Effect of Thrips tabaci on anatomical features, photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of Hypericum sampsonii leaves

Thrips tabaci damage can affect the anatomical features, photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of Hypericum sampsonii. Anatomical observation found that T. tabaci damage changed the proportion of spongy tissue thickness to the whole leaf thickness. Net photosynthetic rate (PN) of slightly, partially and severely infested leaves decreased 16.49, 22.85 and 45.29%, respectively, compared to that of uninfected leaves. However, transpiration rate (E), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and stomatal resistance (Gs) increased significantly with injury severity. T. tabaci damage resulted in reduction of effective quantum yield, apparent electron transport rate, and photochemical and non-photochemical quenching.