only at the highest temperature， and that of T. ramosissima exhibited a significant decrease under increased temperatures. Warming did not significantly affect the transpiration rate of N. sphaerocarpa. Warming significantly enhanced the water use efficiency of N. sphaerocarpa， T. ramosissima， and C. korshinskii， but significantly reduced that of H. ammodendron. The predawn and midday water potentials of all four plant species were significantly reduced under warming conditions. In summary， these desert plants exhibited strong adaptability to warming， with C₄ plants demonstrating greater advantages over C₃ plants in the high-temperature environments. Under warming conditions， the increased transpiration rate and reduced water potential of the C₄ plant H. ammodendron facilitated its water absorption and stabilized photosynthesis， and the increase in stomatal conductance and intercellular CO₂ concentration promoted photosynthesis in the C₃ plants N. sphaerocarpa， T. ramosissima， and C. korshinskii.

Key words: desert shrubs, photosynthesis, simulated warming, water use efficiency, water potential

Bin GUO, Wei-cheng LUO, Li-shan SHAN, Ning AN, Bing LIU. Effects of simulated warming on photosynthesis of typical desert shrubs in the Hexi Corridor[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2025, 34(7): 145-157.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 Effect of warming on air temperature and relative humidity during the growing season of plants

Table 1 Changes in air temperature under different warming treatments during plant growing season （℃）

项目Items	T₀	T₁	T₂	T₃
最高温度Maximum temperature	31.8	33.2	36.8	38.2
最低温度Minimum temperature	4.3	5.0	5.7	6.6
平均温度Average temperature	20.1	21.8	22.6	23.6

Fig.2 The effect of warming on soil temperature during the growing season of plants

Table 2 Changes in soil temperature in different soil layers under different warming treatments during plant growing season （℃）

土层 Soil layer	项目 Items	T₀	T₁	T₂	T₃
10 cm	最高温度Maximum temperature	27.2	27.8	28.3	29.0
	最低温度Minimum temperature	4.5	4.7	5.2	5.9
	平均温度Average temperature	18.1	18.7	19.3	19.9
40 cm	最高温度Maximum temperature	25.6	26.3	26.5	27.1
	最低温度Minimum temperature	3.0	3.5	3.8	4.3
	平均温度Average temperature	16.4	17.2	17.6	18.2

Fig.3 Effect of warming on soil water content during the growing season of plants

Fig.4 Effects of warming on net photosynthesis rate （Pn） of typical desert shrubs

Fig.5 Effects of warming on stomatal conductance （Gs） of typical desert shrubs

Fig.6 Effects of warming on intercellular CO2 concentration （Ci） of typical desert shrubs

Fig.7 Effects of warming on transpiration rate （Tr） of typical desert shrubs

Fig.8 Effects of warming on water use efficiency （WUE） of typical desert shrubs

Fig.9 Effects of warming on water potential （Ψ） of typical desert shrubs

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