Leaf Conductance as Related to Xylem Water Potential and Carbon Dioxide Concentration in Sitka Spruce

Current year shoots of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis Bong. (Carr.)] from the forest canopy were equilibrated in a leaf chamber. The shoots were excised in air, and removed at differing times in order to establish a relationship between stomatal conductance and xylem water potential. The experiment was repeated at five ambient CO₂ concentrations. A second set of excised forest shoots, and shoots excised from 2-year- old nursery seedlings were allowed to evaporate freely in a controlled environment wind tunnel until a constant rate of transpiration was measured, to establish a relationship between cuticular conductance and xylem water potential. Cuticular conductance was estimated to be 0.012 cm s^-1 at high water potential and declined linearly to 0.007 cm s^-1 at ?3.5 MPa. The implication of this decline in the subsequent calculation of stomatal and mesophyll conductance is considered. Stomatal conductance remained constant at water potentials above ?1.4 MPa and was not affected by ambient carbon dioxide concentrations between 20 and 600 cm^-3. At lower water potentials, stomatal conductance declined and approached zero at ?2.5 to ?2.6 MPa. The results suggest that stomatal aperture is not controlled by either ambient or intercellular space carbon dioxide concentration, and that stomatal closure at low water potential is unlikely to be mediated by carbon dioxide.     

Variation in growth stimulation by elevated carbon dioxide in seedlings of some C3 crop and weed species

Seven C₃ crop and three C₃ weed species were grown from seed at 360 and at 700 cm³ m^–3 carbon dioxide concentrations in a controlled environment chamber to compare dry mass, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area ratio (LAR) and photosynthetic acclimation at ambient and elevated carbon dioxide. The dry mass at the final harvest at elevated carbon dioxide relative to that at ambient carbon dioxide was highly correlated with the RGR at the lower carbon dioxide concentration. This relationship could be quite common, because it does not require that species differ in the response of RGR or photosynthesis to elevated carbon dioxide, and holds even when species differ moderately in these responses. RGR was also measured for a limited period at the end of the experiment to determine relationships with leaf gas exchange measured at this time. Relative increases in RGR at elevated carbon dioxide at this time were more highly correlated with the relative increase in NAR at elevated carbon dioxide than with the response of LAR. The amount of acclimation of photosynthesis was a good predictor of the relative increase in NAR at elevated carbon dioxide, and the long-term increase in photosynthesis in the growth environment. No differences between crops and weeds or between cool and warm climate species were found in the responses of growth or photosynthetic acclimation to elevated carbon dioxide.     

Decreased hydraulic conductance in plants at elevated carbon dioxide

Previous work indicated that long-term exposure to elevated carbon dioxide levels can reduce hydraulic conductance in some species, but the basis of the response was not determined. In this study, hydraulic conductance was measured at concentrations of both 350 and 700 cm³ m^–3 carbon dioxide for plants grown at both concentrations, to determine the reversibility of the response. In Zea mays and Amaranthus hypochondriacus , exposure to the higher carbon dioxide concentration for several hours reduced whole-plant transpiration rate by 22–40%, without any consistent change in leaf water potential, indicating reversible reductions in hydraulic conductance at elevated carbon dioxide levels. Hydraulic conductance in these species grown at both carbon dioxide concentrations responded similarly to measurement concentration of carbon dioxide, indicating that the response was reversible. In Glycine max , which in earlier work had shown a long-term decrease in hydraulic conductance at elevated carbon dioxide levels, and in Abutilon theophrasti , no short-term changes in hydraulic conductance with measurement concentration of carbon dioxide were found, despite lower transpiration rates at elevated carbon dioxide. In G. max and Medicago sativa , growth at high dew-point temperature reduced transpiration rate and decreased hydraulic conductance. The results indicate that both reversible and irreversible decreases in hydraulic conductance can occur at elevated carbon dioxide concentrations, and that both could be responses to reduced transpiration rate, rather than to carbon dioxide concentration itself.     

Effects of boundary layer conductance on substomatal pressures of carbon dioxide

Abstract. Gas exchange measurements were made on single leaves of three C₃ and one C₄ species at air speeds of 0.4 and 4.0 m s⁻¹ to determine if boundary layer conductance substantially affected the substomatal pressure of carbon dioxide. Boundary layer conductances to water vapour were 0.4 to 0.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the lower air speed, and 1.2 to 1.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the higher air speed. Substomatal carbon dioxide pressures were about 5 Pa lower at low boundary layer conductance in the C₃ species, and about 3 Pa lower in the C₄ species when measurements were made at high and moderate photosynthetic photon flux densities. No evidence of stomatal adjustment to altered boundary layer conductance was found. Photosynthetic rates at high photon flux densities were reduced by about 20% at the low air speed in the C₃ species. The commonly reported values of substomatal carbon dioxide pressure for C₃ and C₄ species were found to occur only when measurements were made at the higher air speed.     

How does the C4 grass Eragrostis pilosa respond to elevated carbon dioxide and infection with the parasitic angiosperm Striga hermonthica?

Eragrostis pilosa (Linn.) P Beauv., a C₄ grass native to east Africa, was grown at both ambient (350 μmol mol⁻¹ and elevated (700 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂ in either the presence or absence of the obligate, root hemi-parasite Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. Biomass of infected grasses was only 50% that of uninfected grasses at both CO₂ concentrations, with stems and reproductive tissues of infected plants being most severely affected. By contrast, CO₂ concentration had no effect on growth of E. pilosa , although rates of photosynthesis were enhanced by 30–40% at elevated CO₂. Infection with S. hermonthica did not affect either rates of photosynthesis or leaf areas of E. pilosa , but did bring about an increase in root:shoot ratio, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentration and a decline in leaf starch concentration at both ambient and elevated CO₂. Striga hermonthica had higher rates of photosynthesis and shoot concentrations of soluble sugars at elevated CO₂, but there was no difference in biomass relative to ambient grown plants. Both infection and growth at elevated CO₂ resulted in an increase in the Δ¹³C value of leaf tissue of E. pilosa , with the CO₂ effect being greater. The proportion of host-derived carbon in parasite tissue, as determined from δ¹³C values, was 27% and 39% in ambient and elevated CO₂ grown plants, respectively. In conclusion, infection with S. hermonthica limited growth of E. pilosa , and this limitation was not removed or alleviated by growing the association at elevated CO₂.     

Inorganic carbon limitation of photosynthesis in lake phytoplankton

1. Inorganic carbon availability influences species composition of phytoplankton in acidic and highly alkaline lakes, whereas the overall influence on community photosynthesis and growth is subject to debate.
2. The influence of total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and free CO₂ on community photosynthesis was studied in six Danish lakes during the summer of 1995. The lakes were selected to ensure a wide range of chlorophyll a concentrations (1–120 μg l^–1), pH (5.6–9.6) and DIC concentration (0.02–2.5 m m ). Photosynthesis experiments were performed using the ¹⁴C technique in CO₂-manipulated water samples, either by changing the pH or by adding/removing CO₂.
3. Lake waters were naturally CO₂ supersaturated during most of the experimental period and inorganic carbon limitation of photosynthetic rates did not occur under ambient conditions. However, photosynthesis by phytoplankton in lakes with low and intermediate DIC concentrations was seriously restricted when CO₂ concentrations declined. Similarly, photosynthesis was limited by low CO₂ concentrations during phytoplankton blooms in the hardwater alkaline lakes.     

Elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2 protect against and compensate for O3 damage to photosynthetic tissues of field-grown wheat

The effects of elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone on diurnal patterns of photosynthesis have been investigated in field-grown spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum ). Plants cultivated under realistic agronomic conditions, in open-top chambers, were exposed from emergence to harvest to reciprocal combinations of two carbon dioxide and two ozone treatments: [CO₂] at ambient (380 μmol mol⁻¹, seasonal mean) or elevated (692 μmol mol⁻¹) levels, [O₃] at ambient (27 nmol mol⁻¹, 7 hr seasonal mean) or elevated (61 nmol mol⁻¹) levels. After anthesis, diurnal measurements were made of flag-leaf gas-exchange and in vitro Rubisco activity and content. Elevated [CO₂] resulted in an increase in photoassimilation rate and a loss of excess Rubisco activity. Elevated [O₃] caused a loss of Rubisco and a decline in photoassimilation rate late in flag-leaf development. Elevated [CO₂] ameliorated O₃ damage. The mechanisms of amelioration included a protective stomatal restriction of O₃ flux to the mesophyll, and a compensatory effect of increased substrate on photoassimilation and photosynthetic control. However, the degree of protection and compensation appeared to be affected by the natural seasonal and diurnal variations in light, temperature and water status.     

Effects of humidity on short-term responses of stomatal conductance to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration

The magnitude of the response of stomatal conductance to a change in the concentration of carbon dioxide external to the leaf from 350 to 700 cm³ m^–3 was found to be extremely variable from day to day in the field in Glycine max , Hordeum vulgare and Triticum aestivum . It was found that the leaf-to-air water vapour pressure difference (LAVPD) during the midday measurements of the stomatal response to carbon dioxide affected the magnitude of the response. On days when LAVPD was low, no significant change in conductance occurred with the increase in carbon dioxide concentration. When LAVPD was higher, conductance decreased by 24–52% with the increase in carbon dioxide within a few minutes. The sensitivity of conductance was approximately linearly related to LAVPD in wheat and barley. Experiments with G. max in the field indicated that, on days with low LAVPD, increasing the LAVPD just around the measured portion of a leaflet made stomatal conductance responsive to increased carbon dioxide. This result was also obtained under laboratory conditions with G. max , Helianthus annuus and Amaranthus retroflexus . In G. max , it was determined that leaves in which conductance was not responsive to the increase in carbon dioxide could be made responsive even at low LAVPD by the injection of abscisic acid into their petioles. Because it is known that abscisic acid sensitizes stomata to carbon dioxide, these results are consistent with the idea that abscisic acid may be involved in the response of stomatal conductance to changes in LAVPD.     

Photosynthesis and transpiration by young Larix kaempferi trees: C3 responses to light and temperature

The effects of photon flux density and temperature on net photosynthesis and transpiration rates of mature and immature leaves of three-year-old Japanese larch Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Sarg. trees were determined with an infrared, differential open gas analysis system. Net photosynthetic response to increasing photon flux densities was similar for different foliage positions and stage of maturity. Light compensation was between 25 and 50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Rates of photosynthesis increased rapidly at photon flux densities above the compensation level and became saturated between 800 and 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Transpiration rates at constant temperature likewise increased with increasing photon flux density, and leveled off between 800 and 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Photosynthetic response to temperature was determined in saturating light and was similar for all foliage positions; it increased steadily from low temperatures to an optimum range betweeen 15 and 21°C and then decreased rapidly above 21°C. Transpiration rate, however, increased continuously with rising temperature up to the experimental maximum. CO₂ compensation concentrations for mature foliage varied between 58 and 59 μl l⁻¹; however, foliage borne at the apex of the terminal leader compensated at 75 μl l⁻¹. None of these data support the claim that Japanese larch possesses C₄ photosynthetic characteristics.     

The influence of ozone on the stomatal and non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis in Norway spruce,Picea abies (L.) Karst,exposed to soil moisture deficit

Summary Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karst., was exposed to charcoal-filtered air (CF) and non-filtered air + ozone (NF+) and periods of soil moisture deficit from 1985 to 1988 in open-top chambers. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, needle water potential and various shoot properties were measured on 1-year-old shoots during a period of soil moisture deficit. The gas exchange was measured at saturating photosynthetic photon flux density and across a range of CO₂ concentrations. The soil moisture deficit induced a mild drought stress in the plants, expressed by a pre-dawn needle water potential of approximately-0.9 MPa and a substantial reduction in net photosynthesis and gas phase conductance. In the CF treatment, intercellular CO₂ concentration was reduced, but was unaffected in the NF+ treatment. Furthermore, net photosynthesis declined more in response to the soil moisture deficit in the NF+ treatment than in the CF treatment. This is suggested to be attributed to the carboxylation efficiency at the operating point, which was decreased by 47% and 64% in shoots from the CF and the NF+ treatments, respectively. Stomatal limitation of net photosynthesis was increased by drought by 24–45% in the CF treatment, while it was unaffected in the NF+ treatment. Thus, our results imply that the coupling between the stomatal conductance and the photosynthetic rate was changed and that the marginal cost of water per given amount of carbon gain will increase in trees exposed to ozone, during periods of drought.     

A relationship between carbon dioxide, photosynthetic efficiency and shade tolerance

Net photosynthesis and transpiration of seedlings from shade tolerant, moderately tolerant and intolerant tree species were measured in ambient carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations ranging from 312 to 734 ppm. The species used, Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (tolerant), Quercus alba L., Q. rubra L., Liriodendron tulipifera L. (moderately tolerant), Liquidambar styraciflua L. and Pinus taeda L. (intolerant), are found co-occurring in the mixed pine-hardwood forests of the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. When seedlings were grown in shaded conditions, photosynthetic CO₂ efficiency was significantly different in all species with the highest efficiency in the most shade tolerant species, Fagus grandifolia , and progressively lower efficiencies in moderately tolerant and intolerant species. Photosynthetic CO₂ efficiency was defined as the rate of increase in net photosynthesis with increase in ambient CO₂ concentration. When plants which had grown in a high light environment were tested, the moderately tolerant and intolerant deciduous species had the highest photosynthetic CO₂ efficiencies but this capacity was reduced when these species grew in low light. The lowest CO₂ efficiency and apparent quantum yield occurred in Pinus taeda in all cases. Water use efficiency was higher for all species in enriched CO₂ environments but transpiration rate and leaf conductance were not affected by CO₂ concentration. High photosynthetic CO₂ efficiency may be advantageous for maintaining a positive carbon balance in the low light environment under a forest canopy.     

Aspects of methane flow from sediment through emergent cattail (Typha latifolia) plants

We measured the flow of methane in Typha latifolia L. (cattail)-dominated wetlands from microbial production in anoxic sediment into, through, and out of emergent T. latifolia shoots (i.e. plant transport). The purpose was to identify key environmental and plant factors that might affect rates of methane efflux from wetlands to the Earth's atmosphere. Methane accumulated in leafy T. latifolia shoots overnight, reaching concentrations up to 10000 μl l⁻¹ (vs. atmospheric concentrations <4 μl l⁻¹), suggesting that lower stomatal conductance at night limits methane efflux from the plant into ambient air. Daytime light and (or) lower atmospheric humidity that induce convective gas flow through the plant coincided with ( a ) an increase in the rate of methane efflux from T. latifolia leaves to ambient air (from <0·1 to >2·0 μmol m⁻² (leaf) s⁻¹) and ( b ) a decrease in shoot methane concentration to <70 μl l⁻¹. Very short fluctuation in stomatal conductance during the day did not affect the methane efflux rate unless, possibly, the rate of photosynthesis decreased. A strong relationship between the maximum daily rate of methane efflux and shoot methane concentration (measured before the onset of convective gas flow) suggests T. latifolia plants behave like a capacitor (filling with methane at night, emitting the stored methane during the day). Experimentally cutting leaves (to prevent pressurization) reduced plant capacitance for methane.     

Effects of elevated ozone on CO2 uptake and leaf structure in sugar maple under two light environments

The interactive effects of ozone and light on leaf structure, carbon dioxide uptake and short-term carbon allocation of sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedlings were examined using gas exchange measurements and ¹⁴C-macroautoradiographic techniques. Two-year-old sugar maple seedlings were fumigated from budbreak for 5 months with ambient or 3 × ambient ozone in open-top chambers, receiving either 35% (high light) or 15% (low light) of full sunlight. Ozone accelerated leaf senescence, and reduced net photosynthesis, ¹⁴CO₂ uptake and stomatal conductance, with the effects being most pronounced under low light. The proportion of intercellular space increased in leaves of seedlings grown under elevated ozone and low light, possibly enhancing the susceptibility of mesophyll cells to ozone by increasing the cumulative dose per mesophyll cell. Indeed, damage to spongy mesophyll cells in the elevated ozone × low light treatment was especially frequent. ¹⁴C macroautoradioraphy revealed heterogeneous uptake of ¹⁴CO₂ in well defined areole regions, suggesting patchy stomatal behaviour in all treatments. However, in seedlings grown under elevated ozone and low light, the highest ¹⁴CO₂ uptake occurred along larger veins, while interveinal regions exhibited little or no uptake. Although visible symptoms of ozone injury were not apparent in these seedlings, the cellular damage, reduced photosynthetic rates and reduced whole-leaf chlorophyll levels corroborate the visual scaling of whole-plant senescence, suggesting that the ozone × low light treatment accelerated senescence or senescence-like injury in sugar maple.     

Effects of chloride and sodium on gas exchange parameters and water relations of Citrus plants

Gas exchange parameters, water relations and Na⁺/Cl^- content were measured on leaves of one-year-old sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck cv. Hamlin) seedlings grown at increasing levels of salinity. Different salts (NaCl, KCl and NaNO₃) were used to separate the effects of Cl⁻ and Na⁺ on the investigated parameters. The chloride salts reduced plant dry weight and increased defoliation. Accumulation of Cl⁻ in the leaf tissue caused a sharp reduction in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. By contrast, these parameters were not affected by leaf Na⁺ concentrations of up to 478 m M in the tissue water. Leaf water potentials reached values near −1.8 MPa at high NaCl and KCl supplies. This reduction was offset by a decrease in the osmotic potential so that turgor was maintained at or above control values. The changes in osmotic potential were closely correlated with changes in leaf proline concentrations. Addition of Ca²⁺ (as calcium acetate) increased growth and halved defoliation of salt stressed plants. Furthermore, calcium acetate decreased the concentration of Cl⁻ and Na⁺ in the leaves, and increased photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Calcium acetate also counteracted the reductions in leaf water and osmotic potentials induced by salinity. In addition, calcium acetate inhibited the accumulation of proline in the leaves which affected the reduction in osmotic potential. These results indicate that adverse effects of salinity in Citrus leaves are caused by accumulation of chloride.     

Effects of iron chlorosis and iron resupply on leaf xylem architecture, water relations, gas exchange and stomatal performance of field-grown peach (Prunus persica)

There is increasing evidence suggesting that iron (Fe) deficiency induces not only leaf chlorosis and a decline of photosynthesis, but also structural changes in leaf morphology, which might affect the functionality of leaves. In this study, we investigated the effects of Fe deficiency on the water relations of peach ( Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.) leaves and the responses of previously chlorotic leaves to Fe resupply via the root or the leaf. Iron deficiency induced a decline of maximum potential photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (F _V/F _M), of rates of net photosynthesis and transpiration and of water use efficiency. Iron chlorosis was associated with a reduction of leaf xylem vessel size and of leaf hydraulic conductance. In the course of the day, water potentials in chlorotic leaves remained higher (less negative) than in green leaves. In chlorotic leaves, normal stomatal functioning was disturbed, as evidenced by the lack of opening upon withdrawal of external CO₂ and stomatal closure after sudden illumination of previously darkened leaves. We conclude that the Fe deficiency induced limitations of xylem conductivity elicited a water saving strategy, which poses an additional challenge to plant growth on high pH, calcareous soils. Fertilisation with Fe improved photosynthetic performance but the proper xylem structure and water relations of leaves were not fully restored, indicating that Fe must be available at the first stages of leaf growth and development.     

Photorespiration in C4 grasses remains slow under drought conditions

The CO₂-concentrating mechanism present in C₄ plants decreases the oxygenase activity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and, consequently, photorespiratory rates in air. Under drought conditions, the intercellular CO₂ concentration may decrease and cause photorespiration to increase. The C₄ grasses Paspalum dilatatum Poiret, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and Zoysia japonica Steudel were grown in soil and drought was imposed by ceasing to provide water. Net CO₂ assimilation ( A ) and stomatal conductance to water vapour decreased with leaf dehydration. Decreased carbon and increased oxygen isotope composition were also observed under drought. The response of A to CO₂ suggested that the compensation point was zero in all species irrespective of the extent of drought stress. A slight decrease of A as O₂ concentration increased above 10% provided evidence for slow photorespiratory gas exchanges. Analysis of amino acids contained in the leaves, particularly the decrease of glycine after 30 s in darkness, supported the presence of slow photorespiration rates, but these were slightly faster in Cynodon dactylon than in Paspalum dilatatum and Zoysia japonica . Although the contents of glycine and serine increased with dehydration and mechanistic modelling of C₄ photosynthesis suggested slightly increased photorespiration rates in proportion to photosynthesis, the results provide evidence that photorespiration remained slow under drought conditions.     

Translocation of NH4+ in oilseed rape plants in relation to glutamine synthetase isogene expression and activity

Translocation of NH₄⁺ was studied in relation to the expression of three glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2) isogenes and total GS activity in roots and leaves of hydroponically grown oilseed rape ( Brassica napus ). The concentration of NH₄⁺ in the stem xylem sap of NO₃⁻-fed plants was 0.55–0.70 m M , which was ≈60% higher than that in plants deprived of external nitrogen for 2 days. In NH₄⁺-fed plants, xylem NH₄⁺ concentrations increased linearly both with time of exposure to NH₄⁺ and with increasing external NH₄⁺ concentration. The maximum xylem NH₄⁺ concentration was 8 m M , corresponding to 11% of the nitrogen translocated in the xylem. In the leaf apoplastic solution, the NH₄⁺ concentration increased from 0.03 m M in N-deprived plants to 0.20 m M in N-replete plants. The corresponding values for leaf tissue water were 0.33 and 1.24 m M , respectively. The addition of either NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺ to N-starved plants induced both cytosolic gs isogene expression and GS activity in the roots. In N-replete plants, gs isogene expression and GS activity were repressed, probably due to carbon limitations, thereby protecting the roots against the excessive drainage of photosynthates. Repressed gs isogene expression and GS activity under N-replete conditions caused enhanced NH₄⁺ translocation to the shoots.     

Ontogenetic changes in potassium transport in xylem of tomato

The influence of plant ontogeny on xylem exudate K⁺ concentrations and K⁺ transport to the shoot was studied in both nutrient-solution and field-grown tomato plants ( Lycopersicon esculentum ).
K⁺ concentrations in xylem exudate from decapitated plants decreased during tomato plant development from a high of 12 m M to a low of 5 m M . In the nutrient-solution plants, the most rapid decline occurred during the vegetative growth phase, while in field-grown plants, the xylem K⁺ concentrations remained high during an-thesis and then subsequently declined. The rapid decline in nutrient-solution plants might be related to a decrease in the absorptive efficiency of the root system. In field-grown plants, a reduction in the availability of assimilates to the root might account in part for the decrease in xylem exudate K⁺ concentrations. The volume (ml h⁻¹ plant⁻¹) and the net rates of K⁺ exudation (mmol h⁻¹ plant⁻¹) decreased dramatically as the fruits approached maturity. Since only a small reduction in xylem exudate K⁺ concentrations occurred during fruiting, the hydraulic conductivity of the root system decreased as the tomato plants aged. It is proposed that the ontogenetic changes in xylem transport of K⁺ contribute to a reduction in leaf free space K⁺ concentration which would explain the decline in tomato leaf K⁺ concentrations.     

Direct and indirect effects of light on stomata II. In Commelina communis L.

Abstract. Two experiments are described which test the normal correlations that arise between stomatal conductance, net CO₂ assimilation rate, and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), using whole shoots of Commelina communis L. In the first, conductance increased with decreasing C_i, at four different quantum flux densities, such that there was no unique relationship between conductance and quantum flux density or C_i, In the second, conductance increased hyperbolically with increasing quantum flux density while C_i was held constant at 466, 302, and 46 μmiolmol⁻¹, and the response differed at each C_i. In neither experiment was conductance consistently related to net CO₂ assimilation rate in the mesophyll. In both experiments high C_i suppressed the response of conductance to light, while there was a large response of conductance to light at low C_i, indicating an interaction between the effects of light and CO₂ on stomata. The results show that the parallel responses of assimilation and conductance to light result in constant intercellular CO₂ concentrations, and not that stomata maintain a 'constant C_i'.     

Effects of plant water deficit on the daily carbon balance of leaves of cacao seedlings

The daily carbon balance of individual source leaves of Theobroma cacao L. seedlings was measured at 2- to 3-day intervals during a 19-day period of increasing plant water deficit and during an 8-day period of recovery following rewatering. In each case, responses of stressed seedlings were compared to those of irrigated controls. Leaves of irrigated cacao seedlings assimilated approximately 41 mg carbohydrate dm^-2 during 12-h photoperiods, and exported an average of 34 mg carbohydrate dm^-2 during 24-h measurement cycles. The rate of carbon export from cacao leaves was sharply reduced as leaf water potential (ψ) declined between -0.8 and -2.0 MPa. Further, the rate of export was closely associated with the net assimilation rate (A), with export capacity being severely reduced as A fell to near zero. Net accumulation of dry matter occurred as long as A remained greater than approximately 20 mg carbohydrate dm^-2 over the 12-h photoperiod, but at lower assimilation rates, export exceeded concomitant assimilation. Carbon export continued at the expense of leaf carbon reserves as photoassimilation fell to near zero during periods of severe water stress (ψ < -2.0 MPa). Night respiration rate was independent of plant water status.