Effects of geminivirus infection and growth irradiance on the vegetative growth and photosynthetic production of Eupatorium makinoi

Eupatorium makinoi plants with or without geminivirus infection were grown in shading frames with 70, 15 and 5.5% sunlight. Growth characteristics of these plants in the early vegetative phase were compared by means of growth analysis. We also measured leaf photosynthetic gas exchange rates and exam ined relationships between leaf photosynthesis and whole-plant growth. Rela tive growth rate (RGR = (1/W) x (dW/dt), where W is plant dry mass) of viru s-infected plants was lower than that of uninfected plants under all three light conditions. The reduction of RGR by infection was increased with irra diance. The net assimilation rate (NAR = (1/A) x (dW/dt), where A is total leaf area of the plant) was also reduced both by infection and shading, NAR s that were estimated from light-response curves of leaf photosynthesis, in situ measurements of irradiance, and respiration rates of leaves, stems an d below-ground parts, agreed very well with the values obtained by conventi onal growth analysis techniques. Decreases in the estimated NAR value from infection and shading were mostly explained by the decreases in leaf photos ynthesis. These results clearly showed that lowered RGR in virus-infected p lants was attributed mainly to impaired photosynthesis in virus-infected le aves.