Combining Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Assess the Adaptability of Medicinal Plant Aesculus chinensis Compared to Two Imported Aesculus Species

Analysis of gas exchange and determination of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of three tree species including Aesculus chinensis, A. octandra and A. hybrida were conducted under field conditions and then comparison was carried out. The results showed that the light compensation point (LCP) was significantly different among the three tree species, of which the LCP of A. chinensis with 12.53 μmol·m-2·s-1 that of the lowest was notable lower than that of the other two species (36.11 and 46.41 μmol·m-2·s-1respectively). On the other hand, the light saturation point (LSP) of the three tree species also showed remarked different and the LSP of A. chinensis was 1475 μmol·m-2·s-1 which was dramatic higher than that of the other two species respective to 1366.67 and 1025 μmol·m-2·s-1. Beside, the maximum net photosynthetic rate (MNPR) was different too, MNPR of A. chinensis was 9.47μmol CO 2·m-2·s-1which was higher than the other two species (5.91 and 2.30 μmol CO 2·m-2·s-1 respectively), indicating A. chinensis had a higher photosynthetic capacity and stronger utilization ability for light energy. Moreover, the electron transport rate (ETR) of A. chinensis was higher than A. octandra and A. hybrida, the ETR of the former was 55.800 that were 1.33 and 1.44 times of the later two respectively. Quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ФPSII) in A. chinensis was higher than A. octandra and A. hybrida, the ФPSII of the former was 0.470 that were 1.21 and 1.15 times of the later two respectively. Furthermore, the photochemical quenching (qP) of A. chinensis was 0.975 much higher than A. octandra and A. hybrida respective to 1.10 and 1.10 times of the later two respectively. These three photochemical parameters with dramatic different among the three different tree species suggested A. chinensis had a high activity of electron transport and conversion efficiency for light energy.