Photosynthetic Heat Tolerance Partially Acclimates to Growth Temperature in Tropical Montane Tree Species.

ABSTRACT: Climate warming increases the risk of harmful leaf temperatures in terrestrial plants, particularly in tropical tree species that have evolved in warm and thermally stable environments. We examined heat tolerance thresholds of photosynthetic light reactions in sun-exposed leaves of 12 tropical montane tree species with different strategies for growth and water use. Leaf chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchange, morphology and thylakoid membrane lipid composition were measured at three common gardens along an elevation and temperature gradient in Rwanda. Tree species with traits predisposing them to higher leaf temperatures, such as lower stomatal conductance and large leaves, had higher photosynthetic heat tolerance, but narrower thermal safety margins (TSMs). Photosynthetic heat tolerance

SUBMITTER: Manzi OJL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12502021 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature