The Relationship Between CO2 Transfer Conductance and Leaf Anatomy in Transgenic Tobacco With a Reduced Content of Rubisco

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 475 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Evans ◽  
SV Caemmerer ◽  
BA Setchell ◽  
GS Hudson

The CO2 transfer conductance in leaves quantifies the ease with which CO2 can diffuse from sub-stomatal cavities to sites of carboxylation within the chloroplast. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that the CO2 transfer conductance is proportional to the surface area of chloroplasts exposed to intercellular airspaces. We compared two genotypes, wild-type and transgenic tobacco, that had been transformed with an antisense gene directed at the mRNA of the Rubisco small subunit. Transgenic tobacco had lower rates of CO2 assimilation than wild-type but similar chlorophyll contents. Leaf anatomy was altered by growing plants in two different environments: a high daily irradiance in a growth cabinet (12 h photoperiod of 1 mmol quanta m-2 s-1) and a sunlit glasshouse. The growth cabinet gave at least twice the daily irradiance compared to the glasshouse. The CO2 transfer conductance was calculated from combined measurements of gas exchange and carbon isotope discrimination measured in 2% oxygen. Following gas exchange measurement, leaves were sampled for biochemical and anatomical measure- ment. In transgenic tobacco plants, Rubisco content was 35% of that found in the wild-type tobacco, the CO2 assimilation rate was 50% of the wild-type rate and the chlorophyll content was unaltered. While leaf mass per unit leaf area of transgenic tobacco was 82% of that of the wild-type, differences in leaf thickness and surface area of mesophyll cells exposed to intercellular airspace per unit leaf area (Smes) were small (92 and 87% of wild-type, respectively). Leaves grown in the growth cabinet under high daily irradiance were thicker (63%), had a greater Smes (41%) due to the development of thicker palisade tissue, had higher photosynthetic capacity (27%) and contained more chlorophyll (58%) and Rubisco (77%), than leaves from plants grown in the glasshouse. Irrespective of genotype or growth environment, CO2 transfer conductance varied in proportion to surface area of chloroplasts exposed to intercellular airspaces. While the method for calculating CO2 transfer conductance could not distinguish between limitations due to the gas or liquid phases, there was no reduction in CO2 transfer conductance associated with more closely packed cells, thicker leaves, nor with increasing chloroplast thickness in tobacco.


1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
FC Meinzer ◽  
NZ Saliendra ◽  
C Crisosto

Although carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been reported to decline in plants growing under reduced soil moisture, there is little information available concerning the dynamics of adjustments in Δ and gas exchange following a change in soil water availability. In this study Δ, photosynthetic gas exchange, and growth were monitored in container-grown coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants for 120 days under three soil moisture regimes. At the end of 120 d, total leaf area of plants irrigated twice weekly was one half that of plants irrigated twice daily, although their assimilation rates on a unit leaf area basis were nearly equal throughout the experiment. This suggested that maintenance of nearly constant photosynthetic characteristics on a unit leaf area basis through maintenance of a smaller total leaf area may constitute a major mode of adjustment to reduced soil moisture availability in coffee. Intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) predicted from foliar Δ values was highest in plants irrigated weekly, intermediate in plants irrigated twice weekly and lowest in plants irrigated twice daily. When instantaneous WUE was estimated from independent measurements of total transpiration per plant and assimilation on a unit leaf area basis, the reverse ranking was obtained. The lack of correspondence between intrinsic and instantaneous WUE was attributed to adjustments in canopy morphology and leaf size in the plants grown under reduced water supply which enhanced transpiration relative to assimilation. Values of Δ predicted from the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 partial pressure determined during gas exchange measurements were not always consistent with measured foliar Δ. This may have resulted from a patchy distribution of stomatal apertures in plants irrigated weekly and from a lag period between adjustment in gas exchange and subsequent alteration in Δ of expanding leaves. The importance of considering temporal and spatial scales, and previous growth and environmental histories in comparing current single leaf gas exchange behaviour with foliar Δ values is discussed.



2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric L. Kruger ◽  
John C. Volin

Technological advances during the past several decades have greatly enhanced our ability to measure leaf photosynthesis virtually anywhere and under any condition. Associated with the resulting proliferation of gas-exchange data is a lingering uncertainty regarding the importance of such measurements when it comes to explaining intrinsic causes of plant growth variation. Accordingly, in this paper we rely on a compilation of data to address the following questions: from both statistical and mechanistic standpoints, how closely does plant growth correlate with measures of leaf photosynthesis? Moreover, in this context, does the importance of leaf photosynthesis as an explanatory variable differ among growth light environments? Across a wide array of species and environments, relative growth rate (RGR) was positively correlated with daily integrals of photosynthesis expressed per unit leaf area (Aarea), leaf mass (Amass), and plant mass (Aplant). The amount of RGR variation explained by these relationships increased from 36% for the former to 93% for the latter. Notably, there was close agreement between observed RGR and that estimated from Aplant after adjustment for theoretical costs of tissue construction. Overall, based on an analysis of growth response coefficients (GRCs), gross assimilation rate (GAR), a photosynthesis-based estimate of biomass gain per unit leaf area, explained about as much growth variation as did leaf mass ratio (LMR) and specific leaf area (SLA). Further analysis of GRCs indicated that the importance of GAR in explaining growth variation increased with increasing light intensity. Clearly, when considered in combination with other key determinants, appropriate measures of leaf gas exchange effectively capture the fundamental role of leaf photosynthesis in plant growth variation.



2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 2439-2450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Chuan Liu ◽  
W James Peacock ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Robert Furbank ◽  
Anthony Larkum ◽  
...  

Abstract Arabidopsis thaliana hybrids have similar properties to hybrid crops, with greater biomass relative to the parents. We asked whether the greater biomass was due to increased photosynthetic efficiency per unit leaf area or to overall increased leaf area and increased total photosynthate per plant. We found that photosynthetic parameters (electron transport rate, CO2 assimilation rate, chlorophyll content, and chloroplast number) were unchanged on a leaf unit area and unit fresh weight basis between parents and hybrids, indicating that heterosis is not a result of increased photosynthetic efficiency. To investigate the possibility of increased leaf area producing more photosynthate per plant, we studied C24×Landsberg erecta (Ler) hybrids in detail. These hybrids have earlier germination and leaf growth than the parents, leading to a larger leaf area at any point in development of the plant. The developing leaves of the hybrids are significantly larger than those of the parents, with consequent greater production of photosynthate and an increased contribution to heterosis. The set of leaves contributing to heterosis changes as the plant develops; the four most recently emerged leaves make the greatest contribution. As a leaf matures, its contribution to heterosis attenuates. While photosynthesis per unit leaf area is unchanged at any stage of development in the hybrid, leaf area is greater and the amount of photosynthate per plant is increased.



1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Rawson ◽  
GA Constable

Commercial cultivars of sunflower were grown either with adequate water in glasshouses, or in the field using stored moisture or with supplementary irrigation. Diurnal measurements of photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration and water use efficiency were made as leaves expanded and aged: several leaf positions of each cultivar and treatment were examined throughout the season. Responses to quantum flux density were also determined. Comparable treatments in the field and glasshouse gave similar results and any differences in gas exchange per unit leaf area among cultivars were very small. All leaves, regardless of position on the plant had the same age-determined pattern of gas exchange per unit leaf area. Rates peaked some 10-12 days after leaves were 5 cm2 and had fallen to 50% of these values 50 days later: the decline was slightly faster in field canopies. Instantaneous rates of photosynthesis were occasionally reduced in plants growing on stored moisture when leaf water potential fell below 1.0 MPa, but on a diurnal scale these reductions were small. Water use efficiency declined with leaf age though under saturating light the decline was only 13% in 60 days: efficiency was markedly reduced at quantum flux densities below 800 �E m-2 s-1. The contribution of heads and stems to photosynthesis and transpiration throughout grain growth is discussed. It is concluded that the water use efficiency of sunflower in the short term is similar to that of other C3 species in spite of the high rates of gas exchange of sunflower. On a diurnal basis, its characteristic of maintaining open stomata under conditions of high evaporative demand results in poor water economy. Sunflower appears to be set to maximize carbon fixation per unit leaf area almost regardless of conditions.



1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin P. Gent ◽  
Francis J. Ferrandino ◽  
Wade H. Elmer

Verticillium dahliae infection may reduce growth and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) by inhibiting gas exchange per unit leaf area, and (or) by reducing leaf area. To quantify this inhibition, eggplants were grown in a field in fumigated soil or soil naturally infested with V. dahliae. Photosynthesis, dark respiration, transpiration, leaf area, disease symptoms, and yield were measured. Whole plants were enclosed in clear-walled chambers to measure gas exchange for 24-h periods. Before fruit set, there were no symptoms of wilt and no difference in leaf area or in gas exchange of plants grown in infested or fumigated soil. After fruit set, plants grown in the Verticillium-infested soil became symptomatic and had less leaf area, smaller leaves, and less photosynthesis per plant under high irradiance than plants grown in the fumigated soil. When whole plant gas exchange was normalized per unit leaf area there was no significant effect of disease on photosynthesis or transpiration. Although verticillium wilt reduces photosynthesis per unit leaf area in other species, our findings suggest that verticillium wilt reduced gas exchange of the entire eggplant predominantly by reduced leaf area rather than by reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Key words: Verticillium dahliae, Solanum melongena L., photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf area.



1975 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Rawson ◽  
CL Craven

Changes in stomatal density and size were followed in tobacco and sunflower leaves expanding from 10% of final area (10% Amax) to Amax under different levels of radiation. Lower radiation increased final leaf area, reduced stomatal densities, and increased area per stoma but had little effect on stomatal area per unit leaf area at Amax. In very young leaves (20% Amax) there was a wide range in the sizes of individual stomata, some stomata being close to full size, but by Amax differences were small. The possible relationship between the developmental patterns described and photosynthesis is briefly discussed.



Weed Science ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 534-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Jones ◽  
Robert H. Walker

Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments with potted plants were conducted to determine the effects of interspecific root and canopy interference, light intensity, and soil moisture on water uptake and biomass of soybean, common cocklebur, and sicklepod. Canopy interference and canopy plus root interference of soybean with common cocklebur increased soybean water uptake per plant and per unit leaf area. Root interference with soybean decreased common cocklebur water uptake per plant. Canopy interference of soybean with sicklepod increased soybean water uptake per unit leaf area, while root interference decreased uptake per plant. Combined root and canopy interference with soybean decreased water uptake per plant for sicklepod. Soybean leaf area and shoot weight were reduced by root interference with both weeds. Common cocklebur and sicklepod leaf area and shoot weight were reduced by root and canopy interference with soybeans. Only common cocklebur root weight decreased when canopies interfered and roots did not. The relationship between light intensity and water uptake per unit leaf area was linear in both years with water uptake proportional to light intensity. In 1991 water uptake response to tight was greater for common cocklebur than for sicklepod. The relationship between soil moisture level and water uptake was logarithmic. Common cocklebur water uptake was two times that of soybean or sicklepod at −2 kPa of pressure potential. In 1991 common cocklebur water uptake decreased at a greater rate than soybean or sicklepod in response to pressure potential changes from −2 to −100 kPa.



1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
WS Chow ◽  
L Qian ◽  
DJ Goodchild ◽  
JM Anderson

The photosynthetic acclimation of Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don, a species naturally occurring in deep shade in rainforests, has been studied in relation to a wide range of controlled irradiances during growth (~3-780 �mol photons m-2 s-1 of fluorescent or incandescent light, 10 h light/ 14 h dark). At the maximum growth irradiances, the light- and CO2-saturated rates of O2 evolution per unit leaf area were ~4 times as high as at low irradiance, and approached those of glasshouse-grown spinach. Growth at maximum irradiances reduced the quantum yield of O2 evolution only slightly. Changes in the anatomy of leaf tissue, the ultrastructure of chloroplasts and the composition of chloroplast components accompanied the changes in photosynthetic functional characteristics. At low growth irradiance, palisade cell chloroplasts were preferentially located adjacent to the distal periclinal cell walls and had large granal stacks, and the destacked thylakoids had a very low surface charge density. In contrast, at higher growth irradiance, palisade cell chloroplasts were preferentially located adjacent to the anticlinal cell walls; they had small granal stacks, large stromal space, and a high surface charge density on the destacked thylakoids. The number of chloroplasts per unit section length increased with growth irradiance. Ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase activity per unit leaf area increased markedly with irradiance. Photosystem II, cytochrome f and latent ATPase activity per unit chlorophyll increased to a lesser extent. While the chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio increased substantially with growth irradiance, the chlorophyll content per unit leaf area declined slightly. Our results show that coordinated changes in the structure of leaf tissue, and the organisation and composition of chloroplast components are responsible for Alocasia being capable of acclimation to high as well as low irradiance.







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