Changes in specific leaf area and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency associated with physiological acclimation of two hybrid poplar clones to intraclonal competition

Photosynthesis is the most important process driving productivity, and its acclimation to intraclonal competition is not well understood in hybrid poplars. The aim of this study was to examine the physiological response of the crown of two hybrid poplar clones, BT747215 (Populus balsamifera L. × Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray) and MB915319 (Populus maximowiczii A. Henry × P. balsamifera), to intraclonal competition. We measured light-saturated photosynthesis (Amax), leaf N content on an area basis (Narea), specific leaf area (SLA), and photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE) for three successive growing seasons on trees planted at three spacings (1 m × 1 m, 3 m × 3 m, and 5 m × 5 m). Crowns were sampled at 10 locations corresponding to vertical and horizontal subdivisions. Significant changes took place at the crown level in the closest spacing (1 m × 1 m) compared with the wider spacings (3 m × 3 m and 5 m × 5 m): (i) 30% decrease in Narea ,( ii) 20% increase in SLA, and (iii) 40% increase in PNUE. The slope of the Amax-Narea curve was greatest in the closest spacing, indicating a greater change in Amax per unit change in Narea. The two hybrid poplar clones had a similar morphophysiological response to changes of spacing. Both clones showed physiological acclimation of their foliage in re- sponse to intraclonal competition through modulation of SLA and PNUE. Resume : La photosynthese est le processus qui a le plus d'impact sur la productivite et son acclimatation face a la compe- tition intraclonale n'est pas bien comprise chez les peupliers hybrides. Le but de cette etude consistait a examiner la reponse physiologique de la cime de deux clones de peuplier hybride, BT747215 (Populus balsamifera L. × Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray) and MB915319 (Populus maximowiczii A. Henry × P. balsamifera), face a la competition intraclonale. Nous avons mesure la photosynthese a saturation lumineuse (Amax), la teneur en N par unite de surface foliaire (Narea), la surface foliaire specifique (SLA) et l'efficacite de l'utilisation photosynthetique du N (PNUE) pendant trois saisons de crois- sance successives sur des arbres plantes selon trois espacements (1 m × 1 m, 3 m × 3 m et 5 m × 5 m). La cime a ete echantillonnee a 10 endroits correspondant a des subdivisions verticales et horizontales. Des changements importants sont survenus dans la cime lorsque l'espacement etait le plus faible (1 m × 1 m) comparativement aux espacements plus grands (3 m × 3 m et 5 m × 5 m) : (i) une diminution de 30 % de Narea ,( ii) une augmentation de 20 % de SLA et (iii) une augmen- tation de 40 % de PNUE. La pente de la courbe Amax-Narea etait la plus forte lorsque l'espacement etait le plus faible, ce qui correspond a une plus grande variation de Amax par unite de variation de Narea. Les deux clones de peuplier hybride avaient une reponse morpho-physiologique semblable aux changements d'espacement. Il y avait donc une acclimatation physiolo- gique du feuillage des deux clones en reponse a une competition intraclonale via une modulation de SLA et PNUE. (Traduit par la Redaction)

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