Photosynthetic characteristics of Bothriochloa ischaemum under drought stress and elevated CO2 concentration]

A pot experiment was conducted to study the variations of the photo-physiological characteristics of native bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) in loess hilly-gully region under different soil moisture condition (80% and 40% field capacity) and different atmospheric CO2 concentration (375 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) and 750 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1). The results showed that drought stress decreased the maximum photosynthetic rate (Pn max), apparent quantum efficiency (AQE), stomatal conductance (ga), transpiration rate (Tx), maximum photochemical efficiency (F/Fm), potential photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fo), and photosynthetic pigments contents, and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) contents. Under sufficient moisture condition, elevated CO2 concentration didn't change the P n max and the, MDA and Pro contents significantly; under drought stress, elevated CO2 improved the maximal fluorescence (Fm), Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo, photosynthetic pigments contents, and AQE, and the Pn max under elevated CO2 was increased significantly by 23.3%, and the MDA and Pro contents were decreased significantly, as compared with those under ambient CO2 concentration. All the results suggested that elevated CO2 concentration had definite compensation effect on the photosynthetic reduction of B. ischaemum induced by drought stress, and alleviated the damage of drought stress on B. ischaemum.