Temperature Response of Whole-plant CO2 Exchange Rates of Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.)
Photosynthesis and respiration temperature-response curves are useful in predicting the ability of plants to perform under different environmental conditions. Whole crop CO2 exchange of two groups of magnolia `Greenback' plants was measured over a 26 °C temperature range. Net photosynthesis (Pnet) increased from 2 to 17% C and decreased again at higher temperatures. The Q10 for Pnet decreased from ≈4 at 6 °C to 0.5 at 24 °C. The decrease in Pnet at temperatures over 17 °C was caused by a rapid increase in dark respiration (Rdark) with increasing temperature. The Q10 for Rdark was estimated by fitting an exponential curve to data, resulting in a temperature-independent Q10 of 2.8. Gross photosynthesis (Pgross), estimated as the sum of Rdark and Pnet, increased over the entire temperature range (up to 25 °C). The Q10 for Pgross decreased with increasing temperature, but remained higher than 1. The data suggest that high respiration rates may be the limiting factor for growth of magnolia exposed to high temperatures, since it may result in a net carbon loss from the plants. At temperatures below 5 °C, both Pnet and Rdark become low and the net CO2 exchange of the plants would be expected to be minimal.