Abstract:

Content of pigments, reflective spectra, and daily changes of photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were investigated using four red-leaf tree species in Amygdalus and Prunus, including A. persica f. atropurpurea, P. cerasifera `Pissardii', P.×bliriana 'Meirenmei', P.×cistena `Pissardii', and two green-leaf tree species A. persica var. compressa and P. salicina `Yuhuangli' were included as controls. The results indicated that all red-leaf tree species had higher content of anthocyanins than the green-leaf plants, and difference of total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were not remarkable except P.×bliriana 'Meirenmei'. The daily changes of net photosynthetic rate were double-peak curves both in red-leaf and green-leaf tree species, but the net photosynthetic rate was lower in red-leaf tree species than in green-leaf tree species. All tree species have the phenomenon of `noon break', while the duration was shorter in red-leaf tree species than in green-leaf tree species. There were not differences between red-leaf and green-leaf tree species in intrinsic photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ (F_v/F_m), but the quantum yield of PSⅡ (Φ_PSⅡ ) and photochemical quenching (q_P) of red-leaf tree species were lower than those of green-leaf tree species. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of red-leaf tree species was higher than that of green-leaf tree species.

Key words: Amygdalus, Prunus, red-leaf tree species, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters