Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to explore the survival strategy of Phoebe bournei seedlings in
natural communities under extremely low light environment. 2-year-old seedlings of P. bournei were used
as experimental materials to study the effects of different treatments were measured by simulating different
light environments (100%, 35% and 10% light transmittance) on leaf morphology, anatomical structure and
photosynthetic physiological characteristics of P. bournei seedlings, and to explore the internal relationship
between seedling morphology, physiological plasticity and light adaptation. The results were as follows: (1)
The leaf length, leaf width, leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA) of seedlings increased with the decrease
of light intensity; The leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness, Thickness ratio of palisade tissue to sponge
tissue of 10% light transmittance were the minimum. (2) The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), light utilization efficiency (LUE), photochemical quenching
coefficient (qp), non photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ), effective photosynthetic quantum yield
(Fv'/Fm') and potential photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fo) of 35% light transmittance were significantly
higher than those of 100% and 10% light transmittance. (3) Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, Carotenoids, total
chlorophyll and Fv/Fm all increased with the decrease of light intensity, but chlorophyll a/b decreased with
the decrease of light intensity. (4) The plasticity index of seedling structure and physiology showed that
photosynthetic pigment content characteristics>morphological characteristics>photosynthetic
characteristics>anatomical structure characteristics>chlorophyll fluorescence parameter characteristics,
among which, the plasticity index of leaf area, SLA, Pn, Gs, LUE and photosynthetic pigment content
ranged from 0.455 to 0.755. To sum up, P. bournei seedlings are not suitable to grow under full light, and
perform well under about 35% light transmittance; under extremely low light with 10% light transmittance,
P. bournei leaves can improve light energy capture by increasing leaf area, SLA, Pn and photosynthetic
pigment content; the seedlings of P. bournei mainly adapt to the low light environment by adjusting the
plasticity of photosynthetic pigment content and morphology, coordinating with the changes of anatomical
structure, photosynthetic physiology and chlorophyll fluorescence parameter plasticity. This study can
provide theoretical basis, management and selection of light environment of P. bournei for the future
cultivation.