Gas exchange in leaves of the root hemiparasite Melampyrum arvense L. before and after attachment to the host plant

Abstract

Gas exchange characteristics of a hemiparasite Melampyrum arvense L. before and after attachment to the host Capsella bursa pastoris (L.) Med. were compared. The net photosynthetic rates (PN) on a leaf area basis were extremely low and in comparison to the value obtained for the host were about 15 % and 23 % for the unattached and attached hemiparasite, respectively. Also the concentration of photosynthetic pigments was low (as compared with the host the content of chlorophylls was about 33 % and 49 % and of carotenoids about 38 % and 36 % in the unattached and attached hemiparasite, respectively). On the other hand the rates of respiration were high (about 1.8 and 2.6 times higher in the unattached and attached hemiparasite, respectively, than in the host). In darkness stomatal conductance (gs) of the host and the unattached hemiparasite was rapidly reduced to 10 % of the value obtained in light. gs of the attached hemiparasite was decreased only by about 30 %. A total reduction of gs occurred at relative water content (RWC) of 85 %, 75 % and 45 % for the unattached hemiparasite, the host, and the attached hemiparasite, respectively. The transpiration (E) rate in the preparasitic stage was very low, being 2.6 and 4.5 times smaller than in the host and the attached hemiparasite, respectively. In the attached hemiparasite WUE was 7.5 and 3 times poorer than in the host and in the preparasitic stage, respectively.