Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 81 (3): 335-343, 2008
RESEARCH ARTICLE
How do two Lupinus species respond to temperature along an altitudinal gradient
in the Venezuelan Andes?
Temperature determines plant formations and species distribution along altitudinal
gradients. Plants in the tropical high Andes, through different physiological and morphological characteristics, respond to freezing night
temperatures and high daytime energy inputs which occur anytime of the year. The main objective of this study was to characterize
day and night temperature related responses of two Lupinus species with different altitudinal ranges (L.
meridanus, 1,800-3,600 and L. eromonomos, 3,700-4,300 m of altitude). Are there differences in night low
temperature resistance mechanisms between the species along the gradient? How do these species respond, in terms of optimum
temperature for photosynthesis, to increasing altitude? Lupinus meridanus shows frost avoidance, in contrast to L.
eromonomos, which tolerates freezing at higher altitudes. Optimum temperature for photosynthesis decreases along the
gradient for both species. Maximum CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rates were higher in L. meridanus, while
L. eromonomos showed decreasing CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rates at the higher altitude. In most cases,
measured daily leaf temperature is always within the 80 % of optimum for photosynthesis. L. meridanus’ upper distribution
limit seems to be restricted by cold resistance mechanisms, while L. eromonomos’ to a combination of both cold
resistance and to CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation responses at higher altitudes.
Key words:
Lupinus
meridanus, Lupinus eromonomos, frost avoidance, freezing tolerance, optimum temperature for
photosynthesis
