Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) tolerates waterlogging better than narrow-leafed lupin (L-angustifolius) - II. Leaf gas exchange, plant water status, and nitrogen accumulation
Cl. Davies et al., Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) tolerates waterlogging better than narrow-leafed lupin (L-angustifolius) - II. Leaf gas exchange, plant water status, and nitrogen accumulation, AUST J AGR, 51(6), 2000, pp. 711-719
Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) may have potential as a legume crop in waterl
ogging-prone areas of Western Australia. To elucidate the physiological res
ponse of yellow lupin and the widely grown narrow-leafed lupin (L. angustif
olius) to transient waterlogging we conducted experiments in controlled env
ironments. Narrow-leafed lupin and yellow lupin were grown in pots and wate
rlogged for 14 days from 28 to 42, or 56 to 70 days after sowing, each bein
g followed by a 14-day recovery period. Root and shoot growth responses, le
af gas exchange, water relations, and N accumulation were assessed.
During the period of waterlogging, net nitrogen accumulation ceased in both
species at both ages. During recovery, yellow lupin accumulated more nitro
gen than narrow-leafed lupin. Waterlogging reduced leaf gas exchange more w
ith older plants than with younger plants, and more so with narrow-leafed l
upin than yellow lupin. Some components of leaf gas exchange, particularly
leaf conductance, were reduced by up to 80%. Waterlogging had no effect on
leaf water potential of yellow lupin but reduced it in narrow-leafed lupin,
from about -450 to -1100 kPa, especially during the recovery period.
Yellow lupin was more adapted to transient waterlogging than narrow-leafed
lupin because it maintained its leaf water status, it accumulated more nitr
ogen during recovery, and its photosynthetic activity recovered quickly aft
er removal of waterlogging.