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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2026, Vol. 25 Issue (2): 648-658    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.07.032
Crop Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Delayed photosynthesis response causes carbon assimilation reduction in soybean under fluctuating light

Jing Gao*, Shenglan Li*, Yi Lei, Qi Wang, Zili Ning, Zhaohong Lu, Xianming Tan, Mei Xu, Feng Yang#, Wenyu Yang

College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University/Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Crop Strip Intercropping System/Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu 611130, China
 Highlights 
Soybeans grown under conditions of fluctuating light exhibit characteristics reminiscent of those adapted to low-light, including decreases in dry matter mass, leaf thinning, specific leaf weight, and chlorophyll (Chl) a/Chl b levels.
The inhibitory impact of fluctuating light conditions on the growth of soybean plants arises from a decrease in carbon assimilation.  However, this is not attributed to acclimation to low-light periods, as the photosynthetic capacity remains unaffected by fluctuating light.
The decrease in carbon assimilation is ascribed to a delayed photosynthetic response to fluctuations in light intensity.  When transitioning from low- to high-light, the gradual rate of stomatal opening limits carbon supply.  Moreover, upon returning to low-light, the gradual relaxation of photoprotection hinders light utilization efficiency.
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摘要  
田间生长的植物的光环境是高度动态的,不同物种对波动光(FL)的适应机制各异。大豆(Glycine max (L.) Merr.)在如何整合多种生理变化以适应FL方面仍存在不明确之处。本研究分析了在强弱光交替条件下大豆的光合气体交换参数和叶绿素(Chl)a荧光参数的变化,评估了FL条件对大豆形态和光合特性的影响。结果显示,FL处理下生长的大豆具有较低的干物质质量、小而薄的叶片和低的Chl a/Chl b,这些特征类似于在弱光环境中生长的大豆。然而,光合气体交换速率和光合能力保持恒定,与弱光处理有所不同。大豆对波动光和弱光的适应过程存在显著差异。相关性分析显示,在FL条件下,碳同化的降低主要由两个方面导致:由弱光过渡为强光时气孔导度增加缓慢以及再次转入弱光后非光化学猝灭的缓慢弛豫。因此,FL条件下碳同化的下降不能简单归因于弱光阶段的适应,而是由于光合作用的延迟响应造成的。


Abstract  

Plants encounter dynamic light environments in natural field conditions, and species differ in their physiological and biochemical mechanisms for acclimating to fluctuating light (FL).  The manner in which soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) coordinates multiple physiological adjustments to FL remains poorly understood.  This study assessed the effects of FL on soybean morphology and photosynthetic traits by examining changes in photosynthetic gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence under alternating high- and low-light conditions.  Results indicated that soybeans exposed to FL exhibited reduced dry matter accumulation, smaller and thinner leaves, and a lower Chl a/Chl b levels - characteristics typically associated with plants grown under continuous low-light.  Despite these morphological similarities, their photosynthetic gas exchange rates and photosynthetic capacity were maintained at levels comparable to those under steady high light, unlike plants grown under constant low-light.  Thus, acclimation to FL is distinct from adaptation to sustained low-light conditions.  Correlation analyses revealed that the decline in carbon assimilation under FL primarily stemmed from two factors: the slow recovery of stomatal conductance upon transition to high light and the delayed relaxation of nonphotochemical quenching when light intensity decreased.  Therefore, the reduction in carbon assimilation under FL cannot be attributed to low-light phase adjustments but rather reflects a lag in photosynthetic responsiveness to changing light conditions.

Keywords:  soybean       fluctuating light        CO2 assimilation        dynamic photosynthesis        photosynthetic limitation        stomatal opening        non-photochemical quenching  
Received: 11 March 2024   Accepted: 18 June 2024 Online: 22 July 2024  
Fund: 
This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFF1001504), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071963), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2300902), the Guangxi Key Research and Development Program of China (GuikeAB23026107), and the Chengdu Science and Technology Project, China (2023-YF08-00003-SN).
About author:  Jing Gao, E-mail: 2020201020@stu.sicau.edu.cn; Shenglan Li, E-mail: lishenglan@stu.sicau.edu.cn; #Correspondence Feng Yang, E-mail: f.yang@sicau.edu.cn * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

Jing Gao, Shenglan Li, Yi Lei, Qi Wang, Zili Ning, Zhaohong Lu, Xianming Tan, Mei Xu, Feng Yang, Wenyu Yang. 2026. Delayed photosynthesis response causes carbon assimilation reduction in soybean under fluctuating light. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 25(2): 648-658.

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