1Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, India.
2Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore, India.
*Corresponding author, E-mail: arun@icfre.org
**Present address: Tree Improvement and Propagation Division, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, 18th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore-560 003, Karnataka.
Variability in single leaf photosynthesis and related gas exchange parameters were studied on 37 clones of sandalwood (Santalum album L.). One-year-old grafts of each clone were grown under controlled conditions and gas exchange measurements were recorded using portable photosynthesis system under saturated light intensities and ambient CO2 concentrations. Significant variations in single leaf photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), transpiration rate (Tr) has been observed among the clones studied. Instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE) calculated as Pn/gs and carboxylation efficiency (CE) estimated by Pn/Ci also showed significant variation. Biochemical parameters such as total chlorophyll and buffer soluble protein differed significantly. Correlation studies showed linear positive relationship between Pn and gs (r=0.80) suggesting that photosynthesis is controlled more by stomatal factors. Cluster analysis revealed that the clones did not cluster on the basis of their geographic locations.
Net photosynthetic rate, Santalum album, transpiration, variability, water use efficiency
