Inhibition of Photosynthesis in Quercus acutissima Seedlings by LaCl3 Through Calcium Signaling Regulation

Calcium is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development, and there is an optimal calcium concentration for plant growth. Calcium ion concentration changes create “calcium signals” that regulate plant growth through perception, decoding, transduction, and response processes. However, the mechanisms by which calcium signaling regulates photosynthesis are still not fully understood. In this study, Quercus acutissima seedlings were used to investigate the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of the calcium channel blocker lanthanum chloride (LaCl3) on photosynthesis and the underlying mechanisms. The results show that increasing LaCl3 concentration significantly decreased photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigment contents, and photosynthetic product accumulation. Long-term water use efficiency decreased with increasing LaCl3 concentration, while instantaneous water use efficiency initially increased and then decreased. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that LaCl3 concentration was significantly positively correlated with leaf calcium concentration in Quercus acutissima seedlings, while it was significantly negatively correlated with stomatal conductance, carotenoids, and soluble sugar content. The study concludes that LaCl3 directly inhibits the photosynthetic physiological processes of Quercus acutissima seedlings by blocking calcium signaling, providing insights into the regulatory mechanisms of calcium signaling in plant photosynthesis and a theoretical basis for the cultivation and application of Quercus acutissima under varying environmental conditions.