The influence of supra-optimal root-zone temperatures on growth and stomatal conductance in Capsicum annuum L

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants were grown aeroponically in a Singapore greenhouse under natural diurnally fluctuating ambient shoot temperatures, but at two different root-zone temperatures (RZTs): a constant 20 +/- 2 degrees C RZT and a diurnally fluctuating ambient (A) (25-40 degrees C) RZT. Plants grown at 20-RZT had more leaves, greater leaf area and dry weight than A-RZT plants. Reciprocal transfer experiments were conducted between RZTs to investigate the effect on plant growth, stomatal conductance (gs) and water relations. Transfer of plants from A-RZT to 20-RZT increased plant dry weight, leaf area, number of leaves, shoot water potential (psi shoot), and gs; while transfer of plants from 20-RZT to A-RZT decreased these parameters. Root hydraulic conductivity was measured in the latter transfer and decreased by 80% after 23 d at A-RZT. Transfer of plants from 20-RZT to A-RZT had no effect on xylem ABA concentration or xylem nitrate concentration, but reduced xylem sap pH by 0.2 units. At both RZTs, gs measured in the youngest fully expanded leaves increased with plant development. In plants with the same number of leaves, A-RZT plants had a higher gs than 20-RZT plants, but only under high atmospheric vapour pressure deficit. The roles of chemical signals and hydraulic factors in controlling gs of aeroponically grown Capsicum plants at different RZTs are discussed.     

Root-zone CO2 and root-zone temperature effects on photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism of aeroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in the tropics

Effects of elevated root-zone (RZ) CO₂ concentration (RZ [CO₂]) and RZ temperature (RZT) on photosynthesis, productivity, nitrate (NO₃ ^?), total reduced nitrogen (TRN), total leaf soluble and Rubisco proteins were studied in aeroponically grown lettuce plants in a tropical greenhouse. Three weeks after transplanting, four different RZ [CO₂] concentrations (ambient, 360 ppm, and elevated concentrations of 2,000; 10,000; and 50,000 ppm) were imposed on plants at 20°C-RZT or ambient(A)-RZT (24–38°C). Elevated RZ [CO₂] resulted in significantly higher light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, but lower light-saturated stomatal conductance. Higher elevated RZ [CO₂] also protected plants from both chronic and dynamic photoinhibition (measured by chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm ratio) and reduced leaf water loss. Under each RZ [CO₂], all these variables were significantly higher in 20°C-RZT plants than in A-RZT plants. All plants accumulated more biomass at elevated RZ [CO₂] than at ambient RZ [CO₂]. Greater increases of biomass in roots than in shoots were manifested by lower shoot/root ratios at elevated RZ [CO₂]. Although the total biomass was higher at 20°C-RZT, the increase in biomass under elevated RZ [CO₂] was greater at A-RZT. Shoot NO₃ ^? and TRN concentrations, total leaf soluble and Rubisco protein concentrations were higher in all elevated RZ [CO₂] plants than in plants under ambient RZ [CO₂] at both RZTs. Under each RZ [CO₂], total leaf soluble and Rubisco protein concentrations were significantly higher at 20°C-RZT than at A-RZT. Our results demonstrated that increased P _Nmax and productivity under elevated [CO₂] was partially due to the alleviation of midday water loss, both dynamic and chronic photoinhibition as well as higher turnover of Calvin cycle with higher Rubisco proteins.     

Root-zone temperature effects on photosynthesis, <Superscript>14</Superscript>C-photoassimilate partitioning and growth of temperate lettuce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactuca sativa</Emphasis> cv. ‘Panama’) in the tropics

The effect of root growth temperature on maximal photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation (P _max), carbohydrate content, ¹⁴C-photoassimilate partitioning, growth, and root morphology of lettuce was studied after transfer of the root system from cool root-zone temperature (C-RZT) of 20 °C to hot ambient-RZT (A-RZT) and vice versa. Four days after RZT transfer, P _max and leaf total soluble sugar content were highest and lowest, respectively, in C-RZT and A-RZT plants. P _max and total leaf soluble sugar content were much lower in plants transferred from C-to A-RZT (C→A-RZT) than in C-RZT plants. However, these two parameters were much higher in plants transferred from A-to C-RZT (A→C-RZT) than in A-RZT plants. A-RZT and C→A-RZT plants had higher root total soluble sugar content than A→C-RZT and C-RZT plants. Leaf total insoluble sugar content was similar in leaves of all plants while it was the highest in the roots of C-RZT plants. Developing leaves of C-RZT plants had higher ¹⁴C-photoassimilate content than A-RZT plants. The A→C-RZT plants also had higher ¹⁴C-photoassimilate content in their developing leaves than A-RZT plants. However, more ¹⁴C-photoassimilates were translocated to the roots of A-RZT and C→A-RZT plants, but they were mainly used for root thickening than for its elongation. Increases in leaf area, shoot and root fresh mass were slower in C→A-RZT than in C-RZT plants. Conversely, A→C-RZT plants had higher increases in these parameters than A-RZT plants. Lower root/shoot ratio (R/S) in C-RZT than in A-RZT plants confirmed that more photoassimilates were channelled to the shoots than to the roots of C-RZT plants. Roots of C-RZT plants had greater total length with a greater number of tips and surface area, and smaller average diameter as compared to A-RZT plants. In C→A-RZT plants, there was root thickening but the increases in its length, tip number and surface area decreased. The reverse was observed for A→C-RZT plants. These results further supported the idea that newly fixed photoassimilates contributed more to root thickening than to root elongation in A-RZT and C→A-RZT plants.     

铁皮石斛叶片光合作用的碳代谢途径

 利用LI-6400光合测定系统测定了不同天气条件下铁皮石斛（Dendrobium officinale）叶片24h CO2吸收的动态以及CO2吸收对光强和温度的响应。晴天的白天和夜间铁皮石斛都能吸收CO2,中午CO2吸收速率为负值, CO2的交换方式具景天酸代谢途径(CAM)的特点。阴雨天,只有白天吸收CO2,夜间表现为暗呼吸,光合作用碳代谢的途径为C3途径。在多云的天气条件下,白天吸收CO2,并持续至日落后。夜间21∶00仍有CO2吸收,23∶00以后至次日凌晨处于暗呼吸状态。在500 μmol·m-2·s-1光照件下,20℃出现最大CO2吸收值。在夜间,25℃时CO2的吸收速率最高。有光和无光条件下,低温或高温引起CO2吸收速率下降均为非气孔因素所致。晴天上午,铁皮石斛叶片的表观量子产额为0.035,光合补偿点为2.9μmol·m-2·s-1,饱和光强为500μmol·m-2·s-1,强光下出现光抑制现象。叶片受到强光预先照射后,即使光照减弱光抑制效应仍保持一段时间,致使光合补偿点升高,表观量子产额下降,相同光强下的CO2吸收效率降低。结果表明：铁皮石斛为兼性CAM植物,随着环境条件的变化,其光合作用在景天酸代谢途径(CAM)与C3途径间变化。     

间作对桑树和谷子生长和光合日变化的影响

以桑树和谷子为研究材料,探讨了大田条件下,桑树-谷子间作对桑树和谷子的干物质生产、土地利用率和光合日变化的影响.结果表明:桑树-谷子间作条件下,间作桑树的株高、地茎、根长和枝条数分别比单作桑树增加了6.0％、13.7％、6.8％和14.8％,且间作桑树的产叶量比单作桑树增加了31.3％;间作谷子与单作比较,其株高和根长的变化不大.桑树-谷子间作增加了土地当量比,提高了土地利用率.单作、间作桑树和谷子叶片在12:00时均表现出明显的光合午休现象,且单作桑树的光合午休现象比间作桑树严重.桑树-谷子间作提高了中午时桑树叶片气孔导度和水分利用率,增加了桑树光合碳同化能力,抑制了桑树叶片实际光化学效率、电子传递速率和最大光化学效率的下降,从而减缓了桑树的“光合午休”现象.桑树-谷子间作能明显提高桑树叶片的光合生产能力.     

不同干旱胁迫下欧李光合及叶绿素荧光参数的响应

采用人为控制土壤含水量的方法对欧李进行轻度和重度干旱的处理,测定叶片的气体交换和叶绿素荧光参数的日变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫下欧李叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率、气孔导度、PSII最大光化学效率、光化学量子效率显著下降,但胞间CO2浓度、非光化学猝灭系数以及叶黄素循脱环氧化状态（Z＋0.5A）/（V＋A＋Z）和Z含量升高。两干旱处理植株的影响程度存在差异。这表明在长时间干旱条件下,欧李叶片光合作用的降低受到气孔与非气孔因素的双重影响,叶黄素循环的启动增加了胁迫条件下的热耗散能力以保护光合机构免受干旱胁迫的进一步伤害。     

重金属对盐生草光合生理生长特性的影响

以盐生草幼苗为试验材料,分别设置0(CK)、50、100、200、400μg?g-1的Ni2+、Cu2+处理,研究重金属Ni2+和Cu2+对盐生草光合生理特性的影响.结果表明:盐生草叶片光合色素含量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度Gs、蒸腾速率Tr、PSⅡ最大光化学效率Fv/Fm、非光化学猝灭系数qN及生长指标(株高、地上部干重和鲜重)在50μg?g-1的Ni2+处理时均达到最大值,后随Ni2+浓度继续增加,其叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b、Pn、Gs、Tr、Fv/Fm、PSⅡ电子传递量子产率ΦPSⅡ、光化学猝灭系数qP、qN及各项生长指标逐步下降并低于对照水平,而细胞间隙CO2浓度(Ci)较对照呈增加趋势.在50μg?g-1的Cu2+处理时,盐生草叶片光合色素含量、Pn、Gs、Tr、Ci、Fv/Fm、ΦPSⅡ、qP、qN及各项生长指标均达峰值;在100μg?g-1Cu2+处理时,光合色素含量、Pn、Gs、Tr、Fv/Fm、ΦPSⅡ、qN及各项生长指标较对照仍有增加,而后随Cu2+浓度继续增加,其叶绿素a、叶绿素b、各光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数及生长指标均逐步降低并低于对照.可见,盐生草Pn在Ni2+胁迫下的下降主要是由非气孔限制所致,而Cu2+胁迫下的下降主要是由气孔限制所致;低浓度Ni2+和Cu2+对盐生草生长具有一定促进作用,过高浓度Ni2+和Cu2+则会通过抑制盐生草叶片叶绿素合成,影响其光合作用,从而抑制植株生长.     

水分胁迫和温度对夏蜡梅叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光特性的影响

夏蜡梅是浙江省特有的濒危单种属物种.本文研究了不同程度土壤水分胁迫和不同温度处理对2年生盆栽夏蜡梅光合作用的影响.结果表明:轻度和中度水分胁迫下夏蜡梅净光合速率分别下降至对照的92.3%和74.3%,净光合速率的降低主要由气孔限制引起;重度水分胁迫下,净光合速率仅为对照的44.4%,主要由非气孔限制引起.夏季夏蜡梅的光合适宜温度范围在20 ℃～28 ℃,39 ℃下其净光合速率、水分利用效率和最大光化学效率显著降低,暗呼吸速率和蒸腾速率显著升高.随着水分胁迫的加重及处理温度的升高,夏蜡梅光补偿点上升,光饱和点、表观量子效率和最大净光合速率下降.重度水分胁迫及高温是制约夏蜡梅生存的重要环境因子.     

三种相思植物对短期大气污染的响应

3种2－3年生相思盆栽于代表不同污染程度的交通繁忙区、工业生产区和相对清洁区,4个月后进行植物叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光特征参数的测定。结果表明,生长在污染区的相思植物的净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（gs）和光系统Ⅱ原初光化学效率（Fv／Fm）均出现不同程度的下降,下降幅度因植物种类和污染类型的不同而有差异,不同实验点上大腺相思叶片蒸腾速率（E）和水分利用效率（WUE）则维持相对稳定,多花和流苏相思的WUE均以污染环境下较低,根据Pn、gs和Fv/Fm的变化以及实验点上其它植物对应测定值比,推测3种相思植物对大气污染都表现出中等强度的抗性,且多花相思和流苏相思相对好于大腺相思。     

An assessment of the role of ethylene in mediating lettuce (Lactuca sativa) root growth at high temperatures

Growth of temperate lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants aeroponically in tropical greenhouses under ambient root-zone temperatures (A-RZTs) exposes roots to temperatures of up to 40 degrees C during the middle of the day, and severely limits root and shoot growth. The role of ethylene in inhibiting growth was investigated with just-germinated (24-h-old) seedlings in vitro, and 10-d-old plants grown aeroponically. Compared with seedlings maintained at 20 degrees C, root elongation in vitro was inhibited by 39% and root diameter increased by 25% under a temperature regime (38 degrees C/24 degrees C for 7 h/17 h) that simulated A-RZT in the greenhouse. The effects on root elongation were partially alleviated by supplying the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors aminooxyacetic acid (100-500 microM) or aminoisobutyric acid (5-100 microM) to the seedlings. Application of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid to seedlings grown at 20 degrees C mimicked the high temperature effects on root elongation (1 microM) and root diameter (1 mM). Compared with plants grown at a constant 20 degrees C root-zone temperature, A-RZT plants showed decreased stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, shoot and root biomass, total root length, the number of root tips, and root surface area, but increased average root diameter. Addition of 10 microM ACC to the nutrient solution of plants grown at a constant 20 degrees C root-zone temperature mimicked the effects of A-RZT on these parameters but did not influence relative water content. Addition of 30 microM aminoisobutyric acid or 100 microM aminooxyacetic acid to the nutrient solution of A-RZT plants increased stomatal conductance and relative water content and decreased average root diameter, but had no effect on other root parameters or root and shoot biomass or photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation. Although ethylene is important in regulating root morphology and elongation at A-RZT, the failure of ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors to influence shoot carbon gain limits their use in ameliorating the growth inhibition induced by A-RZT.     

热带林下人工种植阳春砂仁的生长与果实产量动态

调查了西双版纳不同海拔热带沟谷雨林和次生林下的阳春砂仁生长和果实产量动态.结果表明,西双版纳热带林下阳春砂仁自身年龄增长、林下光照不足和旱季水分胁迫影响阳春砂仁果实产量.随种植期增加,阳春砂仁果实产量和成熟植株密度降低.当林下光照水平在全日照的35%以下时,阳春砂仁果实产量随林下日照水平变化呈线性增加(P<0.05).沟谷下方阳春砂仁果实产量显著高于上方(P<0.05).海拔600～1000m,由于阳春砂仁的主花期从干热季3～4月推迟到雨季5月,果实产量显著增加.沟谷雨林和次生林下阳春砂仁果实产量差异不显著.因此,在海拔800～1000m沟谷中轮歇地次生林下有计划种植阳春砂仁,代替在沟谷雨林下种植阳春砂仁,既能解决沟谷雨林下光照和当地旱季水分不足对阳春砂仁果实产量的影响,又有利于热带沟谷雨林的保护.     

Paraheliotropism can protect water-stressed bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants against photoinhibition

In order to estimate the importance of leaf movements on photosynthesis in well-watered and water-stressed field grown bean cultivars (Arroz Tuscola (AT), Orfeo INIA (OI), Bayos Titan (BT), and Hallados Dorado (HD)), CO2 assimilation, leaf temperature, and capacity for the maximum quantum yield recovery, measured as Fv/Fm, were assessed. Leaf water potential was lower in water-stressed compared to control plants throughout the day. Water status determined a decrease in the CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance as light intensity and temperature increased up to maximal intensities at midday. Both parameters were lower in stressed compared to control plants. Even though high light intensity and water-stress induced stomatal closure is regarded as a photoinhibitory condition, the recovery of variable to maximal fluorescence (Fv/Fm) after 30min of darkness was nearly constant in both water regimes. In fact, higher values were observed in OI and AT when under stress. Photochemical and non-photochemical fluorescence quenching resulted in minor changes during the day and were similar between watered and stressed plants. It is concluded that paraheliotropism, present in the four bean cultivars, efficiently protects stressed plants from photoinhibition in the field and helps maintain leaf temperatures far below the ambient temperatures, however, it may also be responsible for low CO2 assimilation rates in watered plants.     

Photosynthetic responses of the tropical spiny shrub Lycium nodosum (Solanaceae) to drought, soil salinity and saline spray

Water relations and photosynthetic characteristics of plants of Lycium nodosum grown under increasing water deficit (WD), saline spray (SS) or saline irrigation (SI) were studied. Plants of this perennial, deciduous shrub growing in the coastal thorn scrubs of Venezuela show succulent leaves which persist for approx. 1 month after the beginning of the dry season; leaf succulence is higher in populations closer to the sea. These observations suggested that L. nodosum is tolerant both to WD and salinity. In the glasshouse, WD caused a marked decrease in the xylem water potential (psi), leaf osmotic potential (psi(s)) and relative water content (RWC) after 21 d; additionally, photosynthetic rate (A), carboxylation efficiency (CE) and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased by more than 90 %. In contrast, in plants treated for 21 d with a foliar spray with 35 per thousand NaCl or irrigation with a 10 % NaCl solution, psi and RWC remained nearly constant, while psi(s) decreased by 30 %, and A, CE and gs decreased by more than 80 %. An osmotic adjustment of 0.60 (SS) and 0.94 MPa (SI) was measured. Relative stomatal and mesophyll limitations to A increased with both WD and SS, but were not determined for SI-treated plants. No evidence of chronic photoinhibition due to any treatment was observed, since maximum quantum yield of PSII, Fv/Fm, did not change with either drought in the field or water or salinity stress in the glasshouse. Nevertheless, WD and SI treatments caused a decrease in the photochemical (qP) and an increase in the non-photochemical (qN) quenching coefficients relative to controls; qN was unaffected by the SS treatment. The occurrence of co-limitation of A by stomatal and non-stomatal factors in plants of L. nodosum may be associated with the extended leaf duration under water or saline stress. Additionally, osmotic adjustment may partly explain the relative maintenance of A and gs in the SS and SI treatments and the tolerance to salinity of plants of this species in coastal habitats.     

田间小麦叶片光合效率日变化与光合“午睡”的关系

小麦灌浆初期叶片(旗叶)晴天中午光合速率下降(“午睡”)伴随了气孔导度、胞间CO_2浓度下降,而气孔限制值中午升高,进一步证实气孑L中午关闭是光合“午睡”的一个重要原因。叶片光合效率的中午下降并非都伴随着光合“午睡”现象。当两者同时发生时,胞间CO_2浓度降低,而光合速率与气孔导度、胞间CO_2浓度之间的相关性高于光合速率与光合效率之间的相关性。这些事实表明。即使光合效率中午下降是光合“午睡”的部分原因,但较之气孔中午关闭只是一个次要原因。     

钾肥对灌桨期冬小麦群体内叶片光合特性的影响

通过在连续6年施钾与不施钾处理的试验区内,对冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)灌浆期群体内旗叶叶片光合特性的研究表明,施用钾肥时,最大净光合速率(Pmax)增加,光饱和点(LSP)和光补偿点(LcP)提高,表观量子效率(α)降低,表观暗呼吸速率(Rd)略有上升;施钾与不施钾处理的净光合速率(Pn)日变化,晴天和阴天均呈单峰曲线,晴天午前与午后及阴天各时刻的瞬间净光合速率(Pn)下降的主要原因是“气孔因素”,而晴天中午前后则更主要是由于“非气孔因素”作用。     

额济纳荒漠河岸胡杨林叶片气孔导度与微环境因子关系的模拟研究

以额济纳荒漠河岸胡杨(Populus euphratica)为研究对象,利用LI-6400光合测定仪于2005年5~9月份观测了胡杨叶片气体交换数据,研究了胡杨叶片气孔导度与光合速率、光合有效辐射与光合速率之间的关系.结果表明:(1)胡杨叶片净光合速率随气孔导度的增大而升高,但当气孔导度增加到一定值后,光合速率的增加变缓慢直至平稳,并主要是非气孔限制因素造成的;Ball-Berry模型(B-B模型)能够很好地描述气孔导度与光合速率之间的关系(R2=0.92).(2)叶片净光合速率随着有效辐射的变化符合非直角双曲线规律(R2=0.99).(3)B-B模型和非直角双曲线光合模型耦合后模拟值与观测值之间存在很好的正相关性(r=0.93),但耦合模型的模拟值还是较实测值偏大.因此,在干旱区还必须考虑水分限制因素对气孔开闭的控制作用,进一步构建适合干旱区生态系统特点的水-碳耦合循环机理模型.     

干旱胁迫和CO2浓度升高条件下白羊草的光合特征

采用盆栽控制试验,研究了黄土丘陵区乡土种白羊草在不同水分水平(80%FC和40%FC)和CO₂浓度(375和750 μmol·m^-2·s^-1) 处理下的光合生理变化特征.结果表明： 干旱胁迫使白羊草的最大净光合速率(P_nmax)、表观量子效率(AQE)、气孔导度(g_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、潜在光化学效率(F_v/F_o)和光合色素含量降低,丙二醛(MDA)和脯氨酸(Pro)含量升高.水分充足条件下,与正常大气CO₂浓度相比,大气CO₂浓度倍增下白羊草的P_{n max}、MDA和Pro含量无显著差异.干旱胁迫下,CO₂浓度升高提高了白羊草的最大荧光(F_m)、F_v/F_m、F_v/F_o、叶绿素含量和AQE, P_nmax比正常CO₂浓度下高23.3%,差异达到显著水平,而MDA和Pro含量均显著降低.CO₂浓度升高对干旱胁迫引起的白羊草光合能力下降有一定的补偿作用,减轻了干旱胁迫对白羊草的伤害.     

Dirunal leaf movement, chlorophyll fluorescence and carbon assimilation in soybean grown under different nitrogen and water availabilities

Diurnal heliotropic leaf movements, photosynthetic gas exchange, and the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of unrestrained and horizontally restrained leaves from soybean (Glycine max cv. Cumberland) plants grown in two different water and two different nitrogen treatments were measured. Leaves of plants grown in low water or low nitrogen availability treatments displayed more pronounced diaheliotropism (solar tracking) in the afternoon and a longer period of paraheliotropism (light avoiding) at midday relative to those of well-watered, high-nitrogen-grown plants. Photosaturated photosynthetic rates and the photon flux required to saturate photosynthesis were reduced by water stress and nitrogen deficiency. Compared to horizontal leaves, irradiance on orienting leaves was nearer to the breakpoint of the photosynthetic light response curve, where photosynthesis is co-limited by ribulose biphosphate regeneration and carboxylation. This would increase the carbon return on investments of nitrogen into photosynthesis. A positive linear relationship between Fv/Fm and quantum yield of photosynthesis was measured. Leaves of low-nitrogen-grown plants had earlier and more prolonged reductions in Fv/Fm at midday compared to leaves of high nitrogen grown plants of the same water treatment. Within the same water and nitrogen treatment, horizontally restrained leaves had lower midday Fv/Fm in relation to orienting leaves. Nitrogen deficiency and water stress enhanced this difference such that horizontally restrained leaves of low water and low nitrogen grown plants had earlier and longer midday depressions in Fv/Fm.     

The contribution of photosynthesis to the red light response of stomatal conductance

To determine the contribution of photosynthesis on stomatal conductance, we contrasted the stomatal red light response of wild-type tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum 'W38') with that of plants impaired in photosynthesis by antisense reductions in the content of either cytochrome b(6)f complex (anti-b/f plants) or Rubisco (anti-SSU plants). Both transgenic genotypes showed a lowered content of the antisense target proteins in guard cells as well as in the mesophyll. In the anti-b/f plants, CO(2) assimilation rates were proportional to leaf cytochrome b(6)f content, but there was little effect on stomatal conductance and the rate of stomatal opening. To compare the relationship between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, wild-type plants and anti-SSU plants were grown at 30 and 300 micromol photon m(-2) s(-1) irradiance (low light and medium light [ML], respectively). Growth in ML increased CO(2) assimilation rates and stomatal conductance in both genotypes. Despite the significantly lower CO(2) assimilation rate in the anti-SSU plants, the differences in stomatal conductance between the genotypes were nonsignificant at either growth irradiance. Irrespective of plant genotype, stomatal density in the two leaf surfaces was 2-fold higher in ML-grown plants than in low-light-grown plants and conductance normalized to stomatal density was unaffected by growth irradiance. We conclude that the red light response of stomatal conductance is independent of the concurrent photosynthetic rate of the guard cells or of that of the underlying mesophyll. Furthermore, we suggest that the correlation of photosynthetic capacity and stomatal conductance observed under different light environments is caused by signals largely independent of photosynthesis.     

Evidence for involvement of photosynthetic processes in the stomatal response to CO2

Stomatal conductance (gs) typically declines in response to increasing intercellular CO2 concentration (ci). However, the mechanisms underlying this response are not fully understood. Recent work suggests that stomatal responses to ci and red light (RL) are linked to photosynthetic electron transport. We investigated the role of photosynthetic electron transport in the stomatal response to ci in intact leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) plants by examining the responses of gs and net CO2 assimilation rate to ci in light and darkness, in the presence and absence of the photosystem II inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), and at 2% and 21% ambient oxygen. Our results indicate that (1) gs and assimilation rate decline concurrently and with similar spatial patterns in response to DCMU; (2) the response of gs to ci changes slope in concert with the transition from Rubisco- to electron transport-limited photosynthesis at various irradiances and oxygen concentrations; (3) the response of gs to ci is similar in darkness and in DCMU-treated leaves, whereas the response in light in non-DCMU-treated leaves is much larger and has a different shape; (4) the response of gs to ci is insensitive to oxygen in DCMU-treated leaves or in darkness; and (5) stomata respond normally to RL when ci is held constant, indicating the RL response does not require a reduction in ci by mesophyll photosynthesis. Together, these results suggest that part of the stomatal response to ci involves the balance between photosynthetic electron transport and carbon reduction either in the mesophyll or in guard cell chloroplasts.