Characterization of biochemistry and anatomy for underwater carbon uptake in leaves of the amphibious plant Hygrophila difformis

Abstract

Hygrophila difformis, a heterophyllous amphibious plant, shows photosynthetic acclimation of leaves developed under not only submerged (submerged leaves) but also terrestrial conditions (terrestrial leaves) to submerged conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of underwater photosynthesis in those leaves are unknown. In this study, the biochemical and anatomical characteristics related to carbon acquisition for underwater photosynthesis were compared between terrestrial, submerged terrestrial (ST), and submerged leaves of H. difformis. The submerged leaves had a higher underwater photosynthetic rate under low dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) conditions than the terrestrial leaves. The ST leaves showed rates between those of the terrestrial and submerged leaves. The ST and submerged leaves exhibited higher carbonic anhydrase activity than the terrestrial leaves. Only the submerged leaves had decreased epidermal cuticle and cell wall thicknesses. The ST and submerged leaves were observed to have thinner palisade cell wall thicknesses than the terrestrial leaves. Submergence acclimation in H. difformis is achieved by HCO3- utilization and anatomical change to decrease the resistance of CO2 diffusion from intercellular airspaces. The difference between the ST and submerged leaves results mainly from differing DIC flux into the leaves due to decreases in epidermal cuticle and cell wall thicknesses in the submerged leaves.

Keywords: Hygrophila; amphibious plant; bicarbonate utilization; carbonic anhydrase; flooding; mesophyll CO2 conductance; photosynthesis; submergence.