树木N2O排放速率的测定

 采用封闭罩法,对长白山阔叶红松林的几个主要树种——水曲柳 (Fraxinus mandshurica)、红松 (Pinus koraiensis)、毛赤杨（Alnus hirsuta）和椴树（Tilia amurensis）的连体枝叶排放N2O的速率进行了原位测定, 并考察了树木的N2O排放速率与土壤含水量的关系。结果表明：在观测期间,4种树木的N2O排放速率的变化范围分别为：水曲柳9.46～152.85 ng N2O·g－1 DW·h－1、红松1.37～64.51 ng N2O·g－1 DW·h－1、赤     

长白山阔叶红松林树木N2O排放及总量初步估算

大气中主要温室气体N2 O的部分来源尚不清楚。以往国内外对森林生态系统N2 O排放通量的测定中 ,只测土壤通量而把树木排除在外。如果树木在自然状态下能排放N2 O ,那么森林生态系统的N2 O排放可能被低估。本文旨在证明自然状态下森林生态系统中树木也是N2 O的主要排放源。采用封闭罩法 ,在树木生长的主要季节 (7～ 9月 )对长白山阔叶红松林的几个主要树种———水曲柳、红松和椴树的连体枝叶释放N2 O的速率进行了原位测定。并在此基础上 ,初步估算出森林树木N2 O年排放量是土壤N2 O年排放量的 0 8～ 1 0 3倍 ,相当于甚至超过了土壤的N2 O排放量。     

适度高温胁迫对亚热带森林3种建群树种幼树光合作用的影响

利用Licor-6400光合作用测定系统和叶室荧光仪（Licor-6400LCF）测定适度高温（42℃）胁迫下阳生树种荷木（Schima superba）、耐荫树种黄果厚壳桂（Cryptocarya concinna）和中生性树种红锥（Castanopsis hystrix）在全日光和遮阴（20％全日光）生长下的叶片光合速率和叶绿素a荧光。适度高温胁迫引起全日光和遮阴叶片PSII原初最大光化量子产率（Fv/Tm）降低，反映适度高温胁迫引起PSII功能的部分抑制。其中适度高温对阴生树种黄果厚壳桂和遮阴下生长叶片的PSII抑制较阳生树种荷木在全日光下生长的叶片大。除在全日光下生长的黄果壳桂外，适度高温胁迫能增高全日光或遮阴下生长的荷木和红锥叶片的光合速率。同时亦表现较高的耐高光强抑制的能力。适度高温胁迫降低全日光下生长荷木和红锥叶片的PSII量子产率（ФPSII），但对具有低西ФPSII的阴生树种黄果厚壳桂或在遮阴下生长的阳生树种荷木或中生性树种红锥叶片则影响较小。适度高温胁迫引起生长在全日光下的阳生树种荷木或中生性树种红锥叶片的CO2同化量子需要量降低，但甚少影响阴生树种黄果厚壳桂或遮阴下生长叶片CO2同化量子需要量。适度高温对亚热带森林建群种幼树光合作用的影响依赖于植物种类和叶类型（阳生和阴生叶）。     

光照、碳源和还原力对大豆玉米苗期氧化亚氮释放量的影响

使用封闭式箱法,对大豆和玉米两种植物在苗期的N2O释放速率日变化及其同光强、气温的相关性进行了研究,同时对遮光、外加碳源和还原力对N2O释放速率的影响进行了分析．结果表明,两种植物苗期N2O释放速率在日间有两个释放高峰,分别出现在10：30和14：30．遮光处理实验结果证明,遮光后植物的N2O释放速率明显增加;相关性分析表明,苗期大豆在光强低于11345Lx时,N2O释放速率与光强呈正相关关系(R^2=0．7332),光强高于11345Lx时,呈负相关关系(R^2=0．7755),而苗期玉米在光强低于20000Lx时,N2O释放速率与光强呈正相关关系(R^2=0．8711),光强高于11345Lx时,呈负相关关系(R^2=0．8972)．加入一定量的碳源(葡萄糖),可使遮光植物N2O的释放速率明显下降,由于同化力(NADH)的介入,在一定程度上影响了N2O的排放通量,同样使得N2O的释放量下降．     

木本植物阳生和阴生叶片叶绿体O2和NO2-光还原作用

在有PCR和PCO环活性抑制剂甘油醛和光合磷酸化解偶联剂NH4Cl存在下,比较了生长于3种光环境的乔木黧蒴和灌木九节幼苗阳生和阴生叶片叶绿体的O2和NO2－光还原速率,全自动光下两种植物阳生叶片的叶绿体O2的光还原速率最高,占总光合电子传递活性的66％－68％,NO2－光还原速率也有类似趋势,占总电子传递的11％－15％左右。36％和16％自然光下阴生叶片O2和NO2－光还原速率及O2光还原电子传递的比较显著降低,但NO2－光还原电子传递的比例不受影响,与NO2－光还原相关的叶片NiR和NR活性及NiR/NR活性比也因叶片接受光强度大小而异,随光强减弱,黧蒴的NiR活性降低,九节的NR活性增高,但黧蒴的NR活性和九节的NiR活性变化未达差异显著性。     

珊瑚树阳生和阴生叶片光合特性和状态转换的比较

珊瑚树阳生和阴生叶片是在不同光照环境中长期生长的,它们的光合特性有一些明显的差异.与阳生叶片相比,阴生叶片单位干重的叶绿素含量较多,类囊体膜垛叠程度较高(即每个基粒的类囊体膜垛叠层数较多,基粒类囊体的直径较大),而叶绿素a/b比值、光合作用的饱和光强和最大净光合速率等较低.用弱红光诱导阳生和阴生叶片向状态2转换时,叶绿素荧光Fm/Fo和F685/F735先迅速下降再逐渐回升,这表明两种叶片都先后通过满溢和LHCⅡ转移调节激发能在PSⅡ和PSⅠ之间的分配,改善光能利用,但阳生叶片Fm/Fo和F685/F735下降的幅度较大.     

两种光照下木质藤本和树木幼苗的生理生态学特征

对比研究生长在两种光照环境（4％和35％）下的7种热带木质藤本和5种常见的雨林冠层树种幼苗叶片的光合能力、色素含量和形态解剖特征。结果表明：（1）与树木相比,低光下木质藤本光合能力（Pmax）较弱,光强升高,木质藤本光合能力提高86．4％,树木提高61．5％,且木质藤本具有更高的光合能力。其光合作用光补偿点（LCP）和饱和点（LSP）较高。（2）木质藤本和树木正午光化学效率（Fv／Fm）下降,非光化学耗散（NPQ）升高。相同处理条件下,木质藤本光化学效率高于树木,正午光系统Ⅱ受到光抑制的程度较小。（3）光强升高,木质藤本和树木单位叶面积叶绿素含量减少。木质藤本比树木单位面积均具有更高的叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素总量和类胡萝卜素含量,以及更高的叶绿素a／b的比值。（4）与研究树木相比,木质藤本具有更大的叶片厚度,并且具有更大的比叶面积（SLA）,反映出其较低的叶片密度。     

黄土丘陵区不同土地利用下土壤释放N2O潜力的影响因素

采用室内培养试验,研究了不同水热条件对黄土丘陵区林地、草地和果园土壤释放N2O的影响,同时测定了土壤中不同氮素形态的变化,旨在探讨影响土壤释放N2O潜力的因素。结果表明：土样中N2O通量与温度显著相关（r=0.1599, P<0.05）,均随温度的升高不断增大,35℃时达到最大。N2O通量与土壤水分含量极显著相关（r=0.2499,P<0.0001）,在土壤水分含量较低时,各土样中N2O通量与土壤水分含量呈正相关,土壤水分接近田间持水量时N2O通量最大,超过田间持水量时N2O通量急剧下降。土壤水分和温度对N2O通量的影响可用拟合方程F=a bT cT^2 dT^3 eT^4 fW来描述。在培养条件下,土壤中N2O的释放总量大小依次为：果园土>林地土>草地土,果园土释放N2O的总量分别比林地土和草地土的释放总量多30%,14%。土壤氮素形态与N2O的释放量有一定关系,但规律不明显。     

双氢胺对土壤裂缝产生过程中N2O释放的影响

模拟稻田土壤在加入不同量的（NH4）2SO4和双氢按（DCD）抑制剂的溶液后先进行淹水培养,然后让土壤自然蒸发变干,直至土壤产生裂缝到裂缝稳定,最后在裂缝稳定后的复水的连续培养试验。通过模拟对土壤进行复杂的、动态的水分含量变化过程中试验,探讨双氢胺抑制剂对其N2O释放的影响。每天监测土体释放的N2O通量,以及渗漏液中溶解的N2O浓度和pH值。这些监测结果表明：在相同的水分管理条件下,土壤中没有氮肥加入,只有DCD加入的A处理释放N2O气体最少,其平均释放通量为340.91μgm^-2h^-1;土壤中有高剂量的氮肥和DCD加入的E处理释放N2O最多,其平均释放通量为9280.23μgm^-2h^-1。裂缝产生稳定后的复水能减少N2O向空气中的释放。渗漏液中的N2O浓度都是过饱和的。当土壤中肥料（NH4）2SO4加入量（每千克土壤中外加N≤3g）相对较少的情况下,DCD抑制剂能抑制裂缝产生过程中的N2O释放;当土壤中肥料（NH4）2SO4加入量（每千克土壤中外加N≥6g）相对较多的情况下,DCD抑制裂缝产生过程中的N2O释放效果不明显。此外还得出（NH4）2SO4和DCD的加入量比是10：1时,其抑制N2O排放的效果比（NH4）2SO4和DCD的加入量比分别是10：1.5和10：2要好。土体释放的N2O通量和渗漏液中溶解的N2O浓度之间不存在相关性,土体释放的N2O通量和渗漏液中的pH值之间也不存在相关性。但是渗漏液中的N：O浓度和pH值之间存在显著的正线性相关关系。     

几种树木的树皮中绿色组织的光合特性初探

测定10个树种树木上的三年生枝条树皮内绿色组织的叶绿素含量、光合速率和枝干的呼吸速率的结果表明：10个树种树皮内叶绿素含量为0.0649～0.3460mg·g^-1（FW）,叶绿素a/b为1.05～1.91,均低于叶片或针叶;树皮内绿色组织的光合速率为0.21（红松）～2.06（水曲柳）μmol（O2）·m^-2·s^-1,枝干呼吸速率1.76（红松）～3.21（落叶松）μmol（O2）·min^-1·g^-1（FW）。树皮内绿色组织的光补偿点（LCP）、光饱和点（LSP）低于叶片,而表观量子效率（AQY）高于叶片或针叶。据此认为,树皮内绿色组织适应于阴生环境,所以有较强的耐阴能力。     

Adaptation of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Scenedesmus obliquus to Strong and Weak Light Conditions

Homocontinuous cultures of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus obliquus were grown under strong (28 W/m²～28,000 lux) and weak (5 W/m²～5000 lux) light conditions to simulate the conditions of ‘sun’ and ‘shade’ plants. As in higher plants the cells adapted to strong light had less chlorophyll but demonstrated a higher photosynthetic capacity and a higher respiration rate, so that their compensation point was reached at three times higher energy than in the cells grown under low light intensities. The CO₂ fixation rate and the RuDP carboxylase activity under saturating light intensities were both higher in the cells grown in strong light. In spite of the differences in the pigment content and in the light saturated photosynthetic capacities for both cultures, the quantum yields of photosynthetic oxygen evolution were equal. As documented for some species of higher plants Scenedesmus is not genetically determined to be either a ‘sun’ or ‘shade’ organism but can adapt its photosynthetic apparatus to the different light intensities.     

Relative importance of photosynthetic traits and allocation patterns as correlates of seedling shade tolerance of 13 tropical trees

Among 13 tropical tree species on Barro Colorado Island, species with high seedling mortality rates during the first year in shade had higher reltive growth rates (RGR) from germination to 2 months in both sun (23% full sun) and shade [2%, with and without lowered red: far red (R:FR) ratio] than shade tolerant species. Species with higher RGR in sun also had higher RGR in shade. These interspecific trends could be explained by differences in morphological traits and allocation paterns among species. Within each light regime, seedlings of shade-intolerant species had lower root: shoot ratios, higher leaf mass per unit area, and higher leaf area ratios (LAR) than shade tolerant species. In contrast, leaf gas exchange characteristics, or acclimation potential in these traits, had no relationship with seedling mortality rates in shade. In both shade tolerant and intolerant species, light saturated photosynthesis rates, dark respiration, and light compensation points were higher for sungrown seedlings than for shade-grown seedlings. Differences in R:FR ratio in shade did not affect gas exchange, allocation patterns, or growth rates of any species. Survival of young tree seedlings in shade did not depend on higher net photosynthesis or biomass accumulation rates in shade. Rather, species with higher RGR died faster in shade than species with lower RGR. This trend could be explained if survival depends on morphological characteristics likely to enhance defense against herbivores and pathogens, such as dense and tough leaves, a well-established root system, and high wood density. High construction costs for these traits, and low LAR as a consequence of these traits, should result in lower rates of whole-plant carbon gain and RGR for shade tolerant species than shade-intolerant species in shade as well as in sun.     

Consequences of CO2 and light interactions for leaf phenology, growth, and senescence in Quercus rubra

We investigated how light and CO₂ levels interact to influence growth, phenology, and the physiological processes involved in leaf senescence in red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings. We grew plants in high and low light and in elevated and ambient CO₂. At the end of three years of growth, shade plants showed greater biomass enhancement under elevated CO₂ than sun plants. We attribute this difference to an increase in leaf area ratio (LAR) in shade plants relative to sun plants, as well as to an ontogenetic effect: as plants increased in size, the LAR declined concomitant with a decline in biomass enhancement under elevated CO₂ Elevated CO₂ prolonged the carbon gain capacity of shade‐grown plants during autumnal senescence, thus increasing their functional leaf lifespan. The prolongation of carbon assimilation, however, did not account for the increased growth enhancement in shade plants under elevated CO₂. Elevated CO₂ did not significantly alter leaf phenology. Nitrogen concentrations in both green and senesced leaves were lower under elevated CO₂ and declined more rapidly in sun leaves than in shade leaves. Similar to nitrogen concentration, the initial slope of A/C_i curves indicated that Rubisco activity declined more rapidly in sun plants than in shade plants, particularly under elevated CO₂. Absolute levels of chlorophyll were affected by the interaction of CO₂ and light, and chlorophyll content declined to a minimal level in sun plants sooner than in shade plants. These declines in N concentration, in the initial slope of A/C_i curves, and in chlorophyll content were consistent with declining photosynthesis, such that elevated CO₂ accelerated senescence in sun plants and prolonged leaf function in shade plants. These results have implications for the carbon economy of seedlings and the regeneration of red oak under global change conditions.     

The functional ecology of shoot architecture in sun and shade plants of Heteromeles arbutifolia M. Roem., a Californian chaparral shrub

The functional roles of the contrasting morphologies of sun and shade shoots of the evergreen shrub Heteromeles arbutifolia were investigated in chaparral and understory habitats by applying a three-dimensional plant architecture simulation model, YPLANT. The simulations were shown to accurately predict the measured frequency distribution of photosynthetic photon flux density (PFD) on both the leaves and a horizontal surface in the open, and gave reasonably good agreement for the more complex light environment in the shade. The sun shoot architecture was orthotropic and characterized by steeply inclined (mean = 71^o) leaves in a spiral phyllotaxy with short internodes. This architecture resulted in relatively low light absorption efficiencies (E _A) for both diffuse and direct PFD, especially during the summer when solar elevation angles were high. Shade shoots were more plagiotropic with longer internodes and a pseudo-distichous phyllotaxis caused by bending of the petioles that positioned the leaves in a nearly horizontal plane (mean = 5^o). This shade-shoot architecture resulted in higher E _A values for both direct and diffuse PFD as compared to those of the sun shoots. Differences in E _A between sun and shade shoots and between summer and winter were related to differences in projection efficiencies as determined by leaf and solar angles, and by differences in self shading resulting from leaf overlap. The leaves exhibited photosynthetic acclimation to the sun and the shade, with the sun leaves having higher photosynthetic capacities per unit area, higher leaf mass per unit area and lower respiration rates per unit area than shade leaves. Despite having 7 times greater available PFD, sun shoots absorbed only 3 times more and had daily carbon gains only double of those of shade shoots. Simulations showed that sun and shade plants performed similarly in the open light environment, but that shade shoots substantially outperformed sun shoots in the shade light environment. The shoot architecture observed in sun plants appears to achieve an efficient compromise between maximizing carbon gain while minimizing the time that the leaf surfaces are exposed to PFDs in excess of those required for light saturation of photosynthesis and therefore potentially photoinhibitory. Received: 8 June 1997 / Accepted: 2 November 1997     

Herbivory on Temperate Rainforest Seedlings in Sun and Shade: Resistance,Tolerance and Habitat Distribution

Differential herbivory and/or differential plant resistance or tolerance in sun and shade environments may influence plant distribution along the light gradient. Embothrium coccineum is one of the few light-demanding tree species in the temperate rainforest of southern South America, and seedlings are frequently attacked by insects and snails. Herbivory may contribute to the exclusion of E. coccineum from the shade if 1) herbivory pressure is greater in the shade, which in turn can result from shade plants being less resistant or from habitat preferences of herbivores, and/or 2) consequences of damage are more detrimental in the shade, i.e., shade plants are less tolerant. We tested this in a field study with naturally established seedlings in treefall gaps (sun) and forest understory (shade) in a temperate rainforest of southern Chile. Seedlings growing in the sun sustained nearly 40% more herbivore damage and displayed half of the specific leaf area than those growing in the shade. A palatability test showed that a generalist snail consumed ten times more leaf area when fed on shade leaves compared to sun leaves, i.e., plant resistance was greater in sun-grown seedlings. Herbivore abundance (total biomass) was two-fold greater in treefall gaps compared to the forest understory. Undamaged seedlings survived better and showed a slightly higher growth rate in the sun. Whereas simulated herbivory in the shade decreased seedling survival and growth by 34% and 19%, respectively, damaged and undamaged seedlings showed similar survival and growth in the sun. Leaf tissue lost to herbivores in the shade appears to be too expensive to replace under the limiting light conditions of forest understory. Following evaluations of herbivore abundance and plant resistance and tolerance in contrasting light environments, we have shown how herbivory on a light-demanding tree species may contribute to its exclusion from shade sites. Thus, in the shaded forest understory, where the seedlings of some tree species are close to their physiological tolerance limit, herbivory could play an important role in plant establishment.     

Physiological responses to drought and shade in two contrasting Picea asperata populations

The responses of photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid membrane peroxidation of two contrasting Picea asperata Mast. populations to 30% of full sunlight (shade) and full sunlight (sun) were investigated under well-watered and drought conditions. Two contrasting populations were from the wet and dry climate regions in China, respectively. For both populations tested, drought resulted in lower needle relative water content (RWC), CO₂ assimilation rate ( A ), stomatal conductance ( gs ) and effective PSII quantum yield ( Y ), and higher non-photochemical quenching ( qN ), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and electrolyte leakage in sun plants, whereas these changes were not significant in shade plants. For the wet climate population, shade plants showed higher chlorophyll contents (Chl a , Chl b and Chl a + b ) than sun plants under both well-watered and drought conditions. Our study results implied that shade, applied together with drought, ameliorated the detrimental effects of drought. On the other hand, compared with the wet climate population, the dry climate population was more tolerant to drought in the sun treatment, as indicated by less decreases in A and mass-based leaf nitrogen content ( N _mass), more responsive stomata, greater capacity for non-radiative dissipation of excitation energy as heat (analysed by qN ), and higher level of antioxidant enzyme activities as well as lower MDA content and electrolyte leakage. These results demonstrated that the different physiological strategies were employed by the P. asperata populations from contrasting climate regions when the plants were exposed to drought and shade.     

Seed germination and seedling growth in the arrow bamboo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fargesia qinlingensis</Emphasis>

Improving natural regeneration of bamboos after they die following mass flowering is critical for conservation of giant pandas. However, little is known about factors that affect seed germination and seedling growth of bamboos. We studied seed germination and seedling growth in Fargesia qinlingensis, which mass flowered in a giant panda habitat in the Qinling Mountains of China in early 2000, in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Seed germination rate was tested under light and dark conditions 5 and 12 months after seed collection. Germination rate displayed no significant difference under light or dark conditions 5 months after seed collection, but was significantly greater in the dark than under light 12 months after seed collection, suggesting light inhibition of seed germination. A 2×2 factorial design was conducted to test the effects of nitrogen (N fertilization and non-N fertilization) and light [full sun and shade (i.e., 14% full sun)] on seedling growth and biomass allocation. N fertilization significantly increased seedling growth, resulting in greater seedling height, more branches, more leaves, greater stem biomass, and greater leaf biomass. Seedlings under 14% full sun conditions had a significantly lower percentage of biomass allocated to the stem. The root/shoot ratio was significantly greater in non-N/shade than non-N/full sun, while there was no significant difference in this ratio between N/shade and N/full sun, suggesting that nitrogen fertilization compensated for the effect of shade on biomass allocation. Our results suggest that N fertilization could be employed in restoration of F. qinlingensis stands after die-off following mass flowering.     

Acclimation of Myrtus communis to contrasting Mediterranean light environments - effects on structure and chemical composition of foliage and plant water relations

Leaf anatomical and chemical characteristics, water relations and stomatal regulation were studied in the shrub Myrtus communis growing under two contrasting Mediterranean light environments (full light versus 30% of full light) during the spring-summer period. These studies aimed to assess plant response to the combined effects of light and water availability. Foliar morphology, anatomy and chemistry composition acclimated positively to light conditions. Leaves of sun-exposed plants were thicker (38.7%) than those of shaded plants, mainly due to increased palisade parenchyma thickness, had a higher nitrogen concentration and stomatal density than the shade ones, which maximized foliar area (>SLA) and Chl/N molar ratio to improve light interception. Chlorophyll concentration per leaf area (Chl(a)) was always higher in sun leaves while, as expressed on dry mass (Chl(m)), significant differences were only apparent in September, shade leaves presenting higher values. During the summer period Chl(a) and Chl(m) markedly declined in sun leaves and remained unchanged in shade ones. The ratio of chlorophyll a/b was not affected either by the light intensity or by the season. Shade leaves presented generally a higher concentration of soluble carbohydrates per dry mass. No significant differences in starch concentration were apparent between sun and shade leaves and a gradual depletion occurred during the water stress period. Maximum stomatal conductances correlated positively with predawn water potential. Throughout the season, sun plants always presented higher leaf conductance to water vapour and lower minimum leaf water potentials, indicating an interaction of light-environment on these water relation parameters. Stomatal closure constitutes a mechanism to cope with diurnal and seasonal water deficits, sun plants presenting a more efficient control of water losses during water deficiency period. In addition, both sun and shade plants evidenced leaf osmotic adjustment ability in response to water stress, which was greater in sun ones.     

Diurnal changes in chlorophyll fluorescence and light utilization in Colocasia esculenta leaves grown in marshy waterlogged area

Diurnal cycle of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters was done in Colocasia esculenta L. (swamp taro) grown in marshy land under sun or under shade. The sun leaves maintained higher electron transport rate (ETR) and steady state to initial fluorescence ratio (F_s/F₀) than shade leaves. In spite of lower ETR, higher photochemical quenching (PQ), and effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2) was evident in shade plants compared to plants exposed to higher irradiance. ETR increased linearly with increase in irradiance more under low irradiance (r ² = 0.84) compared to higher irradiance (r ² = 0.62). The maximum quantum yield of PS 2 (F_v/F_m) did not differ much in sun and shade leaves with the exception of midday when excess of light energy absorbed by plants under sun was thermally dissipated. Hence swamp taro plants adopted different strategies to utilize radiation under different irradiances. At higher irradiance, there was faster decline in proportion of open PS 2 centers (PQ) and excess light energy was dissipated through non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Under shade, absorbed energy was effectively utilized resulting in higher Φ_PS2.     

Responses of Rubisco activation and deactivation rates to variations in growth-light conditions

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) were grown in sun, shade, or fluctuating light (15 min sun, 15 min shade) to examine the effects of growth-light conditions on the rates of light-induced Rubisco activation and deactivation. Rubisco activation and deactivation rates were determined from gas-exchange measurements of photosynthesis following a step increase in PFD. Rubisco deactivation rates were also determined from biochemical analyses of leaf extracts. There were no significant differences in Rubisco activation rate among the growth conditions or between the two species. However, there were significant differences in Rubisco deactivation rate among the growth conditions in basil and between the two species. In basil, Rubisco deactivated more slowly following a decrease in PFD in sun- and fluctuating-light grown plants than in shade grown plants. Slower rates of Rubisco deactivation during periods at low PFD resulted in higher activation states at the onset of increased PFD. Thus, the contribution of Rubisco activation to the induction process was less for basil plants grown under sun and fluctuating light than for those grown under shade. Impatiens deactivated Rubisco more rapidly than in basil, but there was no substantial effect of the three growth-light conditions on Rubisco deactivation rates in impatiens.