Long-term acclimation to drought, salinity and temperature in the thermophilic tree Ziziphus spina-christi: revealing different tradeoffs between mesophyll and stomatal conductance

Photosynthesis is limited by three main factors: stomatal conductance (gₛ), mesophyll conductance (gₘ) and maximum capacity for Rubisco carboxylation (Vcₘₐₓ). It is unclear how limiting factors vary under stress, particularly during long-term stress acclimation. In this work, we compared for the first time photosynthesis limitation resulting from long-term acclimation to three major abiotic stresses: drought, salinity and temperature. We used saplings of Ziziphus spina-christi, a thermophilic and drought-tolerant tree, which recently became more abundant in the Mediterranean, presumably due to increased winter temperatures. Stress acclimation was investigated by measuring growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf structure. For each stress, photosynthesis-limiting factors were compared. We developed an integrative stress index that allowed us to precisely define stress level, enabling a comparison between stress types. Photosynthesis under all stresses was limited mostly by gₛ and gₘ (80–90%); whereas biochemistry (Vcₘₐₓ) made a minor contribution (10–20%). The relative contribution of gₛ and gₘ on photosynthetic limitation was influenced by stress type. During acclimation to drought or salinity, photosynthesis was limited by a decline in gₛ, while intolerance to low temperatures was driven by decline in gₘ. In all the stresses, gₘ decreased only under progressive reduction in leaf physiological functionality and was associated with low turgor under drought, an increase in leaf Na⁺ under salinity and low leaf hydraulic conductance (Kₗₑₐf) at low temperatures. Mesophyll structure (mesophyll surface area exposed to the intercellular air spaces, leaf thickness, % intercellular air spaces) did not explain gₘ acclimation to stress. Current work gives methodology for stress studies, and defines the main factors underlying the plant response to climate change. The ability to minimize mesophyll-imposed limitations on photosynthesis was found as a strong indicator of progressive stress tolerance. Moreover, the results demonstrate how warming climate benefits the photosynthetic function in thermophilic species, such as Ziziphus spina-christi.