Seasonal Dynamics of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in the Evergreen Peumus boldus and the Semideciduous Colliguaja odorifera Under Field Conditions

TL;DR

This study compares how two tree species respond to seasonal changes in a Mediterranean climate using chlorophyll fluorescence measurements.

Contribution

The study reveals distinct seasonal PSII performance patterns in an evergreen and a semideciduous species under field conditions.

Findings

Peumus boldus showed reduced PSII performance during winter and spring due to low temperatures.

Colliguaja odorifera exhibited improved PSII performance in the same seasons.

P. boldus was more sensitive to cold than to summer drought and heat.

Abstract

We used chlorophyll fluorescence techniques to investigate seasonal variations in photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield in five-year-old saplings of the sclerophyllous Peumus boldus Molina (evergreen) and Colliguaja odorifera Molina (semideciduous) planted in a semiarid site with a Mediterranean-type climate. Chlorophyll fluorescence rise kinetics (OJIP) were monitored monthly for one year (September 2024 to September 2025). With this information, we estimated the relative deviation of the performance index (PIABS) of each species from the average PIABS in each season (denoted as ∆PIABS). P. boldus was associated with destruction of PSII reaction centers and incapacity for electron transport, i.e., higher values of parameters ABS/RC (effective antenna size of an active reaction center) and F0 (minimal fluorescence), whereas C. odorifera was associated with higher photosynthetic performance i.e., higher values of PIABS, PITOT (total performance index), FV/F0 (ratio between variable and minimal fluorescence), and FV/FM (maximum quantum yield of primary PSII photochemistry). PIABS exhibited a 52 and 38% reduction (i.e., −∆PIABS) during spring and winter in P. boldus, but an increase (i.e., +∆PIABS) of 52 and 37% in the same seasons for C. odorifera. P. boldus was considerably more depressed during the winter–spring season than the summer months. This suggests that PSII function in P. boldus is more sensitive to low temperatures in winter and spring than the lack of water and high temperatures during summer.

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