Stomatal conductance is a key parameter to assess limitations to photosynthesis and growth potential in barley genotypes

Abstract

Fourteen genotypes of barley were compared for response to salinity by monitoring the parameters gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. We present relationships between stomatal conductance (gs) gas exchange chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and aboveground dry matter (AGDM). We found that genetic variability provided a continuum of data for gs across control and saline conditions. We used this continuum of gs values to test the overall relationships between gs and net photosynthesis (A), leaf internal CO2 concentration (Ci), actual quantum yield of PSII electron transport (PhiPSII), relative electron yield over net CO2 assimilation rate (ETR/A), and AGDM. The relationship between gs and A was highly significant (P < 0.0001) for both control and saline treatments, while correlations between gs and Ci, and Ci and A were significant only under control conditions. Unexpectedly, we found positive correlations between gs and PhiPSII (P < 0.0001) for both conditions. A comparison between relationships of gs and A, and gs and PhiPSII seemed to indicate a possible acclimation to salinity at the chloroplastic level. Finally, the relationships between gs and ETR/A were exceptionally strong for both growing conditions (P < 0.0001) indicating that, as gs values were negatively affected in barley by genetics and salinity as main or interactive effects, there was a progressive increase in photorespiration in barley. Overall, we found that stomatal conductance was a key parameter in the study of barley responses to limiting situations for photosynthesis. We also found a strong relationship between AGDM and gs regardless of growing conditions and genotypes. For breeding evaluations to select barley genotypes for salinity tolerance, it may be possible to replace all measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence by the simple use of a porometer.