Changes in the chloroplastic CO2 concentration explain much of the observed Kok effect: a model

A guide to photosynthetic gas exchange measurements: Fundamental principles, best practice and potential pitfalls

Gas exchange measurements enable mechanistic insights into the processes that underpin carbon and water fluxes in plant leaves which in turn inform understanding of related processes at a range of scales from individual cells to entire ecosytems. Given the importance of photosynthesis for the global climate discussion it is important to (a) foster a basic understanding of the fundamental principles underpinning the experimental methods used by the broad community, and (b) ensure best practice and correct data interpretation within the research community. In this review, we outline the biochemical and biophysical parameters of photosynthesis that can be investigated with gas exchange measurements and we provide step-by-step guidance on how to reliably measure them. We advise on best practices for using gas exchange equipment and highlight potential pitfalls in experimental design and data interpretation. The Supporting Information contains exemplary data sets, experimental protocols and data-modelling routines. This review is a community effort to equip both the experimental researcher and the data modeller with a solid understanding of the theoretical basis of gas-exchange measurements, the rationale behind different experimental protocols and the approaches to data interpretation.

The response of mesophyll conductance to short-term CO2 variation is related to stomatal conductance

The response of mesophyll conductance (gm) to CO2 plays a key role in photosynthesis and ecosystem carbon cycles under climate change. Despite numerous studies, there is still debate about how gm responds to short-term CO2 variations. Here we used multiple methods and looked at the relationship between stomatal conductance to CO2 (gsc) and gm to address this aspect. We measured chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and online carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) at different CO2 mole fractions in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves. The variable J and Δ based methods showed that gm decreased with an increase in CO2 mole fraction, and so did stomatal conductance. There were linear relationships between gm and gsc across CO2 mole fractions. gm obtained from A-Ci curve fitting method was higher than that from the variable J method and was not representative of gm under the growth CO2 concentration. gm could be estimated by empirical models analogous to the Ball-Berry model and the USO model for stomatal conductance. Our results suggest that gm and gsc respond in a coordinated manner to short-term variations in CO2, providing new insight into the role of gm in photosynthesis modelling.

Reduced mesophyll conductance under chronic O3 exposure in poplar reflects thicker cell walls and increased subcellular diffusion pathway lengths according to the anatomical model

Ozone (O3) is one of the most harmful and widespread air pollutants, affecting crop yield and plant health worldwide. There is evidence that O3 reduces the major limiting factor of photosynthesis, namely CO2 mesophyll conductance (gm), but there is little quantitative information of O3-caused changes in key leaf anatomical traits and their impact on gm. We exposed two O3-responsive clones of the economically important tree species Populus × canadensis Moench to 120 ppb O3 for 21 days. An anatomical diffusion model within the leaf was used to analyse the entire CO2 diffusion pathway from substomatal cavities to carboxylation sites and determine the importance of each structural and subcellular component as a limiting factor. gm decreased substantially under O3 and was found to be the most important limitation of photosynthesis. This decrease was mostly driven by an increased cell wall thickness and length of subcellular diffusion pathway caused by altered interchloroplast spacing and chloroplast positioning. By contrast, the prominent leaf integrative trait leaf dry mass per area was neither affected nor related to gm under O3. The observed relationship between gm and anatomy, however, was clone-dependent, suggesting that mechanisms regulating gm may differ considerably between closely related plant lines. Our results confirm the need for further studies on factors constraining gm under stress conditions.

Increased belowground tree carbon allocation in a mature mixed forest in a dry versus a wet year

Tree species differ in their carbon (C) allocation strategies during environmental change. Disentangling species-specific strategies and contribution to the C balance of mixed forests requires observations at the individual tree level. We measured a complete set of C pools and fluxes at the tree level in five tree species, conifers and broadleaves, co-existing in a mature evergreen mixed Mediterranean forest. Our study period included a drought year followed by an above-average wet year, offering an opportunity to test the effect of water availability on tree C allocation. We found that in comparison to the wet year, C uptake was lower in the dry year, C use was the same, and allocation to belowground sinks was higher. Among the five major C sinks, respiration was the largest (ca. 60%), while root exudation (ca. 10%) and reproduction (ca. 2%) were those that increased the most in the dry year. Most trees relied on stored starch for maintaining a stable soluble sugars balance, but no significant differences were detected in aboveground storage between dry and wet years. The detailed tree-level analysis of nonstructural carbohydrates and δ13 C dynamics suggest interspecific differences in C allocation among fluxes and tissues, specifically in response to the varying water availability. Overall, our findings shed light on mixed forest physiological responses to drought, an increasing phenomenon under the ongoing climate change.

Temperature responses of leaf respiration in light and darkness are similar and modulated by leaf development

Our ability to predict temperature responses of leaf respiration in light and darkness (RL and RDk ) is essential to models of global carbon dynamics. While many models rely on constant thermal sensitivity (characterized by Q10 ), uncertainty remains as to whether Q10 of RL and RDk are actually similar. We measured short-term temperature responses of RL and RDk in immature and mature leaves of two evergreen tree species, Castanopsis carlesii and Ormosia henry in an open field. RL was estimated by the Kok method, the Yin method and a newly developed Kok-iterCc method. When estimated by the Yin and Kok-iterCc methods, RL and RDk had similar Q10 (c. 2.5). The Kok method overestimated both Q10 and the light inhibition of respiration. RL /RDk was not affected by leaf temperature. Acclimation of respiration in summer was associated with a decline in basal respiration but not in Q10 in both species, which was related to changes in leaf nitrogen content between seasons. Q10 of RL and RDk in mature leaves were 40% higher than in immature leaves. Our results suggest similar Q10 values can be used to model RL and RDk while leaf development-associated changes in Q10 require special consideration in future respiration models.

Exploring carbon sequestration in broad-leaved Korean pine forests: Insights into photosynthetic and respiratory processes

A comprehensive understanding of carbon assimilation and sequestration in broad-leaved Korean pine forests is crucial for accurately estimating this significant aspect of temperate forests at a regional scale. In this study, we introduced a high-temporal resolution model designed for carbon assimilation insights at the plot scale, focusing on specific parameters such as leaf area dynamics, vertical leaf distribution, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) fluctuations, and the photosynthetic traits of tree species. The findings reveal that most tree species in broad-leaved Korean pine forests exhibit an inverted U-shaped pattern in leaf area dynamics, with shorter leaf drop periods than leaf expansion events. Leaf distribution varies significantly among different canopy heights, with approximately 80 % of the leaves above 15 m. PAR decreases as canopy height decreases, with PAR at 25 m accounting for about 60 % of the PAR above the canopy. Our framework incorporates a leaf-scale light-response curve and empirical photosynthesis-temperature relationships to estimate forest carbon assimilation on daily and hourly scales accurately. Using the model, we assess the gross primary productivity (GPP), leaf net photosynthetic assimilation (LNPA), and carbon increment (ΔC) of broad-leaved Korean pine forests from 2017 to 2020. The results demonstrate GPP, LNPA, and ΔC values of 21.4 t·ha-1·a-1, 17.4 t·ha-1·a-1, and 4.0 t·ha-1·a-1, respectively. Regarding efficiency, GPP, LNPA, and ΔC per square meter of leaf per year are 179 g, 146 g, and 33 g, respectively. Notably, tree species in the canopy layer of the forest exhibit significantly higher efficiency than those in the understory layer. This research significantly contributes to our understanding of carbon cycling and the responses of forest ecosystems to climate change. Moreover, it provides a practical tool for forest management and the development of carbon sequestration strategies.

Using Carbon Stable Isotopes to Study C3 and C4 Photosynthesis: Models and Calculations

Stable carbon isotopes are a powerful tool to study photosynthesis. Initial applications consisted of determining isotope ratios of plant biomass using mass spectrometry. Subsequently, theoretical models relating C isotope values to gas exchange characteristics were introduced and tested against instantaneous online measurements of 13C photosynthetic discrimination. Beginning in the twenty-first century, laser absorption spectroscopes with sufficient precision for determining isotope mixing ratios became commercially available. This has allowed collection of large data sets at lower cost and with unprecedented temporal resolution. More data and accompanying knowledge have permitted refinement of 13C discrimination model equations, but often at the expense of increased model complexity and difficult parametrization. This chapter describes instantaneous online measurements of 13C photosynthetic discrimination, provides recommendations for experimental setup, and presents a thorough compilation of equations available to researchers. We update our previous 2018 version of this chapter by including recently improved descriptions of (photo)respiratory processes and associated fractionations. We discuss the capabilities and limitations of the diverse 13C discrimination model equations and provide guidance for selecting the model complexity needed for different applications.

Estimating leaf day respiration from conventional gas exchange measurements

Leaf day respiration (Rd ) strongly influences carbon-use efficiencies of whole plants and the global terrestrial biosphere. It has long been thought that Rd is slower than respiration in the dark at a given temperature, but measuring Rd by gas exchange remains a challenge because leaves in the light are also photosynthesizing. The Kok method and the Laisk method are widely used to estimate Rd . We highlight theoretical limitations of these popular methods, and recent progress toward their improvement by using additional information from chlorophyll fluorescence and by accounting for the photosynthetic reassimilation of respired CO2 . The latest evidence for daytime CO2 and energy release from the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in chloroplasts appears to be important to understanding Rd .

Crop/Plant Modeling Supports Plant Breeding: I. Optimization of Environmental Factors in Accelerating Crop Growth and Development for Speed Breeding

The environmental conditions in customered speed breeding practice are, to some extent, empirical and, thus, can be further optimized. Crop and plant models have been developed as powerful tools in predicting growth and development under various environments for extensive crop species. To improve speed breeding, crop models can be used to predict the phenotypes resulted from genotype by environment by management at the population level, while plant models can be used to examine 3-dimensional plant architectural development by microenvironments at the organ level. By justifying the simulations via numerous virtual trials using models in testing genotype × environment × management, an optimized combination of environmental factors in achieving desired plant phenotypes can be quickly determined. Artificial intelligence in assisting for optimization is also discussed. We admit that the appropriate modifications on modeling algorithms or adding new modules may be necessary in optimizing speed breeding for specific uses. Overall, this review demonstrates that crop and plant models are promising tools in providing the optimized combinations of environment factors in advancing crop growth and development for speed breeding.

It's only natural: Plant respiration in unmanaged systems

Respiration plays a key role in the terrestrial carbon cycle and is a fundamental metabolic process in all plant tissues and cells. We review respiration from the perspective of plants that grow in their natural habitat and how it is influenced by wide-ranging elements at different scales, from metabolic substrate availability to shifts in climate. Decades of field-based measurements have honed our understanding of the biological and environmental controls on leaf, root, stem, and whole-organism respiration. Despite this effort, there remain gaps in our knowledge within and across species and ecosystems, especially in more challenging-to-measure tissues like roots. Recent databases of respiration rates and associated leaf traits from species representing diverse biomes, plant functional types, and regional climates have allowed for a wider-lens view at modeling this important CO2 flux. We also re-analyze published data sets to show that maximum leaf respiration rates (Rmax) in species from around the globe are related both to leaf economic traits and environmental variables (precipitation and air temperature), but that root respiration does not follow the same latitudinal trends previously published for leaf data. We encourage the ecophysiological community to continue to expand their study of plant respiration in tissues that are difficult to measure and at the whole plant and ecosystem levels to address outstanding questions in the field.

Assessing the CO2 concentration at the surface of photosynthetic mesophyll cells

We present a robust estimation of the CO₂ concentration at the surface of photosynthetic mesophyll cells (c_w ), applicable under reasonable assumptions of assimilation distribution within the leaf. We used Capsicum annuum, Helianthus annuus and Gossypium hirsutumas model plants for our experiments. We introduce calculations to estimate c_w using independent adaxial and abaxial gas exchange measurements, and accounting for the mesophyll airspace resistances. The c_w was lower than adaxial and abaxial estimated intercellular CO₂ concentrations (c_i ). Differences between c_w and the c_i of each surface were usually larger than 10 μmol mol^-1 . Differences between adaxial and abaxial c_i ranged from a few μmol mol^-1 to almost 50 μmol mol^-1 , where the largest differences were found at high air saturation deficits (ASD). Differences between adaxial and abaxial c_i and the c_i estimated by mixing both fluxes ranged from -30 to +20 μmol mol^-1 , where the largest differences were found under high ASD or high ambient CO₂ concentrations. Accounting for c_w improves the information that can be extracted from gas exchange experiments, allowing a more detailed description of the CO₂ and water vapor gradients within the leaf.

Vertical gradients in photosynthetic physiology diverge at the latitudinal range extremes of white spruce

Light availability drives vertical canopy gradients in photosynthetic functioning and carbon (C) balance, yet patterns of variability in these gradients remain unclear. We measured light availability, photosynthetic CO2  and light response curves, foliar C, nitrogen (N) and pigment concentrations, and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) on upper and lower canopy needles of white spruce trees (Picea glauca) at the species' northern and southern range extremes. We combined our photosynthetic data with previously published respiratory data to compare and contrast canopy C balance between latitudinal extremes. We found steep canopy gradients in irradiance, photosynthesis and leaf traits at the southern range limit, but a lack of variation across canopy positions at the northern range limit. Thus, unlike many tree species from tropical to mid-latitude forests, high latitude trees may not require vertical gradients of metabolic activity to optimize photosynthetic C gain. Consequently, accounting for self-shading is less critical for predicting gross primary productivity at northern relative to southern latitudes. Northern trees also had a significantly smaller net positive leaf C balance than southern trees suggesting that, regardless of canopy position, low photosynthetic rates coupled with high respiratory costs may ultimately constrain the northern range limit of this widely distributed boreal species.

Consistent diurnal pattern of leaf respiration in the light among contrasting species and climates

Leaf daytime respiration (leaf respiration in the light, R_L ) is often assumed to constitute a fixed fraction of leaf dark respiration (R_D ) (i.e. a fixed light inhibition of respiration (R_D )) and vary diurnally due to temperature fluctuations. These assumptions were tested by measuring R_L , R_D and the light inhibition of R_D in the field at a constant temperature using the Kok method. Measurements were conducted diurnally on 21 different species: 13 deciduous, four evergreen and four herbaceous from humid continental and humid subtropical climates. R_L and R_D showed significant diurnal variations and the diurnal pattern differed in trajectory and magnitude between climates, but not between plant functional types (PFTs). The light inhibition of R_D varied diurnally and differed between climates and in trajectory between PFTs. The results highlight the entrainment of leaf daytime respiration to the diurnal cycle and that time of day should be accounted for in studies seeking to examine the environmental and biological drivers of leaf daytime respiration.

Light-Dependence of Formate (C1) and Acetate (C2) Transport and Oxidation in Poplar Trees

Although apparent light inhibition of leaf day respiration is a widespread reported phenomenon, the mechanisms involved, including utilization of alternate respiratory pathways and substrates and light inhibition of TCA cycle enzymes are under active investigation. Recently, acetate fermentation was highlighted as a key drought survival strategy mediated through protein acetylation and jasmonate signaling. Here, we evaluate the light-dependence of acetate transport and assimilation in Populus trichocarpa trees using the dynamic xylem solution injection (DXSI) method developed here for continuous studies of C1 and C2 organic acid transport and light-dependent metabolism. Over 7 days, 1.0 L of [¹³C]formate and [¹³C₂]acetate solutions were delivered to the stem base of 2-year old potted poplar trees, while continuous diurnal observations were made in the canopy of CO₂, H₂O, and isoprene gas exchange together with δ¹³CO₂. Stem base injection of 10 mM [¹³C₂]acetate induced an overall pattern of canopy branch headspace ¹³CO₂ enrichment (δ¹³CO₂ +27‰) with a diurnal structure in δ¹³CO₂ reaching a mid-day minimum followed by a maximum shortly after darkening where δ¹³CO₂ values rapidly increased up to +12‰. In contrast, 50 mM injections of [¹³C]formate were required to reach similar δ¹³CO₂ enrichment levels in the canopy with δ¹³CO₂ following diurnal patterns of transpiration. Illuminated leaves of detached poplar branches pretreated with 10 mM [¹³C₂]acetate showed lower δ¹³CO₂ (+20‰) compared to leaves treated with 10 mM [¹³C]formate (+320‰), the opposite pattern observed at the whole plant scale. Following dark/light cycles at the leaf-scale, rapid, strong, and reversible enhancements in headspace δ¹³CO₂ by up to +60‰ were observed in [¹³C₂]acetate-treated leaves which showed enhanced dihydrojasmonic acid and TCA cycle intermediate concentrations. The results are consistent with acetate in the transpiration stream as an effective activator of the jasmonate signaling pathway and respiratory substrate. The shorter lifetime of formate relative to acetate in the transpiration stream suggests rapid formate oxidation to CO₂ during transport to the canopy. In contrast, acetate is efficiently transported to the canopy where an increased allocation towards mitochondrial dark respiration occurs at night. The results highlight the potential for an effective integration of acetate into glyoxylate and TCA cycles and the light-inhibition of citrate synthase as a potential regulatory mechanism controlling the diurnal allocation of acetate between anabolic and catabolic processes.

Drought exerts a greater influence than growth temperature on the temperature response of leaf day respiration in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

We assessed how the temperature response of leaf day respiration (R_d ) in wheat responded to contrasting water regimes and growth temperatures. In Experiment 1, well-watered and drought-stressed conditions were imposed on two genotypes; in Experiment 2, the two water regimes combined with high (HT), medium (MT) and low (LT) growth temperatures were imposed on one of the genotypes. R_d was estimated from simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements at six leaf temperatures (T_leaf ) for each treatment, using the Yin method for nonphotorespiratory conditions and the nonrectangular hyperbolic fitting method for photorespiratory conditions. The two genotypes responded similarly to growth and measurement conditions. Estimates of R_d for nonphotorespiratory conditions were generally higher than those for photorespiratory conditions, but their responses to T_leaf were similar. Under well-watered conditions, R_d and its sensitivity to T_leaf slightly acclimated to LT, but did not acclimate to HT. Temperature sensitivities of R_d were considerably suppressed by drought, and the suppression varied among growth temperatures. Thus, it is necessary to quantify interactions between drought and growth temperature for reliably modelling R_d under climate change. Our study also demonstrated that the Kok method, one of the currently popular methods for estimating R_d , underestimated R_d significantly.

An improved representation of the relationship between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance leads to more stable estimation of conductance parameters and improves the goodness-of-fit across diverse data sets

Stomata play a central role in surface-atmosphere exchange by controlling the flux of water and CO₂ between the leaf and the atmosphere. Representation of stomatal conductance (g_sw ) is therefore an essential component of models that seek to simulate water and CO₂ exchange in plants and ecosystems. For given environmental conditions at the leaf surface (CO₂ concentration and vapor pressure deficit or relative humidity), models typically assume a linear relationship between g_sw and photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation (A). However, measurement of leaf-level g_sw response curves to changes in A are rare, particularly in the tropics, resulting in only limited data to evaluate this key assumption. Here, we measured the response of g_sw and A to irradiance in six tropical species at different leaf phenological stages. We showed that the relationship between g_sw and A was not linear, challenging the key assumption upon which optimality theory is based-that the marginal cost of water gain is constant. Our data showed that increasing A resulted in a small increase in g_sw at low irradiance, but a much larger increase at high irradiance. We reformulated the popular Unified Stomatal Optimization (USO) model to account for this phenomenon and to enable consistent estimation of the key conductance parameters g₀ and g₁ . Our modification of the USO model improved the goodness-of-fit and reduced bias, enabling robust estimation of conductance parameters at any irradiance. In addition, our modification revealed previously undetectable relationships between the stomatal slope parameter g₁ and other leaf traits. We also observed nonlinear behavior between A and g_sw in independent data sets that included data collected from attached and detached leaves, and from plants grown at elevated CO₂ concentration. We propose that this empirical modification of the USO model can improve the measurement of g_sw parameters and the estimation of plant and ecosystem-scale water and CO₂  fluxes.

True oxygen reduction capacity during photosynthetic electron transfer in thylakoids and intact leaves

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated in electron transport processes of living organisms in oxygenic environments. Chloroplasts are plant bioenergetics hubs where imbalances between photosynthetic inputs and outputs drive ROS generation upon changing environmental conditions. Plants have harnessed various site-specific thylakoid membrane ROS products into environmental sensory signals. Our current understanding of ROS production in thylakoids suggests that oxygen (O2) reduction takes place at numerous components of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain (PETC). To refine models of site-specific O2 reduction capacity of various PETC components in isolated thylakoids of Arabidopsis thaliana, we quantified the stoichiometry of oxygen production and consumption reactions associated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation using membrane inlet mass spectrometry and specific inhibitors. Combined with P700 spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping, we demonstrate that electron flow to photosystem I (PSI) is essential for H2O2 accumulation during the photosynthetic linear electron transport process. Further leaf disc measurements provided clues that H2O2 from PETC has a potential of increasing mitochondrial respiration and CO2 release. Based on gas exchange analyses in control, site-specific inhibitor-, methyl viologen-, and catalase-treated thylakoids, we provide compelling evidence of no contribution of plastoquinone pool or cytochrome b6f to chloroplastic H2O2 accumulation. The putative production of H2O2 in any PETC location other than PSI is rapidly quenched and therefore cannot function in H2O2 translocation to another cellular location or in signaling.

Temperature sensitivity of woody nitrogen fixation across species and growing temperatures

The future of the land carbon sink depends on the availability of nitrogen (N)^1,2 and, specifically, on symbiotic N fixation^3-8, which can rapidly alleviate N limitation. The temperature response of symbiotic N fixation has been hypothesized to explain the global distribution of N-fixing trees^9,10 and is a key part of some terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs)^3,7,8, yet there are few data to constrain the temperature response of symbiotic N fixation. Here we show that optimal temperatures for N fixation in four tree symbioses are in the range 29.0-36.9 °C, well above the 25.2 °C optimum currently used by TBMs. The shape of the response to temperature is also markedly different to the function used by TBMs (asymmetric rather than symmetric). We also show that N fixation acclimates to growing temperature (hence its range of optimal temperatures), particularly in our two tropical symbioses. Surprisingly, optimal temperatures were 5.2 °C higher for N fixation than for photosynthesis, suggesting that plant carbon and N gain are decoupled with respect to temperature. These findings may help explain why N-fixing tree abundance is highest where annual maximum temperatures are >35 °C (ref. ¹⁰) and why N-fixing symbioses evolved during a warm period in the Earth's history^11,12. Everything else being equal, our findings indicate that climate warming will probably increase N fixation, even in tropical ecosystems, in direct contrast to past projections⁸.

Quantifying high-temperature stress on soybean canopy photosynthesis: The unique role of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence

High temperature and accompanying high vapor pressure deficit often stress plants without causing distinctive changes in plant canopy structure and consequential spectral signatures. Sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), because of its mechanistic link with photosynthesis, may better detect such stress than remote sensing techniques relying on spectral reflectance signatures of canopy structural changes. However, our understanding about physiological mechanisms of SIF and its unique potential for physiological stress detection remains less clear. In this study, we measured SIF at a high-temperature experiment, Temperature Free-Air Controlled Enhancement, to explore the potential of SIF for physiological investigations. The experiment provided a gradient of soybean canopy temperature with 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0°C above the ambient canopy temperature in the open field environments. SIF yield, which is normalized by incident radiation and the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, showed a high correlation with photosynthetic light use efficiency (r = 0.89) and captured dynamic plant responses to high-temperature conditions. SIF yield was affected by canopy structural and plant physiological changes associated with high-temperature stress (partial correlation r = 0.60 and -0.23). Near-infrared reflectance of vegetation, only affected by canopy structural changes, was used to minimize the canopy structural impact on SIF yield and to retrieve physiological SIF yield (ΦF ) signals. ΦF further excludes the canopy structural impact than SIF yield and indicates plant physiological variability, and we found that ΦF outperformed SIF yield in responding to physiological stress (r = -0.37). Our findings highlight that ΦF sensitively responded to the physiological downregulation of soybean gross primary productivity under high temperature. ΦF , if reliably derived from satellite SIF, can support monitoring regional crop growth and different ecosystems' vegetation productivity under environmental stress and climate change.

Is the Kok effect a respiratory phenomenon? Metabolic insight using 13 C labeling in Helianthus annuus leaves

The Kok effect is a well-known phenomenon in which the quantum yield of photosynthesis changes abruptly at low light. This effect has often been interpreted as a shift in leaf respiratory metabolism and thus used widely to measure day respiration. However, there is still no formal evidence that the Kok effect has a respiratory origin. Here, both gas exchange and isotopic labeling were carried out on sunflower leaves, using glucose that was ¹³ C-enriched at specific C-atom positions. Position-specific decarboxylation measurements and NMR analysis of metabolites were used to trace the fate of C-atoms in metabolism. Decarboxylation rates were significant at low light (including above the Kok break point) and increased with decreasing irradiance below 100 µmol photons m^-2  s^-1 . The variation in several metabolite pools such as malate, fumarate or citrate, and flux calculations suggest the involvement of several decarboxylating pathways in the Kok effect, including the malic enzyme. Our results show that day respiratory CO₂ evolution plays an important role in the Kok effect. However, the increase in the apparent quantum yield of photosynthesis below the Kok break point is also probably related to malate metabolism, which participates in maintaining photosynthetic linear electron flow.

Modeling Light Response of Electron Transport Rate and Its Allocation for Ribulose Biphosphate Carboxylation and Oxygenation

Accurately describing the light response curve of electron transport rate (J-I curve) and allocation of electron flow for ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) carboxylation (J _C-I curve) and that for oxygenation (J _O-I curve) is fundamental for modeling of light relations of electron flow at the whole-plant and ecosystem scales. The non-rectangular hyperbolic model (hereafter, NH model) has been widely used to characterize light response of net photosynthesis rate (A _n; A _n-I curve) and J-I curve. However, NH model has been reported to overestimate the maximum A _n (A _nmax) and the maximum J (J _max), largely due to its asymptotic function. Meanwhile, few efforts have been delivered for describing J _C-I and J _O-I curves. The long-standing challenge on describing A _n-I and J-I curves have been resolved by a recently developed A _n-I and J-I models (hereafter, Ye model), which adopt a nonasymptotic function. To test whether Ye model can resolve the challenge of NH model in reproducing J-I, J _C-I and J _O-I curves over light-limited, light-saturated, and photoinhibitory I levels, we compared the performances of Ye model and NH model against measurements on two C₃ crops (Triticum aestivum L. and Glycine max L.) grown in field. The results showed that NH model significantly overestimated the A _nmax and J _max for both species, which can be accurately obtained by Ye model. Furthermore, NH model significantly overestimated the maximum electron flow for carboxylation (J _C-max) but not the maximum electron flow for oxygenation (J _O-max) for both species, disclosing the reason underlying the long-standing problem of NH model-overestimation of J _max and A _nmax.

The Kok effect revisited

The Kok effect refers to the abrupt decrease around the light compensation point in the slope of net photosynthetic rate vs irradiance. Arguably, this switch arises from light inhibition of respiration, allowing the Kok method to estimate day respiration (R_d ). Recent analysis suggests that increasing proportions of photorespiration (quantified as Γ*/C_c , the ratio of CO₂ compensation point Γ* to chloroplast CO₂ concentration, C_c ) with irradiance explain much of the Kok effect. Also, the Kok method has been modified to account for the decrease in PSII photochemical efficiency (Φ₂ ) with irradiance. Using a model that illustrates how varying R_d , Γ*/C_c , Φ₂ and proportions of alternative electron transport could engender the Kok effect, we quantified the contribution of these parameters to the Kok effect measured in sunflower across various O₂ and CO₂ concentrations and various temperatures. Overall, the decreasing Φ₂ with irradiance explained c. 12%, and the varying Γ*/C_c explained c. 25%, of the Kok effect. Maximum real light inhibition of R_d was much lower than the inhibition derived from the Kok method, but still increased with photorespiration. Photorespiration had a dual contribution to the Kok effect, one via the varying Γ*/C_c and the other via its participation in light inhibition of R_d .

Photosynthetic performance and photosynthesis-related gene expression coordinated in a shade-tolerant species Panax notoginseng under nitrogen regimes

BACKGROUND

Nitrogen (N) is an essential component of photosynthetic apparatus. However, the mechanism that photosynthetic capacity is suppressed by N is not completely understood. Photosynthetic capacity and photosynthesis-related genes were comparatively analyzed in a shade-tolerant species Panax notoginseng grown under the levels of low N (LN), moderate N (MN) and high N (HN).

RESULTS

Photosynthetic assimilation was significantly suppressed in the LN- and HN-grown plants. Compared with the MN-grown plants, the HN-grown plants showed thicker anatomic structure and larger chloroplast accompanied with decreased ratio of mesophyll conductance (gm) to Rubisco content (gm/Rubisco) and lower Rubisco activity. Meanwhile, LN-grown plants displayed smaller chloroplast and accordingly lower internal conductance (gi). LN- and HN-grown individuals allocated less N to light-harvesting system (NL) and carboxylation system (NC), respectively. N surplus negatively affected the expression of genes in Car biosynthesis (GGPS, DXR, PSY, IPI and DXS). The LN individuals outperformed others with respect to non-photochemical quenching. The expression of genes (FBA, PGK, RAF2, GAPC, CAB, PsbA and PsbH) encoding enzymes of Calvin cycle and structural protein of light reaction were obviously repressed in the LN individuals, accompanying with a reduction in Rubisco content and activity. Correspondingly, the expression of genes encoding RAF2, RPI4, CAB and PetE were repressed in the HN-grown plants.

CONCLUSIONS

LN-induced depression of photosynthetic capacity might be caused by the deceleration on Calvin cycle and light reaction of photosynthesis, and HN-induced depression of ones might derive from an increase in the form of inactivated Rubisco.

Revisiting carbon isotope discrimination in C3 plants shows respiration rules when photosynthesis is low

Stable isotopes are commonly used to study the diffusion of CO₂ within photosynthetic plant tissues. The standard method used to interpret the observed preference for the lighter carbon isotope in C₃ photosynthesis involves the model of Farquhar et al., which relates carbon isotope discrimination to physical and biochemical processes within the leaf. However, under many conditions the model returns unreasonable results for mesophyll conductance to CO₂ diffusion (g_m), especially when rates of photosynthesis are low. Here, we re-derive the carbon isotope discrimination model using modified assumptions related to the isotope effect of mitochondrial respiration. In particular, we treat the carbon pool associated with respiration as separate from the pool of primary assimilates. We experimentally test the model by comparing g_m values measured with different CO₂ source gases varying in their isotopic composition, and show that our new model returns matching g_m values that are much more reasonable than those obtained with the previous model. We use our results to discuss CO₂ diffusion properties within the mesophyll.

Photorespiration in the context of Rubisco biochemistry, CO2 diffusion and metabolism

Photorespiratory metabolism is essential for plants to maintain functional photosynthesis in an oxygen-containing environment. Because the oxygenation reaction of Rubisco is followed by the loss of previously fixed carbon, photorespiration is often considered a wasteful process and considerable efforts are aimed at minimizing the negative impact of photorespiration on the plant's carbon uptake. However, the photorespiratory pathway has also many positive aspects, as it is well integrated within other metabolic processes, such as nitrogen assimilation and C₁ metabolism, and it is important for maintaining the redox balance of the plant. The overall effect of photorespiratory carbon loss on the net CO₂ fixation of the plant is also strongly influenced by the physiology of the leaf related to CO₂ diffusion. This review outlines the distinction between Rubisco oxygenation and photorespiratory CO₂ release as a basis to evaluate the costs and benefits of photorespiration.

Terrestrial biosphere models may overestimate Arctic CO2 assimilation if they do not account for decreased quantum yield and convexity at low temperature

How terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) represent leaf photosynthesis and its sensitivity to temperature are two critical components of understanding and predicting the response of the Arctic carbon cycle to global change. We measured the effect of temperature on the response of photosynthesis to irradiance in six Arctic plant species and determined the quantum yield of CO₂ fixation ( ϕCO2 ) and the convexity factor (θ). We also determined leaf absorptance (α) from measured reflectance to calculate ϕCO2 on an absorbed light basis ( ϕCO2.a ) and enabled comparison with nine TBMs. The mean ϕCO2.a was 0.045 mol CO₂  mol^-1 absorbed quanta at 25°C and closely agreed with the mean TBM parameterisation (0.044), but as temperature decreased measured ϕCO2.a diverged from TBMs. At 5°C measured ϕCO2.a was markedly reduced (0.025) and 60% lower than TBM estimates. The θ also showed a significant reduction between 25°C and 5°C. At 5°C θ was 38% lower than the common model parameterisation of 0.7. These data show that TBMs are not accounting for observed reductions in ϕCO2.a and θ that can occur at low temperature. Ignoring these reductions in ϕCO2.a and θ could lead to a marked (45%) overestimation of CO₂ assimilation at subsaturating irradiance and low temperature.

Using a reaction-diffusion model to estimate day respiration and reassimilation of (photo)respired CO2 in leaves

Methods using gas exchange measurements to estimate respiration in the light (day respiration R d ) make implicit assumptions about reassimilation of (photo)respired CO2 ; however, this reassimilation depends on the positions of mitochondria. We used a reaction-diffusion model without making these assumptions to analyse datasets on gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and anatomy for tomato leaves. We investigated how R d values obtained by the Kok and the Yin methods are affected by these assumptions and how those by the Laisk method are affected by the positions of mitochondria. The Kok method always underestimated R d . Estimates of R d by the Yin method and by the reaction-diffusion model agreed only for nonphotorespiratory conditions. Both the Yin and Kok methods ignore reassimilation of (photo)respired CO2 , and thus underestimated R d for photorespiratory conditions, but this was less so in the Yin than in the Kok method. Estimates by the Laisk method were affected by assumed positions of mitochondria. It did not work if mitochondria were in the cytosol between the plasmamembrane and the chloroplast envelope. However, mitochondria were found to be most likely between the tonoplast and chloroplasts. Our reaction-diffusion model effectively estimates R d , enlightens the dependence of R d estimates on reassimilation and clarifies (dis)advantages of existing methods.

Critical review: incorporating the arrangement of mitochondria and chloroplasts into models of photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination

The arrangement of mitochondria and chloroplasts, together with the relative resistances of cell wall and chloroplast, determine the path of diffusion out of the leaf for (photo)respired CO₂. Traditional photosynthesis models have assumed a tight arrangement of chloroplasts packed together against the cell wall with mitochondria located behind the chloroplasts, deep inside the cytosol. Accordingly, all (photo)respired CO₂ must cross the chloroplast before diffusing out of the leaf. Different arrangements have recently been considered, where all or part of the (photo)respired CO₂ diffuses through the cytosol without ever entering the chloroplast. Assumptions about the path for the (photo)respiratory flux are particularly relevant for the calculation of mesophyll conductance (g_m). If (photo)respired CO₂ can diffuse elsewhere besides the chloroplast, apparent g_m is no longer a mere physical resistance but a flux-weighted variable sensitive to the ratio of (photo)respiration to net CO₂ assimilation. We discuss existing photosynthesis models in conjunction with their treatment of the (photo)respiratory flux and present new equations applicable to the generalized case where (photo)respired CO₂ can diffuse both into the chloroplast and through the cytosol. Additionally, we present a new generalized Δ¹³C model that incorporates this dual diffusion pathway. We assess how assumptions about the fate of (photo)respired CO₂ affect the interpretation of photosynthetic data and the challenges it poses for the application of different models.

Late growing season carbon subsidy in native gymnosperms in a northern temperate forest

Evergreen tree species that maintain positive carbon balance during the late growing season may subsidize extra carbon in a mixed forest. To test this concept of 'carbon subsidy', leaf gas exchange characteristics and related leaf traits were measured for three gymnosperm evergreen species (Chamaecyparis thyoides, Tsuga canadensis and Pinus strobus) native to the oak-hickory deciduous forest in northeast USA from March (early Spring) to October (late Autumn) in a single year. All three species were photosynthetically active in Autumn. During the Summer-Autumn transition, photosynthetic capacity (Amax) of T. canadensis and P. strobus increased (T-test, P < 0.001) and was maintained in C. thyoides (T-test, P = 0.49), while dark respiration at 20 °C (Rn) and its thermal sensitivity were generally unchanged for all species (one-way ANOVA, P > 0.05). In Autumn, reductions in mitochondrial respiration rate in the daylight (RL) and the ratio of RL to Rn (RL/Rn) were observed in P. strobus (46.3% and 44.0% compared to Summer, respectively). Collectively, these physiological adjustments resulted in higher ratios of photosynthesis to respiration (A/Rnand A/RL) in Autumn for all species. Across season, photosynthetic biochemistry and respiratory variables were not correlated with prevailing growth temperature. Physiological adjustments allowed all three gymnosperm species to maintain positive carbon balance into late Autumn, suggesting that gymnosperm evergreens may benefit from Autumn warming trends relative to deciduous trees that have already lost their leaves.

Responses of respiration in the light to warming in field-grown trees: a comparison of the thermal sensitivity of the Kok and Laisk methods

The Kok and Laisk techniques can both be used to estimate light respiration R_light . We investigated whether responses of R_light to short- and long-term changes in leaf temperature depend on the technique used to estimate R_light . We grew Eucalyptus tereticornis in whole-tree chambers under ambient temperature (AT) or AT + 3°C (elevated temperature, ET). We assessed dark respiration R_dark and light respiration with the Kok (R_Kok ) and Laisk (R_Laisk ) methods at four temperatures to determine the degree of light suppression of respiration using both methods in AT and ET trees. The ET treatment had little impact on R_dark , R_Kok or R_Laisk . Although the thermal sensitivities of R_Kok or R_Laisk were similar, R_Kok was higher than R_Laisk . We found negative values of R_Laisk at the lowest measurement temperatures, indicating positive net CO₂ uptake, which we propose may be related to phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. Light suppression of R_dark decreased with increasing leaf temperature, but the degree of suppression depended on the method used. The Kok and Laisk methods do not generate the same estimates of R_light or light suppression of R_dark between 20 and 35°C. Negative rates of R_Laisk imply that this method may become less reliable at low temperatures.

Core principles which explain variation in respiration across biological scales

Contents Summary 670 I. Introduction 671 II. Principle 1 - Plant respiration performs three distinct functions 673 III. Principle 2 - Metabolic pathway flexibility underlies plant respiratory performance 676 IV. Principle 3 - Supply and demand interact over time to set plant respiration rate 677 V. Principle 4 - Plant respiratory acclimation involves adjustments in enzyme capacities 679 VI. Principle 5 - Respiration is a complex trait that helps to define, and is impacted by, plant lifestyle strategies 680 VII. Future directions 680 Acknowledgements 682 References 682 SUMMARY: Respiration is a core biological process that has important implications for the biochemistry, physiology, and ecology of plants. The study of plant respiration is thus conducted from several different perspectives by a range of scientific disciplines with dissimilar objectives, such as metabolic engineering, crop breeding, and climate-change modelling. One aspect in common among the different objectives is a need to understand and quantify the variation in respiration across scales of biological organization. The central tenet of this review is that different perspectives on respiration can complement each other when connected. To better accommodate interdisciplinary thinking, we identify distinct mechanisms which encompass the variation in respiratory rates and functions across biological scales. The relevance of these mechanisms towards variation in plant respiration are explained in the context of five core principles: (1) respiration performs three distinct functions; (2) metabolic pathway flexibility underlies respiratory performance; (3) supply and demand interact over time to set respiration rates; (4) acclimation involves adjustments in enzyme capacities; and (5) respiration is a complex trait that helps to define, and is impacted by, plant lifestyle strategies. We argue that each perspective on respiration rests on these principles to varying degrees and that broader appreciation of how respiratory variation occurs can unite research across scales.

Widespread inhibition of daytime ecosystem respiration

The global land surface absorbs about a third of anthropogenic emissions each year, due to the difference between two key processes: ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration. Despite the importance of these two processes, it is not possible to measure either at the ecosystem scale during the daytime. Eddy-covariance measurements are widely used as the closest 'quasi-direct' ecosystem-scale observation from which to estimate ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration. Recent research, however, suggests that current estimates may be biased by up to 25%, due to a previously unaccounted for process: the inhibition of leaf respiration in the light. Yet the extent of inhibition remains debated, and implications for estimates of ecosystem-scale respiration and photosynthesis remain unquantified. Here, we quantify an apparent inhibition of daytime ecosystem respiration across the global FLUXNET eddy-covariance network and identify a pervasive influence that varies by season and ecosystem type. We develop partitioning methods that can detect an apparent ecosystem-scale inhibition of daytime respiration and find that diurnal patterns of ecosystem respiration might be markedly different than previously thought. The results call for the re-evaluation of global terrestrial carbon cycle models and also suggest that current global estimates of photosynthesis and respiration may be biased, some on the order of magnitude of anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions.

Environmental controls on light inhibition of respiration and leaf and canopy daytime carbon exchange in a temperate deciduous forest

Uncertainty in the estimation of daytime ecosystem carbon cycling due to the light inhibition of leaf respiration and photorespiration, and how these small fluxes vary through the growing season in the field, remains a confounding element in calculations of gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration. Our study focuses on how phenology, short-term temperature changes and canopy position influence leaf-level carbon exchange in Quercus rubra L. (red oak) at Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts, USA. Using leaf measurements and eddy covariance, we also quantify the effect of light inhibition on estimates of daytime respiration at leaf and ecosystem scales. Measured rates of leaf respiration in the light and dark were highest in the early growing season and declined in response to 10-day prior air temperatures (P < 0.01), evidence of within-season thermal acclimation. Leaf respiration was significantly inhibited by light (27.1 ± 2.82% inhibited across all measurements), and this inhibition varied with the month of measurement; greater inhibition was observed in mid-summer leaves compared with early- and late-season leaves. Increases in measurement temperature led to higher rates of respiration and photorespiration, though with a less pronounced positive effect on photosynthesis; as a result, carbon-use efficiency declined with increasing leaf temperature. Over the growing season when we account for seasonally variable light inhibition and basal respiration rates, our modeling approaches found a cumulative 12.9% reduction of leaf-level respiration and a 12.8% reduction of canopy leaf respiration, resulting in a 3.7% decrease in total ecosystem respiration compared with estimates that do not account for light inhibition in leaves. Our study sheds light on the environmental controls of the light inhibition of daytime leaf respiration and how integrating this phenomenon and other small fluxes can reduce uncertainty in current and future projections of terrestrial carbon cycling.

Determination of leaf respiration in the light: comparison between an isotopic disequilibrium method and the Laisk method

Quantification of leaf respiration is important for understanding plant physiology and ecosystem biogeochemical processes. Leaf respiration continues in the light (R_L ) but supposedly at a lower rate than in the dark (R_Dk ). However, there is no method for direct measurement of R_L and the available methods require nonphysiological measurement conditions. A method based on isotopic disequilibrium quantified R_L (R_L13C ) and mesophyll conductance of young and old fully expanded leaves of six species. R_L13C was compared to R_L determined by the Laisk method (R_L Laisk ) on the very same leaves with a minimum time lag. R_L 13C and R_L Laisk were generally lower than R_Dk , and were not significantly affected by leaf ageing. R_L Laisk and R_L 13C were positively correlated (r²  = 0.35), and both were positively correlated with R_Dk (r²  ≥ 0.6). R_L Laisk was systematically lower than R_L 13C by 0.4 μmol m^-2  s^-1 . Using A/C_c instead of A/C_i curves, a higher photocompensation point Γ* (by 5 μmol mol^-1 ) was found but no influence on R_L Laisk estimates was observed. The results imply that the Laisk method underestimates actual R_L significantly, probably related to the measurement condition of low CO₂ and irradiance. The isotopic disequilibrium method is useful for assessing responses of R_L to irradiance and CO₂ , improving our mechanistic understanding of R_L .

Towards physiologically meaningful water-use efficiency estimates from eddy covariance data

Intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) characterizes the physiological control on the simultaneous exchange of water and carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems. Knowledge of iWUE is commonly gained from leaf-level gas exchange measurements, which are inevitably restricted in their spatial and temporal coverage. Flux measurements based on the eddy covariance (EC) technique can overcome these limitations, as they provide continuous and long-term records of carbon and water fluxes at the ecosystem scale. However, vegetation gas exchange parameters derived from EC data are subject to scale-dependent and method-specific uncertainties that compromise their ecophysiological interpretation as well as their comparability among ecosystems and across spatial scales. Here, we use estimates of canopy conductance and gross primary productivity (GPP) derived from EC data to calculate a measure of iWUE (G₁ , "stomatal slope") at the ecosystem level at six sites comprising tropical, Mediterranean, temperate, and boreal forests. We assess the following six mechanisms potentially causing discrepancies between leaf and ecosystem-level estimates of G₁ : (i) non-transpirational water fluxes; (ii) aerodynamic conductance; (iii) meteorological deviations between measurement height and canopy surface; (iv) energy balance non-closure; (v) uncertainties in net ecosystem exchange partitioning; and (vi) physiological within-canopy gradients. Our results demonstrate that an unclosed energy balance caused the largest uncertainties, in particular if it was associated with erroneous latent heat flux estimates. The effect of aerodynamic conductance on G₁ was sufficiently captured with a simple representation. G₁ was found to be less sensitive to meteorological deviations between canopy surface and measurement height and, given that data are appropriately filtered, to non-transpirational water fluxes. Uncertainties in the derived GPP and physiological within-canopy gradients and their implications for parameter estimates at leaf and ecosystem level are discussed. Our results highlight the importance of adequately considering the sources of uncertainty outlined here when EC-derived water-use efficiency is interpreted in an ecophysiological context.

Using Stable Carbon Isotopes to Study C3 and C4 Photosynthesis: Models and Calculations

Stable carbon isotopes are a powerful tool to study photosynthesis. Initial applications consisted of determining isotope ratios of plant biomass using mass spectrometry. Subsequently, theoretical models relating C-isotope values to gas exchange characteristics were introduced and tested against instantaneous online measurements of ¹³C photosynthetic discrimination. Beginning in the twenty-first century, tunable diode laser spectroscopes with sufficient precision for determining isotope mixing ratios became commercially available. This has allowed collection of large data sets, at low cost and with unprecedented temporal resolution. With more data and accompanying knowledge, it has become apparent that there is a need for increased complexity in models and calculations. This chapter describes instantaneous online measurements of ¹³C photosynthetic discrimination, provides recommendations for experimental setup, and presents a thorough compilation of equations needed for different applications.

The Kok effect in Vicia faba cannot be explained solely by changes in chloroplastic CO2 concentration

The Kok effect - an abrupt decline in quantum yield (QY) of net CO₂ assimilation at low photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) - is widely used to estimate respiration in the light (R), which assumes the effect is caused by light suppression of R. A recent report suggested much of the Kok effect can be explained by declining chloroplastic CO₂ concentration (c_c ) at low PPFD. Several predictions arise from the hypothesis that the Kok effect is caused by declining c_c , and we tested these predictions in Vicia faba. We measured CO₂ exchange at low PPFD, in 2% and 21% oxygen, in developing and mature leaves, which differed greatly in R in darkness. Our results contradicted each of the predictions based on the c_c effect: QY exceeded the theoretical maximum value for photosynthetic CO₂ uptake; QY was larger in 21% than 2% oxygen; and the change in QY at the Kok effect breakpoint was unaffected by oxygen. Our results strongly suggest the Kok effect arises largely from a progressive decline in R with PPFD that includes both oxygen-sensitive and -insensitive components. We suggest an improved Kok method that accounts for high c_c at low PPFD.

Leaf day respiration: low CO2 flux but high significance for metabolism and carbon balance

Contents 986 I. 987 II. 987 III. 988 IV. 991 V. 992 VI. 995 VII. 997 VIII. 998 References 998 SUMMARY: It has been 75 yr since leaf respiratory metabolism in the light (day respiration) was identified as a low-flux metabolic pathway that accompanies photosynthesis. In principle, it provides carbon backbones for nitrogen assimilation and evolves CO₂ and thus impacts on plant carbon and nitrogen balances. However, for a long time, uncertainties have remained as to whether techniques used to measure day respiratory efflux were valid and whether day respiration responded to environmental gaseous conditions. In the past few years, significant advances have been made using carbon isotopes, 'omics' analyses and surveys of respiration rates in mesocosms or ecosystems. There is substantial evidence that day respiration should be viewed as a highly dynamic metabolic pathway that interacts with photosynthesis and photorespiration and responds to atmospheric CO₂ mole fraction. The view of leaf day respiration as a constant and/or negligible parameter of net carbon exchange is now outdated and it should now be regarded as a central actor of plant carbon-use efficiency.

In situ temperature relationships of biochemical and stomatal controls of photosynthesis in four lowland tropical tree species

Net photosynthetic carbon uptake of Panamanian lowland tropical forest species is typically optimal at 30-32 °C. The processes responsible for the decrease in photosynthesis at higher temperatures are not fully understood for tropical trees. We determined temperature responses of maximum rates of RuBP-carboxylation (V_CMax ) and RuBP-regeneration (J_Max ), stomatal conductance (G_s ), and respiration in the light (R_Light ) in situ for 4 lowland tropical tree species in Panama. G_s had the lowest temperature optimum (T_Opt ), similar to that of net photosynthesis, and photosynthesis became increasingly limited by stomatal conductance as temperature increased. J_Max peaked at 34-37 °C and V_CMax ~2 °C above that, except in the late-successional species Calophyllum longifolium, in which both peaked at ~33 °C. R_Light significantly increased with increasing temperature, but simulations with a photosynthesis model indicated that this had only a small effect on net photosynthesis. We found no evidence for Rubisco-activase limitation of photosynthesis. T_Opt of V_CMax and J_Max fell within the observed in situ leaf temperature range, but our study nonetheless suggests that net photosynthesis of tropical trees is more strongly influenced by the indirect effects of high temperature-for example, through elevated vapour pressure deficit and resulting decreases in stomatal conductance-than by direct temperature effects on photosynthetic biochemistry and respiration.

Light inhibition of foliar respiration in response to soil water availability and seasonal changes in temperature in Mediterranean holm oak (Quercus ilex) forest

In the present study we investigated variations in leaf respiration in darkness (RD) and light (RL), and associated traits in response to season, and along a gradient of soil moisture, in Mediterranean woodland dominated by holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in central and north-eastern Spain respectively. On seven occasions during the year in the central Spain site, and along the soil moisture gradient in north-eastern Spain, we measured rates of leaf RD, RL (using the Kok method), light-saturated photosynthesis (A) and related light response characteristics, leaf mass per unit area (MA) and leaf nitrogen (N) content. At the central Spain site, significant seasonal changes in soil water content and ambient temperature (T) were associated with changes in MA, foliar N, A and stomatal conductance. RD measured at the prevailing daily T and in instantaneous R-T responses, displayed signs of partial acclimation and was not significantly affected by time of year. RL was always less than, and strongly related to, RD, and RL/RD did not vary significantly or systematically with seasonal changes in T or soil water content. Averaged over the year, RL/RD was 0.66±0.05s.e. (n=14) at the central Spain site. At the north-eastern Spain site, the soil moisture gradient was characterised by increasing MA and RD, and reduced foliar N, A, and stomatal conductance as soil water availability decreased. Light inhibition of R occurred across all sites (mean RL/RD=0.69±0.01s.e. (n=18)), resulting in ratios of RL/A being lower than for RD/A. Importantly, the degree of light inhibition was largely insensitive to changes in soil water content. Our findings provide evidence for a relatively constrained degree of light inhibition of R (RL/RD ~ 0.7, or inhibition of ~30%) across gradients of water availability, although the combined impacts of seasonal changes in both T and soil water content increase the range of values expressed. The findings thus have implications in terms of the assumptions made by predictive models that seek to account for light inhibition of R, and for our understanding of how environmental gradients impact on leaf trait relationships in Mediterranean plant communities.

Biochemical model of C3 photosynthesis applied to wheat at different temperatures

We examined the effects of leaf temperature on the estimation of maximal Rubisco capacity (V_cmax ) from gas exchange measurements of wheat leaves using a C₃ photosynthesis model. Cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum (L)) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) were grown in a greenhouse or in the field and measured at a range of temperatures under controlled conditions in a growth cabinet (2 and 21% O₂ ) or in the field using natural diurnal variation in temperature, respectively. Published Rubisco kinetic constants for tobacco did not describe the observed CO₂ response curves well as temperature varied. By assuming values for the Rubisco Michaelis-Menten constants for CO₂ (K_c ) and O₂ (K_o ) at 25 °C derived from tobacco and the activation energies of V_cmax from wheat and respiration in the light, R_d , from tobacco, we derived activation energies for K_c and K_o (93.7 and 33.6 kJ mol^-1 , respectively) that considerably improved the fit of the model to observed data. We confirmed that temperature dependence of dark respiration for wheat was well described by the activation energy for R_d from tobacco. The new parameters improved the estimation of V_cmax under field conditions, where temperatures increased through the day.