Photosynthetic and Stomatal Responses of the Grey Mangrove, Avicennia marina, to Transient Salinity Conditions.

Measurements of gas exchange characteristics were made on intact, attached leaves of hydroponically grown seedlings of Avicennia marina (Forstk.) Vierh. var australasica (Walp.) Moldenke as the NaCl concentration of the culture solution was varied by step changes of 50 millimolar NaCl every 2nd day from 50 to 500 to 50 millimolar NaCl. The CO(2) assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO(2) concentration, and evaporation rate decreased at salinities above 250 millimolar NaCl and recovered substantially upon return to the original salinity.The assimilation rate was measured as a function of the intercellular CO(2) concentration [A(c(i)) curve]. The lower linear portion of this curve was insensitive to variation in salinity, whereas the upper nonlinear portion declined with increasing salinity, indicating a reduction in the capacity for CO(2) assimilation which recovered upon return to the original salinity. Stomatal conductance changed such that the intercellular CO(2) concentration measured under normal atmospheric conditions occurred in the transition between the lower, linear and upper nonlinear portions of the A(c(i)) curve. Thus, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic capacity together co-limited the assimilation rate. The changes in gas exchange characteristics were such that water loss was minimal relative to carbon gain.