Variation of mesophyll conductance mediated by nitrogen form is related to changes in cell wall property and chloroplast number

Abstract

Abstract Plants primarily incorporate nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) as the primary source of inorganic nitrogen (N); the physiological mechanisms of photosynthesis (A) dropdown under NH4+ nutrition has been investigated in many studies. Leaf anatomy is a major determinant to mesophyll conductance (gm) and photosynthesis; however, it remains unclear whether the photosynthesis variations of plants exposed to different N forms is related to leaf anatomical variation. In this work, a common shrub, Lonicera japonica was hydroponically grown under NH4+, NO3− and 50% NH4+/NO3−. We found that leaf N significantly accumulated under NH4+, whereas the photosynthesis was significantly decreased, which was mainly caused by a reduced gm. The reduced gm under NH4+ was related to the decreased intercellular air space, the reduced chloroplast number and especially the thicker cell walls. Among the cell wall components, lignin and hemicellulose contents under NH4+ nutrition were significantly higher than those in the other two N forms and were scaled negatively correlated with gm; while pectin content was independent from N forms. Pathway analysis further revealed that the cell wall components might indirectly regulate gm by influencing the thickness of the cell wall. These results highlight the importance of leaf anatomical variation characterized by modifications of chloroplasts number and cell wall thickness and compositions, in the regulation of photosynthesis in response to varied N sources.