Production, storage, and use of photosynthate during shoot elongation in balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1161-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Loach ◽  
C. H. A. Little

Rates of net photosynthesis and dark respiration of 1-year-old and currently developing foliage were measured in the uppermost (i.e. 1-year-old) whorl of branches of 6-year-old balsam fir trees (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) during the period of extension growth of the current shoot. The rates were integrated to estimate net dry matter production by the two ages of foliage, and compared with dry matter requirements for growth of the new shoot (estimated from a regression equation of length over dry weight), and with cambial growth in the 1-year-old shoot (estimated from periodic harvests). The surplus of production over use in these two sinks was stored temporarily in the 1-year-old foliage or exported from the branch, the latter predominating. Two periods in which a large proportion of the photosynthetic production was exported (corresponding roughly to the months of May and July) were separated by a period when export was relatively low. At this intermediate time, current photosynthetic production was minimal and local growth demands were at their highest. Photosynthates stored in the 1-year-old foliage before budbreak supplemented current photosynthesis and permitted export to continue, except for a few days at the end of June. The contribution from stores in the old foliage, however, never exceeded one-third of current photosynthetic production. When extension growth terminated, a second transient storage peak occurred in the 1-year-old foliage for about 2 weeks. These observations explain the commonly observed reduction in root growth during current shoot extension, and corroborate results from studies made by other investigators using radioactive tracers.

1974 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJM Sale

The carbon balance of potato crops has been studied by measuring canopy net photosynthesis and dark respiration losses with a field assimilation chamber and semi-closed gas analysis system. Results are given for the latter part of growth in both a spring-planted and a summer-planted crop. Net CO2 uptake increased with solar input to reach 35–40mg dm-2 (ground area) h-1 at 400–450 W m-2, but light saturation then occurred and little or no further uptake resulted from increases in solar input up to 1000 W m-2. This supports the previous conclusion that net photosynthesis in the potato is determined by the size of the 'sink' provided by the developing tubers. The imposed experimental variables of reduced solar input (21 and 34% shade) and soil moisture were found not to affect the relation between solar input and CO2 uptake, and the effect of chamber temperature was also very small. Dark respiration rates of the canopy were markedly sensitive to temperature, and also to the solar input prior to measurement. Respiration from the below-ground plant parts accounted for a considerable part of the total plant respiration. In all, 15–20 % of the net assimilation during daylight hours was lost by night respiration. There was little variation in CO2 efflux from uncropped soil during the experiments. Dry weight changes calculated from the gasometric measurements were in accordance with those found from previous growth analysis. * Part II, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 1973, 24, 751–62.


HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1165g-1166
Author(s):  
Keith Birkhold ◽  
Rebecca Darnell ◽  
Karen Koch

Carbon exchange and content of blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) fruit were measured from anthesis through fruit ripening in order to determine the amount of imported carbon required for fruit development. Net photosynthesis occurred in blueberry fruit from petal fall through color break. During this time, gross photosynthesis of fruit decreased from 30.1 μmol CO2·g fw-1·hr-1 to 4.8 μmol CO2·g fw-1·hr-1, and dark respiration decreased from 14.3 μmol CO2·g fw-1·hr-1 to 4.6 μmol CO2·g fw-1·hr-1. After color break, the photosynthetic rate fell to zero, and the respiration rate increased to 8.0 μmol CO2·g fw-1·hr-1, before decreasing. Preliminary data suggest that fruit photosynthesis contributes 11% of the total carbon required (dry weight gain + respiratory loss) during fruit development however, it supplies 50% of the total carbon required during the first 5 days after petal fall. This contribution of carbon from fruit photosynthesis may be critical in initial fruit development since the current season's vegetative growth is not yet providing carbohydrates.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine E. Vanden Heuvel ◽  
John T.A. Proctor ◽  
K. Helen Fisher ◽  
J. Alan Sullivan

In order to gain an understanding of the capacity of severely shaded leaves to be productive in dense canopies, the effects of increased shading on morphology, dry-matter partitioning, and whole-plant net carbon exchange rate (NCER) were investigated on greenhouse-grown Vitis vinifera L. `Chardonnay' grapevines. Vines were subjected to whole-plant shading levels of 0%, 54%, 90%, and 99% of direct sun 3 weeks after potting. Data were collected 8 to 10 weeks after potting. Nonlinear regression was used to investigate the relationship of leaf morphological traits and organ dry weights to increased shading. Leaf size was maintained with increased shading to approximately the 90% shading level, while leaf fresh weight, volume, density, and thickness were immediately reduced with increased shading. Root dry weight was most affected by increased shading, and root to shoot ratio was reduced. When nonlinear regressions were produced for light response curves, light compensation point was reduced by approximately 49% by moderate shading, and 61% by severe shading. Shaded leaves approached the asymptote of the light response curve more quickly, and had reduced dark respiration rates, indicating that the morphological compensation responses by the vine allow shaded leaves to use available light more efficiently. However, the long-term ramifications of reduced root growth in the current year on vines with shaded leaves may be significant.


1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 2219-2226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ah-Sing Chia-Looi ◽  
Bruce G. Gumming

There are circadian rhythmic changes in dark respiration, net photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and dry weight in Chenopodium rubrum, ecotype 60°47′ N, 137°32′ W. The rhythm in dark respiration has a period of about 27 h and its phasing is quite closely correlated with the rhythm in flowering response, which has a period of about 30 h. A close similarity in the periodicity (21 h) and phasing of the rhythms in net photosynthesis and chlorophyll content suggests that the photosynthetic rhythm may be partly attributed to rhythmic changes in chlorophyll content. The rhythmic changes in dry weight, with a period of 18 h, could be due to a rhythm in dark fixation of carbon dioxide. The possible relationship of rhythmicity in these processes to other circadian rhythms that occur in C. rubrum is discussed. The concurrent existence of various rhythms in biochemical and physiological processes that differ in period and phase within a single ecotype of C. rubrum clearly reflects the possible involvement of metabolic activity in circadian rhythms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Wannicke ◽  
Achim Herrmann ◽  
Michelle M. Gehringer

AbstractHeterocystous Cyanobacteria of the genus Nodularia form major blooms in brackish waters, while terrestrial Nostoc species occur worldwide, often associated in biological soil crusts. Both genera, by virtue of their ability to fix N2 and conduct oxygenic photosynthesis, contribute significantly to global primary productivity. Select Nostoc and Nodularia species produce the hepatotoxin nodularin and whether its production will change under climate change conditions needs to be assessed. In light of this, the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 availability on growth, carbon and N2 fixation as well as nodularin production were investigated in toxin and non-toxin producing species of both genera. Results highlighted the following: Biomass and volume specific biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) rates were respectively almost six and 17 fold higher in the aquatic Nodularia species compared to the terrestrial Nostoc species tested, under elevated CO2 conditions. There was a direct correlation between elevated CO2 and decreased dry weight specific cellular nodularin content in a diazotrophically grown terrestrial Nostoc species, and the aquatic Nodularia species, regardless of nitrogen availability. Elevated atmospheric CO2 levels were correlated to a reduction in biomass specific BNF rates in non-toxic Nodularia species. Nodularin producers exhibited stronger stimulation of net photosynthesis rates (NP) and growth (more positive Cohen’s d) and less stimulation of dark respiration and BNF per volume compared to non-nodularin producers under elevated CO2 levels. This study is the first to provide information on NP and nodularin production under elevated atmospheric CO2 levels for Nodularia and Nostoc species under nitrogen replete and diazotrophic conditions.


1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
EY Sambo ◽  
J Moorby ◽  
FL Milthorpe

Net CO2 uptake by soybean pods in the light was much less and output in darkness much greater than from equal areas of leaves. The net photosynthesis decreased, becoming negative, and dark respiration increased as seed filling progressed. The photochemical efficiency was the same but the diffusive resistance of pods was about twice and the internal resistance two to three times those of leaves. Fluxes into open deseeded pods were initially much greater than into intact pods but drying out of the tissue soon led to fluxes only about three times greater. From these measurements and light- and CO2-response curves of intact pods, estimates of gross photosynthesis, photorespiration and dark respiration of seeds and hulls were made. These indicated that seed reassimilated slightly more CO2 than they respired when young and about two-thirds thereof at a later stage. Hulls fixed about similar amounts but these were insufficient to prevent net effluxes from pods during the later stages of their development, even at irradiances of 190 W m-2. On a daily basis, direct uptake of CO2 made a negligible contribution to the total import of dry weight by the pod; nevertheless, photosynthesis in the seeds and hulls refixed some 50-70% of the CO2 respired by these tissues.


1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (17) ◽  
pp. 1805-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. A. Little ◽  
K. Loach

The hypothesis that exogenous gibberellic acid (GA3) increases height growth in tree species partly because it stimulates the rate of net photosynthesis (PN) was investigated in the conifer balsam fir (Abies balsamea L.). In long-term experiments, the normal growth pattern of 4- and 5-year-old potted trees was changed by GA3 applied in both an aqueous soil drench (20 mg per tree, thrice weekly; or 50 mg per tree, twice weekly) and a foliar spray (1000 ppm, weekly) for about 3 months. Effects included increased longitudinal and radial growth in the leader and longest lateral in the uppermost whorl, enhancement of shoot apical dominance, increased needle length, and decreased root weight – top weight ratio. Nevertheless, the Pn and productive capacity of the current and 1-year-old needles in the GA3-treated and control trees were the same, measured during and at the end of the treatment period. In short-term experiments, the 1000-ppm GA3 spray did not affect PN of current-year needles, measured 3 h up to 7 days after one or two applications. PN of current-year cuttings also was not altered by feeding through the basal end (1) 0.25, 2.5, 25, or250 ppm GA3 for 4 h; or(2) 10 or 100 ppm GA3 for24 h. Feeding25 or250 ppm GA3 for 48 h through the distal portion of an attached, current shoot decreased PN in the proximal portion. Collectively, the results indicate that exogenous GA3 increases height growth in balsam fir by altering the normal distribution of photosynthate, not through increasing photosynthate production.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1995-1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. A. Little

The contents of starch, total sugar, crude fat, and moisture were determined during the spring (late March until mid-June) in needles, bark, and wood of 1-year-old balsam fir shoots variously shaded, defoliated, and girdled in late March. The starch content in control shoots peaked during the first week in June, about the time vigorous current shoot elongation began. Shading reduced the concentrations of both starch and total sugar throughout the experimental period, while defoliation decreased them after about mid-spring. Girdling increased the carbohydrate content during early spring in both shaded and unshaded shoots, but decreased it in defoliated shoots. It is concluded that the bulk of the starch accumulating in conifers during the spring is derived from current photosynthesis, the rest being regenerated from carbohydrates produced during the previous year and stored overwinter. Timing the lifting date to maximize the springtime accumulation of starch might be an important consideration when transplanting conifer seedlings.


1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Sancho ◽  
B. Schroeter ◽  
F. Valladares

AbstractNet photosynthesis (NP) and dark respiration (DR) of thalli of the lichen species Umbilicaria grisea and U. freyi growing together in the same habitat the Sierra de Guadarrama, central Spain, were measured under controlled conditions in the laboratory and under natural conditions in the field over a range of photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD), thallus temperatures and thallus water contents. Laboratory experiments revealed that the photosynthetic response to PPFD at optimum thallus water content is very similar in both species. The light compensation points of NP increased from PPFD of c. 20 µmol m−2 s−1 at 0°C up to c. 100 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD at 25°C. In both species light saturation was not reached up to 700 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD except at 0°C. By contrast, the temperature dependence of CO2 gas exchange differed substantially between U. grisea and U. freyi. Both species gave significant rates at 0°C. Optimal temperatures of NP were always higher in U. grisea at various PPFD levels if the samples were kept at optimal thallus water content. NP showed maximal rates at 95% dw in U. grisea and 110% dw in U. freyi respectively. In U. grisea a much stronger depression of NP was observed with only 5% of maximal NP reached at 180% dw. At all PPFD and temperature combinations U. freyi showed higher rates of NP and more negative rates of DR if calculated on a dry weight basis. This was also true under natural conditions at the same site, when U. freyi was always more productive than U. grisea. The differences in the photosynthetic response to temperature between both species correlated well with the different distribution patterns of both species. The possibility of genetic control of the physiological performance of these species and its influence on their distribution patterns and autecology is discussed.


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