Leaf Phenology Determines the Response of Poplar Genotypes to O Through Mesophyll Conductance

Overview

Journal Plant J

Specialties Biology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2025 Mar 7

PMID 40052505

Authors

Yasutomo Hoshika

Elena Paoletti

Claudia Pisuttu

Lorenzo Cotrozzi

Matthew Haworth

Elisa Pellegrini

Cristina Nali

Rafael Vasconcelos Ribeiro

Juliana Lischka Sampaio Mayer

Barbara Baesso Moura

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone (O) is a phytotoxic air pollutant that impairs photosynthesis. The mechanisms of O-induced reduction of mesophyll conductance (g) are not clear. We investigated the interaction of O and leaf age on g by using structural equation modelling (SEM) for two poplar clones (I-214 and Oxford) exposed to three O levels (ambient air, AA; 1.5 × AA; 2.0 × AA) in a free-air controlled experiment. Clone-specific phenological responses to elevated O were found: I-214 showed a rapid leaf turnover and formed new productive leaves, whereas Oxford was more 'conservative' maintaining old or injured leaves. In the I-214 clone with fast leaf turnover, g was reduced due to increasing cell wall thickness in new leaves, a possible reaction to increase its resistance against O damage. As I-214 leaves aged, a decrease in the fraction of the mesophyll surface area unoccupied by chloroplasts was observed at 2.0 × AA prior to a reduction in photosynthesis. In the Oxford clone with slow leaf turnover, g was mainly affected by physiological rather than structural factors: in particular, a marked reduction of g caused by abscisic acid (ABA) was noticed. As photosynthesis is limited by diffusional barriers, O effects on g will be key for carbon sequestration modelling of O pollution and climate change.

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