Photosynthesis

About: Photosynthesis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 19789 publications have been published within this topic receiving 895197 citations.

Coupled Photosynthesis-Stomatal Conductance Model for Leaves of C4 Plants

Abstract: Leaf based models of net photosynthesis (An) and stomatal conductance (g) are often components of whole plant, canopy and regional models of net primary productivity and surface energy balance. Since C4 metabolism shows unique responses to environmental conditions and C4 species are important agriculturally and ecologically, a realistic and accurate leaf model specific to C4 plants is needed. In this paper we develop a simple model for predicting An and g from leaves of C4 plants that is easily parameterised and that predicts many of the important environmental responses. We derive the leaf model from a simple biochemical-intercellular transport model of C4 photosynthesis that includes inorganic carbon fixation by PEP carboxylase, light dependent generation of PEP and RuBP, rubisco reaction kinetics, and the diffusion of inorganic carbon and O2 between the bundle sheath and mesophyll. We argue that under most conditions these processes can be described simply as three potentially limiting steps. The leaf photosynthesis model treats An as first order with respect to either light, CO2 or the amount of rubisco present and produces a continuous transition between limitations. The independent variables of the leaf photosynthesis model are leaf temperature (TI), intercellular CO2 levels and the absorbed quantum flux. A simple linear model of g in terms of An and leaf surface CO2 level (ps) and relative humidity (hs) is combined with the photosynthesis model to give leaf photosynthesis as a function of absorbed quantum flux, T1 and ps and hs levels. Gas exchange measurements from corn leaves exposed to varied light, CO2 and temperature levels are used to parameterise and test the models. Model parameters are determined by fitting the models to a set of 21 measurements. The behaviour of the models is compared with an independent set of 71 measurements, and the predictions are shown to be highly correlated with the data. Under most conditions the leaf model can be parameterised simply by determining the level of rubisco in the leaves. The effects of light environment, nutritional status and water stress levels on An and g can be accounted for by appropriate adjustment of the capacity for rubisco to fix CO2. We estimate rubsico capacity from CO2 and light saturated photosynthesis although leaf nitrogen content or rubisco assays from leaf extracts could also be used for this purpose.

Fitting photosynthetic carbon dioxide response curves for C3 leaves

Abstract: Photosynthetic responses to carbon dioxide concentration can provide data on a number of important parameters related to leaf physiology. Methods for fitting a model to such data are briefly described. The method will fit the following parameters: Vcmax, J, TPU, Rd and gm [maximum carboxylation rate allowed by ribulose 1·5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), rate of photosynthetic electron transport (based on NADPH requirement), triose phosphate use, day respiration and mesophyll conductance, respectively].The method requires at least five data pairs of net CO2 assimilation (A) and [CO2] in the intercellular airspaces of the leaf (Ci) and requires users to indicate the presumed limiting factor. The output is (1) calculated CO2 partial pressure at the sites of carboxylation, Cc, (2) values for the five parameters at the measurement temperature and (3) values adjusted to 25 °C to facilitate comparisons. Fitting this model is a way of exploring leaf level photosynthesis. However, interpreting leaf level photosynthesis in terms of underlying biochemistry and biophysics is subject to assumptions that hold to a greater or lesser degree, a major assumption being that all parts of the leaf are behaving in the same way at each instant.

Effects of Water Deficits on Carbon Assimilation

Abstract: This review focuses on the effects of water deficits on photosynthesis and partitioning of assimilates at the leaf level. It is now established that the rate of C02 assimilation in the leaves is depressed at moderate water deficits, mostly as a consequence of stomatal closure. In fact, depending on the species and on the nature of dehydration, carbon assimilation may diminish to values close to zero without any significant decline in mesophyll photosynthetic capacity. This remarkable resistance of the photosynthetic apparatus to water deficits became apparent after the measurement of photosynthesis at saturating C02 concentrations was made possible. Whenever light or heat stress are superimposed a decline in mesophyll photosynthesis may occur as a result of a 'down-regulation' process, which seems to vary among genotypes. A major secondary effect of dehydration on photosynthetic carbon metabolism is the change in partitioning of recently fixed carbon towards sucrose, which occurs in a number of species in parallel to the increase in starch breakdown. This increase in compounds of low molecular weight may contribute to an osmotic adjustment. Controlling mechanisms involved in this process deserve further investigation.