Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients

Autores
Bottan, Lucía; Lencinas, María Vanessa; Peri, Pablo Luis; Arena, Miriam Elizabeth; Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Regeneration dynamics in forest ecosystems depend on seedlings’ ability to persist in shaded understories and, following canopy opening, to rapidly adjust physiologically to new, contrasting light and soil moisture conditions. In this study, we examined the real-time efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus and the short- to intermediate-term acclimatory response of photosynthetic pigments on Nothofagus pumilio seedlings exposed to different light and soil moisture levels. We evaluated phenology, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment content in leaves, on 2-3 years-old seedlings in a controlled greenhouse experiment with three levels of light intensity (low = 4%, medium = 26%, high = 64% of the natural incident irradiance) and two levels of soil moisture (optimal = 40-60%, excess = 80-100% of soil field capacity). We measured six samples per treatment (light intensity × soil moisture levels) monthly during one growing season (n = 216). Data were analyzed by multiple ANOVAs. Although maximum quantum yield remained stable (> 0.80) across treatments, seedlings exhibited differential eco-physiological responses primarily driven by light availability. Structural investment was synergistic and negatively affected by the light × soil moisture interaction, resulting in reduced leaf production, chlorophyll, and carotenoids during peak season under the high-light and excess-soil-moisture treatment. Seedlings under medium light showed optimal performance, with maximum pigment accumulation and high PSII efficiency without signs of chronic photoinhibition. N. pumilio seedlings decouple short-term functional photochemical efficiency from their structural investment strategy (pigment content), a mechanism that ensures survival under variable canopy cover but results in reduced growth under sub-optimal conditions.
EEA Santa Cruz
Fil: Bottan, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.
Fil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.
Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.
Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina
Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Arena, Miriam Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Arena, Miriam Elizabeth. Universidad de Morón; Argentina
Fil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.
Fuente
iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 19 (4) : 311-320. (August 2026)
Materia
Nothofagus pumilio
Photosynthesis
Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Phenotypic Plasticity
Acclimatization
Soil Water Content
Fotosíntesis
Fluorescencia de Clorofila
Plasticidad Fenotípica
Aclimatación
Contenido de Agua en el Suelo
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27499
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oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27499
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network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradientsBottan, LucíaLencinas, María VanessaPeri, Pablo LuisArena, Miriam ElizabethMartínez Pastur, Guillermo JoséNothofagus pumilioPhotosynthesisChlorophyll FluorescencePhenotypic PlasticityAcclimatizationSoil Water ContentFotosíntesisFluorescencia de ClorofilaPlasticidad FenotípicaAclimataciónContenido de Agua en el SueloRegeneration dynamics in forest ecosystems depend on seedlings’ ability to persist in shaded understories and, following canopy opening, to rapidly adjust physiologically to new, contrasting light and soil moisture conditions. In this study, we examined the real-time efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus and the short- to intermediate-term acclimatory response of photosynthetic pigments on Nothofagus pumilio seedlings exposed to different light and soil moisture levels. We evaluated phenology, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment content in leaves, on 2-3 years-old seedlings in a controlled greenhouse experiment with three levels of light intensity (low = 4%, medium = 26%, high = 64% of the natural incident irradiance) and two levels of soil moisture (optimal = 40-60%, excess = 80-100% of soil field capacity). We measured six samples per treatment (light intensity × soil moisture levels) monthly during one growing season (n = 216). Data were analyzed by multiple ANOVAs. Although maximum quantum yield remained stable (> 0.80) across treatments, seedlings exhibited differential eco-physiological responses primarily driven by light availability. Structural investment was synergistic and negatively affected by the light × soil moisture interaction, resulting in reduced leaf production, chlorophyll, and carotenoids during peak season under the high-light and excess-soil-moisture treatment. Seedlings under medium light showed optimal performance, with maximum pigment accumulation and high PSII efficiency without signs of chronic photoinhibition. N. pumilio seedlings decouple short-term functional photochemical efficiency from their structural investment strategy (pigment content), a mechanism that ensures survival under variable canopy cover but results in reduced growth under sub-optimal conditions.EEA Santa CruzFil: Bottan, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.Fil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; ArgentinaFil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Arena, Miriam Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Arena, Miriam Elizabeth. Universidad de Morón; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology2026-08-21T13:37:58Z2026-08-21T13:37:58Z2026-08info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27499https://iforest.sisef.org/abstract/?id=ifor5020-0191971-7458https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor5020-019iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 19 (4) : 311-320. (August 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-09-24T11:43:43Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/27499instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-09-24 11:43:44.523INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
title Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
spellingShingle Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
Bottan, Lucía
Nothofagus pumilio
Photosynthesis
Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Phenotypic Plasticity
Acclimatization
Soil Water Content
Fotosíntesis
Fluorescencia de Clorofila
Plasticidad Fenotípica
Aclimatación
Contenido de Agua en el Suelo
title_short Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
title_full Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
title_fullStr Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
title_full_unstemmed Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
title_sort Photochemical efficiency and variation in photosynthetic pigments in Nothofagus pumilio seedlings growing under light intensity and soil moisture gradients
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Bottan, Lucía
Lencinas, María Vanessa
Peri, Pablo Luis
Arena, Miriam Elizabeth
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
author Bottan, Lucía
author_facet Bottan, Lucía
Lencinas, María Vanessa
Peri, Pablo Luis
Arena, Miriam Elizabeth
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
author_role author
author2 Lencinas, María Vanessa
Peri, Pablo Luis
Arena, Miriam Elizabeth
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Nothofagus pumilio
Photosynthesis
Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Phenotypic Plasticity
Acclimatization
Soil Water Content
Fotosíntesis
Fluorescencia de Clorofila
Plasticidad Fenotípica
Aclimatación
Contenido de Agua en el Suelo
topic Nothofagus pumilio
Photosynthesis
Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Phenotypic Plasticity
Acclimatization
Soil Water Content
Fotosíntesis
Fluorescencia de Clorofila
Plasticidad Fenotípica
Aclimatación
Contenido de Agua en el Suelo
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Regeneration dynamics in forest ecosystems depend on seedlings’ ability to persist in shaded understories and, following canopy opening, to rapidly adjust physiologically to new, contrasting light and soil moisture conditions. In this study, we examined the real-time efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus and the short- to intermediate-term acclimatory response of photosynthetic pigments on Nothofagus pumilio seedlings exposed to different light and soil moisture levels. We evaluated phenology, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment content in leaves, on 2-3 years-old seedlings in a controlled greenhouse experiment with three levels of light intensity (low = 4%, medium = 26%, high = 64% of the natural incident irradiance) and two levels of soil moisture (optimal = 40-60%, excess = 80-100% of soil field capacity). We measured six samples per treatment (light intensity × soil moisture levels) monthly during one growing season (n = 216). Data were analyzed by multiple ANOVAs. Although maximum quantum yield remained stable (> 0.80) across treatments, seedlings exhibited differential eco-physiological responses primarily driven by light availability. Structural investment was synergistic and negatively affected by the light × soil moisture interaction, resulting in reduced leaf production, chlorophyll, and carotenoids during peak season under the high-light and excess-soil-moisture treatment. Seedlings under medium light showed optimal performance, with maximum pigment accumulation and high PSII efficiency without signs of chronic photoinhibition. N. pumilio seedlings decouple short-term functional photochemical efficiency from their structural investment strategy (pigment content), a mechanism that ensures survival under variable canopy cover but results in reduced growth under sub-optimal conditions.
EEA Santa Cruz
Fil: Bottan, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.
Fil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.
Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.
Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina
Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Arena, Miriam Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Arena, Miriam Elizabeth. Universidad de Morón; Argentina
Fil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.
description Regeneration dynamics in forest ecosystems depend on seedlings’ ability to persist in shaded understories and, following canopy opening, to rapidly adjust physiologically to new, contrasting light and soil moisture conditions. In this study, we examined the real-time efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus and the short- to intermediate-term acclimatory response of photosynthetic pigments on Nothofagus pumilio seedlings exposed to different light and soil moisture levels. We evaluated phenology, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment content in leaves, on 2-3 years-old seedlings in a controlled greenhouse experiment with three levels of light intensity (low = 4%, medium = 26%, high = 64% of the natural incident irradiance) and two levels of soil moisture (optimal = 40-60%, excess = 80-100% of soil field capacity). We measured six samples per treatment (light intensity × soil moisture levels) monthly during one growing season (n = 216). Data were analyzed by multiple ANOVAs. Although maximum quantum yield remained stable (> 0.80) across treatments, seedlings exhibited differential eco-physiological responses primarily driven by light availability. Structural investment was synergistic and negatively affected by the light × soil moisture interaction, resulting in reduced leaf production, chlorophyll, and carotenoids during peak season under the high-light and excess-soil-moisture treatment. Seedlings under medium light showed optimal performance, with maximum pigment accumulation and high PSII efficiency without signs of chronic photoinhibition. N. pumilio seedlings decouple short-term functional photochemical efficiency from their structural investment strategy (pigment content), a mechanism that ensures survival under variable canopy cover but results in reduced growth under sub-optimal conditions.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-08-21T13:37:58Z
2026-08-21T13:37:58Z
2026-08
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27499
https://iforest.sisef.org/abstract/?id=ifor5020-019
1971-7458
https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor5020-019
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27499
https://iforest.sisef.org/abstract/?id=ifor5020-019
https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor5020-019
identifier_str_mv 1971-7458
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 19 (4) : 311-320. (August 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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