Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.

Plants are commonly exposed to fluctuating illumination under natural light conditions, causing dynamic photosynthesis and further affecting plant growth and productivity. In this context, although the vital role of potassium (K) in steady-state photosynthesis has been well-established, knowledge of...

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Main Authors: Qi Luo, Wei Jin, Lili Li, Kedong Xu, Yunmin Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1623
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author Qi Luo
Wei Jin
Lili Li
Kedong Xu
Yunmin Wei
author_facet Qi Luo
Wei Jin
Lili Li
Kedong Xu
Yunmin Wei
author_sort Qi Luo
collection DOAJ
description Plants are commonly exposed to fluctuating illumination under natural light conditions, causing dynamic photosynthesis and further affecting plant growth and productivity. In this context, although the vital role of potassium (K) in steady-state photosynthesis has been well-established, knowledge of the dynamic changes in photosynthesis mediated by K remains scarce. Here, the gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under steady-state and dynamic photosynthetic responses were quantified in <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L. seedlings grown under K-deficient (−K, 0.02 mM K) and normal K (+K, 2 mM K) conditions. After a transition from low to high light, the time course–induction curves of the net photosynthetic rate (<i>A</i>), stomatal conductance (<i>g</i><sub>s</sub>), mesophyll conductance (<i>g<sub>m</sub></i>), and maximum carboxylation rate (<i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub>) showed an obvious decline in the −K treatment. In comparison with the +K treatment, however, there were no statistical differences in the initial <i>A</i> and <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub> values in <i>P. vulgaris</i> supplied with deficient K, suggesting that the K-deficiency-induced decreases in <i>A</i> and <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub> were light-dependent. Interestingly, the time to reach 90% of the maximum <i>A</i>, <i>g</i><sub>s</sub>, and <i>g</i><sub>m</sub> significantly decreased in the −K treatment in comparison with the +K treatment by 27.2%, 45.6%, and 52.9%, respectively, whereas the time to reach 90% of the maximum <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub> was correspondingly delayed by almost two-fold. The photosynthetic limitation during the induction revealed that the biochemical limitation was the dominating factor that constrained <i>A</i> under the −K conditions, while, under the +K conditions, the main limiting factor changed from biochemical limitation to stomatal limitation over time. Moreover, <i>g</i><sub>m</sub> imposed the smallest limitation on <i>A</i> during induction in both K treatments. These results indicate that a decreased K supply decreases the photosynthetic performance under fluctuating light in <i>P. vulgaris</i> and that improving the induction responses of biochemical components (i.e., <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub>) has the potential to enhance the growth and productivity of crops grown in K-poor soil.
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spelling doaj-art-e00fdae954544cbd9ef18092f26a21462025-08-20T03:11:22ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-05-011411162310.3390/plants14111623Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.Qi Luo0Wei Jin1Lili Li2Kedong Xu3Yunmin Wei4Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, ChinaHenan Plant Gene and Molecular Breeding Engineering Research Center, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, ChinaPlants are commonly exposed to fluctuating illumination under natural light conditions, causing dynamic photosynthesis and further affecting plant growth and productivity. In this context, although the vital role of potassium (K) in steady-state photosynthesis has been well-established, knowledge of the dynamic changes in photosynthesis mediated by K remains scarce. Here, the gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under steady-state and dynamic photosynthetic responses were quantified in <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L. seedlings grown under K-deficient (−K, 0.02 mM K) and normal K (+K, 2 mM K) conditions. After a transition from low to high light, the time course–induction curves of the net photosynthetic rate (<i>A</i>), stomatal conductance (<i>g</i><sub>s</sub>), mesophyll conductance (<i>g<sub>m</sub></i>), and maximum carboxylation rate (<i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub>) showed an obvious decline in the −K treatment. In comparison with the +K treatment, however, there were no statistical differences in the initial <i>A</i> and <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub> values in <i>P. vulgaris</i> supplied with deficient K, suggesting that the K-deficiency-induced decreases in <i>A</i> and <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub> were light-dependent. Interestingly, the time to reach 90% of the maximum <i>A</i>, <i>g</i><sub>s</sub>, and <i>g</i><sub>m</sub> significantly decreased in the −K treatment in comparison with the +K treatment by 27.2%, 45.6%, and 52.9%, respectively, whereas the time to reach 90% of the maximum <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub> was correspondingly delayed by almost two-fold. The photosynthetic limitation during the induction revealed that the biochemical limitation was the dominating factor that constrained <i>A</i> under the −K conditions, while, under the +K conditions, the main limiting factor changed from biochemical limitation to stomatal limitation over time. Moreover, <i>g</i><sub>m</sub> imposed the smallest limitation on <i>A</i> during induction in both K treatments. These results indicate that a decreased K supply decreases the photosynthetic performance under fluctuating light in <i>P. vulgaris</i> and that improving the induction responses of biochemical components (i.e., <i>V</i><sub>cmax</sub>) has the potential to enhance the growth and productivity of crops grown in K-poor soil.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1623photosynthetic inductionpotassiumphotosynthetic limitation<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.maximum carboxylation rate
spellingShingle Qi Luo
Wei Jin
Lili Li
Kedong Xu
Yunmin Wei
Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
Plants
photosynthetic induction
potassium
photosynthetic limitation
<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
maximum carboxylation rate
title Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
title_full Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
title_fullStr Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
title_full_unstemmed Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
title_short Potassium-Mediated Variations in the Photosynthetic Induction Characteristics of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
title_sort potassium mediated variations in the photosynthetic induction characteristics of i phaseolus vulgaris i l
topic photosynthetic induction
potassium
photosynthetic limitation
<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.
maximum carboxylation rate
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1623
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AT lilili potassiummediatedvariationsinthephotosyntheticinductioncharacteristicsofiphaseolusvulgarisil
AT kedongxu potassiummediatedvariationsinthephotosyntheticinductioncharacteristicsofiphaseolusvulgarisil
AT yunminwei potassiummediatedvariationsinthephotosyntheticinductioncharacteristicsofiphaseolusvulgarisil