Photosynthetic characteristics of the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum |
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Authors: | Elly P H Best |
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Institution: | Limnological Inst., 'Vijverhof Lab.', Rijksstraatweg 6, 3631 AC Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | The photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Ceratophyllum demersum L. were investigated under laboratory conditions which simulated those encountered in the plants' normal environment. The carbon fixation rate of C. demersum measured with 14C at light and carbon saturation at pH 8.0 was 4.48 mg C (g ash-free dry weight)−1 h−1. It was lower at pH 6.5 than at pH 8.0. The light use efficiencies in quiescent plants and actively growing plants were 6.3 and 8.7 × 10−9 kg CO2 J−1, respectively, with corresponding maximum photosynthetic rates of 2.67 and 4.36 mg C (g ash-free dry weight)−1 h−1. Photorespiration in actively growing plants consumed 24% of the carbon fixed. Incubation with DCMU demonstrated that about one-third was refixed. The optimum temperature for carbon fixation was 25°C. The C3-photosynthetic pathway was the main operational route as indicated by the early photosynthetic products (largely C3-acids) and the absence of Krantz anatomy and the chlorophyll a:b ratio (2.7). The maximum relative growth rates ranged from 0.025 to 0.041 g ash-free dry weight (g ash-free dry weight)−1 day−1 in the field (Lake Vechten, 1 to 3 m depth classes). |
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Keywords: | Light and carbon saturation light use efficiency photorespiration relative growth rate temperature |
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