[Effect of phosphorus stress on chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosynthesis and biomass partitioning pattern of Fraxinus mandchurica seedlings].

Phosphorus is essential to forest trees for their growth and development, because of its important role in many metabolic processes of trees. But, most part of phosphorus in soils of Northeastern China is immobile and unavailable, and thus, many forest trees often suffer from phosphorus stress which affects the biomass accumulation of forest trees. The aim of this study is to understand how the chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosynthesis and biomass partitioning of Fraxinus mandchurica seedlings response to phosphorus stress. Sand culture experiment showed that when the seedlings were under phosphorus stress, their 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) biosynthesis rate and porphobilinogen (PBG) synthase activity were reduced, but no significant changes in chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were found. The nitrogen content in leaves and roots and the phosphorus content in all parts of seedlings were reduced under phosphorus stress, and the reduction of N content in leaves induced the decrease of maximum quantum efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm) efficiency of PS II photochemistry (phi(PS II)), electron transport rate (E(TR)), and maximum photosynthesis rate (Amax). The effect of phosphorus stress on chlorophyll biosynthesis didn't affect photosynthesis. Under phosphorus stress, the total biomass decreased, but more biomass was partitioned into roots.