不同氮源下生长的柚树叶片光合参数对高浓度CO2驯化作用的比较

比较研究了在不同形式氮源下生长柚树叶片光合对高浓度 CO2 驯化过程中有关参数变化。植株生长在人工混成土壤中 ,分别浇灌含有 2 mmol L- 1N的 NO- 3 - N,NH+ 4 - N和 NH4 NO3- N溶液。空气 CO2 增高处理时向生长植株的开顶透明罩中通入 74.4Pa CO2 ,以空气 CO2 生长的植株为对照。利用 CI- 30 1 ( CID,Inc) CO2 气体交换系统测定叶片光合速率和通过光合作用相关响应曲线计算光合参数。结果表明 ,在 CO2分压倍增下 ,NO- 3 - N生长植株光饱和光合速率较大气 CO2 分压下的高。而生长在 NH+ 4 - N和 NH4 NO3- N的植株光合速率与大气 CO2 分压下的相近 ,表现对高 CO2 的驯化。在空气 CO2 倍增下无论供给何种形式氮源并不影响Γ* ,但可增高 Rd( P<0 .0 5 )。 CO2 分压倍增下供给 NO- 3 - N植株的 Vcmax和 Jmax较大气分压相应的植株高 ,而 NH+ 4 - N和 NH4 NO3- N植株则与大气 CO2分压的相应植株相似 ( P>0 .0 5 )。无论供给何种形式氮源 ,生长在空气 CO2 分压倍增下不改变叶片单位面积干重 ,叶绿素含量和叶片中氮在 Rubisco、生物能学组分和捕光色素复合体组分的分配系数 ;但能改变叶片中氮含量。植物对高 CO2 的驯化可能受到不同形式氮利用性的影响 ,在对高 CO2 驯化过程亦反映叶片中氮在不同光合功能组分     

柚树叶片CO2驯化的光合参数变化

柚树(Citrus grandis)幼树生长在砂和石至石的生长介质.每周供给0.05mmol P(正常P,P)和0.1mmol P(高磷,2P)的营养液.植株分别生长在空气CO₂分压(约39Pa)和倍增CO₂分压(81±5Pa)下45d.利用CI-301PS(CID,Inc)光合作用测定系统在较高光强(1150μmol·m^-2·s^-1)下测定叶片光合速率并得出的Pn-Pi关系曲线和在较高CO₂分压(PCO₂,56Pa)下得出Pn-PAR关系曲线计算有关光合参数.结果表明,大气CO₂分压下2P植株最大光合速率较P植株高13.3%,倍增CO₂分压下,无论P或2P植株最大光合速率较大气CO₂分压下相应植株低,但在倍增CO₂分压下2P植株较P植株高.且2P植株有较P植株高的表观量子产率和光能利用效率(P<0.05),但并不改变Γ^*、Rd和Rubisco羧化速率(Vc)和氧速率的比率(P>0.05).在大气CO₂分压下2P植株的V_cmax和J_max较P植株分别高8.3%和12.5%.在倍增CO₂分压下2P植株的V_cmax和J_max均较P植株高.柚树在高CO₂驯化中改变叶N在Rubisco和捕光组分分配系数,但不改变叶N在光合电子传递链的分配系数,结果表明,增加P供给可以促进高CO₂分压下光合碳循环中P的周转,提高倍增CO₂分压下植株的光合速率.调节柚树叶片的CO₂驯化的光合参数.     

倍增CO2分压对水稻和矶子草冠层光合潜力的影响

倍增CO2分压增高水稻的光饱和光合速率、表观量子产率和光能转换效率,而在倍增CO2分压下矶子草的相关光合参数降低,既水稻对高CO2分压表现为正响应,而矶子草在高CO2下光合作用下调。在倍增CO2分压下,水稻的Rubisco羧化速率和氧化速率均见增高,而矶子草在高CO2分压下,Rubisco羧化速率降低,而氧化速率略见增高。倍增CO2分压并不明显改变水稻的不包括光呼吸的CO2补偿点г^*,但矶子草г^*略见增高。在高CO2分压下可能改变矶子草Rubisco生化特性。倍增CO2分压降低两种供试植物的光下呼吸速率。水稻在倍增CO2分压下其Rubisco最大羧化速率(Vc max)和最大电子传递速率(Jmax)分别增高9．3％和20．7％,而矶子草在高CO2分压下则分别降低5．7％和3％。在倍增CO2分压下水稻的净光合量增高约5％,而矶子草则降低13％,植物种的不同特性可能影响植物在倍增CO2下的碳积累。随着全球气候变化和大气CO2,分压增高,将有利于发挥水稻高光合产率的优势,由于矶子草在高CO2分压下碳积累减少,从而可能限制其生长。大气CO2分压增高可能改变目前的水稻与杂草的生态关系而有利于控制杂草和改善田间耕作。     

空气CO2增高条件下荔枝叶片光合作用和超氧自由基产率

研究结果表明,生长在77±5PaCO2分压下30d的荔枝幼树,其光合速率较大气CO2分压（39.3Pa）下的低23％,光下线粒体呼吸速率和不包含光下呼吸的CO2补偿点亦略有降低。空气CO2增高使叶片最大羧化速率（Vcmax）和最大电子传递速率（Jmax）降低,表明大气增高CO2分压下叶片的光I(PSI)能量水平较低,呈片超氧自由基产率亦降低39％,叶片感染荔枝霜疫霉病率则从生长在大气CO2分压下的1.8％增至9.5％,可能较低光合和呼吸代谢诱致较低的超氧自由基产率,而使叶片易受病害侵染。叶片受病害侵染后表现为超氧自由基的激增。在全球大气CO2分压增高趋势下须加强对荔枝霜疫霉病的控制。     

供氮和增温对倍增二氧化碳浓度下荫香叶片光合作用的影响

供给0～0.6 mg N的盆栽荫香(Cinnamomum burmannii)幼树分别生长在倍增CO ₂(+CO₂,731 μmol·mol^-1)和正常空气CO ₂浓度(CO ₂,365 μmol·mol^-1)的生长箱内,昼夜温度分别为25/23 ℃和32/25 ℃,自然光照下生长30 d.以生长在CO₂和25/23 ℃下的植株为对照研究增温和氮对+CO₂叶片光合作用的影响.结果表明,在+CO₂和25/23 ℃下无氮和氮处理植株的平均光合速率(Pnsat)较+CO₂和32/25 ℃下的叶片高5.1%,温度增高降低叶片Pnsat;而Pnsat随供氮而增高.在+CO₂条件下,生长在32/25 ℃下的叶片Rubisco最大羧化速率(Vcmax)和最大电子传递速率(Jmax)较25/23 ℃下的低(P＜0.05),温度增高降低+CO₂下叶片的Vcmax和Jmax在+CO2下叶片光合呼吸速率(Rp)较低,生长温度增高提升Rp.在CO₂下生长温度从25/23 ℃增至32/25 ℃,叶片的Rubisco含量(NR)和Rubisco活化中心浓度(M)降低,而供氮能增高NR和M.供氮能减缓温度增高对倍增CO₂下荫香叶片光合作用的限制.     

柚树(Citrus grandis)叶片光合作用对补增UV-B辐射的响应

生长在人工光照 4 0 0μmol m- 2 s- 1 下的柚树幼树光合速率的最大值为 1 0 .2± 0 .5μmol m- 2 s- 1 ;而补增UV-B辐射 ( 3.8-4 .2μW cm- 2 ,2 4 5～ 2 97nm,4 5d)的叶片则为 6.4± 0 .8μmol m- 2 s- 1 ,较对照植株降低37.2 %。对照植物的表观量子产率 (固定 mol CO2 mol- 1量子 )为 0 .0 75± 0 .0 1 2 ,而经 UV-B辐射处理植株则为0 .0 4 1± 0 .0 0 8,明显较对照植株低。UV-B辐射处理使植株叶片的光呼吸和不包括光呼吸的 CO2 补偿点增高。对照植株叶片的最大值的 CO2 羧化速率 (μmol m- 2 s- 1 )为 57.1± 1 .5μmol m- 2 s- 1 ,较 UV-B辐射处理的高30 .9% ,而 UV-B辐射处理的植株的光合电子传递速率较对照低 30 %。同时 UV-B辐射植株叶片有较低的光能转化效率 ,其较对照低 39.1 % ,叶片亦含有较低的叶绿素含量。结果表明 ,UV-B辐射明显抑制叶片光合羧化速率和光合电子传递速率 ,UV-B辐射可能抑制包括 Rubisco羧化作用在内的多个光合生理过程 ,降低叶片光合速率。柚树叶片对 UV-B辐射敏感 ,选育抗 UV-B辐射的柚树品种势在必行。     

空气 NH3增高和不同氮源供应下大叶相思叶片光合参数的变化

生长在空气 NH3增高下 45 d的 NOˉ3- N大叶相思植株 ,其光饱和光合速率较对照的植株高 ;而生长在空气 NH3增高下的 NH 4- N和 NH4 NO3- N的大叶相思 ,当光强在 70 0 μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1左右时 Pn 达到最大值 ,较对照植株的要高。而当光强 >70 0 μmol·m- 2·s- 1时 ,Pn 降低 ,且较生长在对照条件下的低。表明在空气 NH3增高下生长的 NH 4- N和 NH4 NO3- N植株 ,其净光合速率 Pn会受到强光抑制。空气 NH3增高并不明显改变光呼吸 ( Rd)和无光呼吸下的 CO2 补充点 (Γ* )。无论生长在何种氮源下的大叶相思 ,其最大Ru BP饱和羧化速率 ( Vcmax)和最大电子传递速率 ( Jmax)均较生长在对照植株的高 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,其叶氮含量亦较高 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,其碳氮比较对照的低。在空气 NH3增高下 ,无论何种氮源生长的大叶相思 ,其 PR和 PB明显高于对照的植株 ,表明大叶相思能从空气 NH3中摄取和同化氮 ,增加氮积累和有利于 Rubisco和电子传递组分的合成 ,增高光合速率。空气 NH3增高可能有利于 Rubisco和电子传递组分的合成 ,在较低光强下能增高光合速率。空气 NH3增高可能有利于退化生态系统的生态恢复过程中的氮积累和先锋植物的早期生长。     

不同光强下焕镛木和观光木的光合参数变化

 生长在全日光强下的焕镛木(Woonyoungia septentrionalis)和观光木(Tsoongiodendron lotungensis)幼树叶片的最大光合速率、表观量子产率和光能转换效率均较生长在40%和20%日光强的高。当生长光强从全日光强降低至40%日光强时,焕镛木的表观量子产率和光能转换效率分别降低13.1%和6.3%,而观光木则相应分别降低23.8%和33.4%。生长光强降低至40%日光强时,焕镛木的Rubisco最大羧化速率(Vcmax)未见变化;而最大电子传递速率（Jmax）则降低14.1%,表明Jmax对光强降低的响应较Vcmax敏感。当生长光强从全日光强降低到40%和20%日光强时,观光木的Vcmax分别降低7.7%和31.7%,而Jmax则分别降低9.7%和42%。光强从全日光强降低至40%日光强,焕镛木叶氮在Rubisco和捕光叶绿素蛋白复合体中的分配系数没有明显改变,而叶氮在生物力能学组分中的分配系数降低则较为明显（20.4%）,表明生长光强降低对叶氮在光合电子传递链组分分配的影响较在Rubisco的大。结果表明,焕镛木表现阳生树种特性,在迁地保育中宜选择向阳小生境种植,而观光木较耐荫,可种植在较遮荫的环境。     

大气CO_2浓度升高对香蕉光合作用及光合碳循环过程中叶氮分配的影响

生长在高CO2 浓度 (70 0± 5 6 μl·L-1) 1周的香蕉叶片 ,其光合速率 (Pn ,μmol·m-2 ·s-1)为 5 .14± 0 .32 ,较生长在大气CO2 浓度 (35 6± 30lμl·L-1)的高 2 2 .1% ,而生长在较高CO2 浓度下 8周 ,叶片Pn较生长在大气CO2 浓度的低 18.1% ,表现香蕉叶片对较长期高CO2 浓度的驯化和光合作用抑制 .生长在高CO2 浓度的香蕉叶片有较低光下呼吸速率 (Rd) ,而不包括光下呼吸的CO2 补偿点则变幅较小 .最大羧化速率 (Vcmax)和电子传递速率 (J)分别较生长在大气CO2 浓度的低 30 .5 %和 14 .8% ,根据气体交换速率计算的表观量子产率 (α ,molCO2·mol-1光量子 ) ,生长在较高CO2 浓度下 8周的叶片为 0 .0 14± 0 .0 1,而生长在大气CO2 浓度下的为 0 .0 2 5±0 .0 0 5 .较高CO2 浓度下叶片的表观量子产率降低 44% .光能转换效率 (electrons·quanta-1)亦从 0 .2 0 3降低至0 .136 .生长在较高CO2 浓度下香蕉叶片的叶氮在Rubicos分配系数 (PR)、叶氮在生物力能学组分分配系数(PB)和叶氮在光捕组分的分配系数 (PL)均较生长在大气CO2 浓度低 ,表明在高CO2 浓度下较长期生长 (8周 )的香蕉叶片多个光合过程受抑制 ,光合活性明显降低 .     

施氮和大气CO2浓度升高对小麦旗叶光合电子传递和分配的影响

采用开顶式气室盆栽培养小麦,设计2个大气CO2浓度(正常:400 μmol.mol-1;高:760 μmol·mol-1)、2个氮素水平(0和200 mg·kg-1土)的组合处理,通过测定小麦抽穗期旗叶氮素和叶绿素浓度、光合速率(Pn)-胞间CO2浓度(C1)响应曲线及荧光动力学参数,来测算小麦叶片光合电子传递速率等,研究了高大气CO2浓度下施氮对小麦旗叶光合能量分配的影响.结果表明:与正常大气CO2浓度相比,高大气CO2浓度下小麦叶片氮浓度和叶绿素浓度降低,高氮处理的小麦叶片叶绿素a/b升高.施氮后小麦叶片PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ反应中心最大量子产额(Fv'/Fm')、PSⅡ反应中心的开放比例(qr)和PSⅡ反应中心实际光化学效率(φPSⅡ)在大气CO2浓度升高后无明显变化,虽然叶片非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)显著降低,但PSⅡ总电子传递速率(JF)无明显增加;不施氮处理的Fv'/Fm'、φPSⅡ和NPQ在高大气CO2浓度下显著降低,尽管Fv/Fm和qp无明显变化,JF仍显著下降.施氮后小麦叶片JF增加,参与光化学反应的非环式电子流传递速率(Jc)明显升高.大气CO2浓度升高使参与光呼吸的非环式电子流传递速率(J0)、Rubisco氧化速率(V0)、光合电子的光呼吸/光化学传递速率比(J0/Jc)和Rubisco氧化/羧化比(V0/Vc)降低,但使Jc和Rubisco羧化速率(Vc)增加.因此,高大气CO2浓度下小麦叶片氮浓度和叶绿素浓度降低,而增施氮素使通过PSⅡ反应中心的电子流速率显著增加,促进了光合电子流向光化学方向的传递,使更多的电子进入Rubisco羧化过程,Pn显著升高.     

Leaf and canopy photosynthetic characteristics of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) under elevated CO2 concentration and UV-B radiation

Increases in both atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on the Earth's surface are features of current climate change patterns. An experiment was conducted in sunlit, controlled environment chambers known as Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research (SPAR) units to determine interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and UV-B radiation on leaf and canopy photosynthetic characteristics of cotton. Six treatments were comprised of two CO2 levels of 360 (ambient) and 720 (elevated) microL L(-1) and three levels of 0 (control), 8, and 16 kJ m(-2) d(-1) biologically effective UV-B radiation. Treatments were imposed for 66 days from crop emergence through three weeks after the first flower stage. Plants grown in elevated [CO2] had significantly greater leaf area, higher leaf and canopy net photosynthetic rates (PN), lower dark respiration rate (Rd), and lower light compensation point (LCP) than plants grown in ambient [CO2]. There was no difference in CO2 compensation point (gamma), maximum rate of Rubisco activity (Vcmax), or light-saturated rate of electron transport (Jmax) between ambient and elevated CO2 treatments. When plants were grown in 8 kJ m(-2) d(-1) UV-B radiation, most of the measured photosynthetic parameters did not differ from control plants. High UV-B (16 kJ) radiation, however, caused 47-50% smaller leaf area, 38-44% lower leaf PN, 72-74% lower Vcmax, and 61-66% lower Jmax compared to the control. There were no interactive effects of [CO2] and UV-B radiation on most of the photosynthetic parameters measured. From the results, it is concluded that decreased canopy photosynthesis due to enhanced UV-B radiation in cotton is associated with both smaller leaf area and lower leaf PN, and loss of Rubisco activity and electron transport are two major factors in UV-B inhibition of leaf PN.     

Low stomatal and internal conductance to CO2 versus Rubisco deactivation as determinants of the photosynthetic decline of ageing evergreen leaves

A novel A-Ci curve (net CO2 assimilation rate of a leaf -An- as a function of its intercellular CO2 concentration -Ci) analysis method (Plant, Cell & Environment 27, 137-153, 2004) was used to estimate the CO2 transfer conductance (gi) and the maximal carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) potentials of ageing, non-senescing Pseudotsuga menziesii leaves in relation to their nitrogen (N) content and protein and pigment composition. Both gi and the stomatal conductance (gsc) of leaves were closely coupled to Vcmax, Jmax and An with all variables decreasing with increasing leaf age. Consequently, both Ci and Cc (chloroplastic CO2 concentration) remained largely conserved through successive growing seasons. The N content of leaves, as well as the amount of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and other sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble proteins, increased during the first three growing seasons, then stabilized or decreased only slightly afterwards. Thus, the age-related photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) decline of leaves was not a consequence of decreased allocation of N towards Rubisco and other proteins involved in bioenergetics and light harvesting. Rather, loss of photosynthetic capacity was the result of the decreased activation state of Rubisco and proportional down-regulation of electron transport towards the photosynthetic carbon reduction (PCR) and photorespiratory (PCO) cycles in response to a reduction of CO2 supply to the chloroplasts' stroma. This study emphasizes the regulatory potential and homeostaticity of Cc- rather than photosynthetic metabolites or Ci- in relation to the commonly observed correlation between photosynthesis and gsc.     

空气CO2增高条件下荔枝叶片光合作用和超氧自由基产率

研究结果表明,生长在77±5PaCO₂分压下30d的荔枝幼树,其光合速率较大气CO₂分压(39.3Pa)下的低23%,光下线粒体呼吸速率和不包含光下呼吸的CO₂补偿点亦略有降低.空气CO₂增高使叶片最大羧化速率(V_cmax)和最大电子传递速率(J_max)降低,表明大气增高CO₂分压下叶片的光系统I(PSI)能量水平较低,叶片超氧自由基产率亦降低39%,叶片感染荔枝霜疫霉病率则从生长在大气CO₂分压下的1.8%增至9.5%.可能较低光合和呼吸代谢诱致较低的超氧自由基产率,而使叶片易受病害侵染.叶片受病害侵染后表现为超氧自由基的激增.在全球大气CO₂分压增高趋势下须加强对荔枝霜疫霉病的控制.     

The Effect of Elevated Partial Pressures of CO2 on the Relationship between Photosynthetic Capacity and N Content in Rice Leaves

The effects of growth CO2 levels on the photosynthetic rates; the amounts of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), chlorophyll (Chl), and cytochrome f; sucrose phosphate synthase activity; and total N content were examined in young, fully expanded leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The plants were grown hydroponically under two CO2 partial pressures of 36 and 100 Pa at three N concentrations. The light-saturated photosynthesis at 36 Pa CO2 was lower in the plants grown in 100 Pa CO2 than those grown in 36 Pa CO2. Similarly, the amounts of Rubisco, Chl, and total N were decreased in the leaves of the plants grown in 100 Pa CO2. However, regression analysis showed no differences between the two CO2 treatments in the relationship between photosynthesis and total N or in the relationship between Rubisco and Chl and total N. Although a relative decrease in Rubisco to cytochrome f or sucrose phosphate synthase was found in the plants grown in 100 Pa CO2, this was the result of a decrease in total N content by CO2 enrichment. The activation state of Rubisco was also unaffected by growth CO2 levels. Thus, decreases in the photosynthetic capacity of the plants grown in 100 Pa CO2 could be simply accounted for by a decrease in the absolute amount of leaf N.     

Effect of fruit load and girdling on leaf photosynthesis in Mangifera indica L

Leaf nitrogen concentration (Nm), mass-to-area ratio, amount of nitrogen per unit leaf area (Na), non-structural carbohydrate concentration (TNCa), maximal rate of carboxylation (Vcmax), light-saturated rate of photosynthetic electron transport (Jmax), dark respiration (Rd), net photosynthetic assimilation (Anet), quantum yield of photosystem II (PhiPSII), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were measured in Mangifera indica L. leaves on three types of fruit-bearing branches (non-girdled, NG; girdled with high (HFL) and low (LFL) fruit load), experiencing similar light exposure. TNCa, Vcmax/Na, Jmax/Na, Rd/Na, Ci, and the initial quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport (alpha) were similar in both HFL and NG treatments, but Nm, Na, and photosynthetic capacity parameters (Vcmax and Jmax) were lower in the HFL than in the NG treatment. The strong depressing effect of girdling on leaf nitrogen concentration cannot therefore be attributed to a change in TNCa. By contrast, Na and TNCa were lower and higher, respectively, in the LFL than in the HFL treatment, suggesting that carbohydrate content may become the driving force behind photosynthetic acclimation to changing source-sink relationships, like the ones resulting from the presence of developing fruits. Vcmax/Na and Jmax/Na were lower in the LFL than in the HFL treatment, while Rd/Na, Ci, and alpha were not affected by fruit load. It is concluded that girdling and high fruit load affect photosynthesis permanently by decreasing and increasing, respectively, leaf nitrogen concentration. Fruit load, moreover, may have an additional effect on photosynthetic capacity by affecting the relationship between Vcmax and Jmax, and Na.     

空气NH3增高情况下不同形式氮源对荫香光合作用和氮利用的影响

 生长在供给NO-3 N、NH+4 N和NH4NO3 N氮源下的荫香（Cinnamomum burmanni）幼树暴露在增高空气NH3浓度下30 d。利用气体交换测定和氮分析研究了植株的光合作用、氮利用和氮在光合过程一些组分中的分配,根据Farquhar-von Caemmerer模式得出相关光合参数。结果表明在增高空气NH3下生长于NO-3 N的植株Rubisco最大羧化速率（Vcmax）和最大光合电子传递速率（Jmax）较正常空气下的高,但生长于NH+4 N和NH4NO3 N的植株则较正常空气下的低。无论生长于何种形式氮下的植株,在空气NH3增高下以单位叶面积为基准的叶氮含量（Na）显著增高（p<0.05）。在增高空气NH3下,生长于NO-3 N下的植株,其类囊体氮量（NT）、Rubisco氮（NR）和结合于光合电子传递链的氮（NE）的含量较正常空气下的增高（p<0.05）;而生长于NH+4 N和NH4NO3 N下的植株则较正常空气下的低。表明在空气NH3增高下生长于NO－3 N的植株能有效地利用氮合成光合过程必要的组份,而生长于NH+4 N和NH4NO－3 N的植株氮在NT、NR和NE的分配受到部分限制。在空气NH3增高下生长于NO－3 N和NH4NO3 N的植株,其以单位干重为基准的有机氮量较正常空气下的高,但生长于NH+4 N的植株则较正常空气下的低,此外在空气NH3增高下生长于NO－3 N的植株的可溶性蛋白氮较正常空气下增高,而生长在NH+4 N的植株亦见降低。结果表明空气NH3增高可能有利于NO－3 N下生长的荫香植株利用空气中的氮,促进叶片光合速率提高,而空气NH3增高能抑制NH+4 N或NH4NO3 N下生长的荫香植株光合作用和氮的利用和再分配。     

Effects of Rubisco kinetics and Rubisco activation state on the temperature dependence of the photosynthetic rate in spinach leaves from contrasting growth temperatures

Recently, several studies reported that the optimum temperature for the initial slope [IS(Ci)] of the light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A) versus intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) curve changed, depending on the growth temperature. However, few studies compare IS(Ci) with ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) properties. Here, we assessed Rubisco activation state and in vitro Rubisco kinetics, the main determinants of IS(Ci), in spinach leaves grown at 30/25 [high temperature (HT)] and 15/10 degrees C [low temperature (LT)]. We measured Rubisco activation state and A at a CO2 concentration of 360 microL L(-1) (A360) at various temperatures. In both HT and LT leaves, the Rubisco activation state decreased with increasing temperatures above the optimum temperatures for A360, while the activation state remained high at lower temperatures. To compare Rubisco characteristics, temperature dependences of the maximum rate of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylation (Vcmax), specificity factor (Sc/o) and thermal stability were examined. We also examined Vcmax, and thermal stability in the leaves that were transferred from HT to LT conditions and were subsequently kept under LT conditions for 2 weeks (HL). Rubisco purified from HT, LT and HL leaves are called HT, LT and HL Rubisco, respectively. Thermal stabilities of LT and HL Rubisco were similar and lower than that of HT Rubisco. Both Vcmax and Sc/o in LT Rubisco were higher than those of HT Rubisco at low temperatures, while these were lower at high temperatures. Vcmax in HL Rubisco were similar to those of LT Rubisco at low temperatures, and to those of HT Rubisco at high temperatures. The predicted photosynthetic rates, taking account of the Rubisco kinetics and the Rubisco activation state, agreed well with A360 in both HT and LT leaves. This study suggests that photosynthetic performance is largely determined by the Rubisco kinetics at low temperature and by Rubisco Kinetics and the Rubisco activation state at high temperature.