| To investigate the photosynthetic characteristics including light response curve, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr) and water use efficiency (WUE) of four apricot cultivars, Akeqiaoerpan, Kezilang, Huanna and Dajianali in their local ecological environment, an Li-6400XT was used to measure the related physiological indexes. The results indicated that Pn values of different varieties all became increased correspondingly with the increase of light intensity. The Pn of Kezilang was the highest among all cultivars. The lev
els of light compensation point was in order of Dajianani < Kezilang < Akeqiaoerpang < Huanna. Light saturation point of Akeqiaoerpan was 935 μmol·m-2·s-1, significantly lower than that of others. Diurnal variations of Pn of the cultivars were in a bimodal curve, but midday depression phenomenon of ‘Huanna’ was not obvious. The diurnal variations of transpiration of different species showed a unimodal curve mode. The average daily transpiration rates of Dajianani, Kezilang, Akeqiaoerpang and Huannawere 4.2, 3.9, 3.4, 2.7 μmol·m-2·s-1, respectively. It was found that Huana had low transpiration rate, high water use efficiency and relatively stable changes during a day. All the above photosynthetic physiological data for the cultivars would provide a theoretical basis for apricot cultivation and management, seed selection and fruit crop intercropping in southern Xinjiang regions. |