Abstract: | The influence of varying light intensity and quality on thecarbon labelling patterns in Rumex vesicarius (a C3 plant),Setaria italica (a malate-formingC4 plant), and Amaranthus paniculatus(an aspartate-forming C4 plant) was studied. In A. paniculatusand B. vesicarius blue light decreased the transfer of radioactivityto sugars and starch but in S. italica only slightly decreasedradioactivity in sugar phosphates, sucrose, and insolubles.Negligible transfer was observed from the C4 acids to sugarphosphates, sucrose, and starch under dim blue-green and blue-yellowlights in S. italica and A. paniculatus. Blue light favouredthe formation of malate, aspartate, and alanine in all threeplants. The differential effect of blue and red light suggesteda variation in the mechanisms of C4-photosynthesis in Setariaand Amaranthus. Leaves of S. italica and A. paniculatus were allowed to photosynthesizein 14CO2 for 5 s and then the distribution of the labelled productsbetween the mesophyll and the bundle sheath cells was determinedduring subsequent photosynthesis in 12CO2. Malate and aspartatewhich appeared initially in the mesophyll layer moved rapidlyinto the bundle sheath cells. Phosphoglyceric acid originatingin the bundle sheath moved swiftly to the mesophyll layer. Sugarphosphates were recovered from both the mesophyll and the bundlesheath cells. Most of the starch was found in the bundle sheathcells while sucrose and alanine were localized in the mesophyllcells. |