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Ubierna N, Holloway-Phillips MM, Wingate L, Ogée J, Busch FA, Farquhar GD. Using Carbon Stable Isotopes to Study C 3 and C 4 Photosynthesis: Models and Calculations. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2790:163-211. [PMID: 38649572 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3790-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Stable carbon isotopes are a powerful tool to study photosynthesis. Initial applications consisted of determining isotope ratios of plant biomass using mass spectrometry. Subsequently, theoretical models relating C isotope values to gas exchange characteristics were introduced and tested against instantaneous online measurements of 13C photosynthetic discrimination. Beginning in the twenty-first century, laser absorption spectroscopes with sufficient precision for determining isotope mixing ratios became commercially available. This has allowed collection of large data sets at lower cost and with unprecedented temporal resolution. More data and accompanying knowledge have permitted refinement of 13C discrimination model equations, but often at the expense of increased model complexity and difficult parametrization. This chapter describes instantaneous online measurements of 13C photosynthetic discrimination, provides recommendations for experimental setup, and presents a thorough compilation of equations available to researchers. We update our previous 2018 version of this chapter by including recently improved descriptions of (photo)respiratory processes and associated fractionations. We discuss the capabilities and limitations of the diverse 13C discrimination model equations and provide guidance for selecting the model complexity needed for different applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Ubierna
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)1391 ISPA, Villenave D'Ornon, France
| | - Meisha-Marika Holloway-Phillips
- Research Unit of Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmendsorf, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Wingate
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)1391 ISPA, Villenave D'Ornon, France
| | - Jérôme Ogée
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)1391 ISPA, Villenave D'Ornon, France
| | - Florian A Busch
- School of Biosciences and The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Graham D Farquhar
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Arce Cubas L, Rodrigues Gabriel Sales C, Vath RL, Bernardo EL, Burnett AC, Kromdijk J. Lessons from relatives: C4 photosynthesis enhances CO2 assimilation during the low-light phase of fluctuations. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 193:1073-1090. [PMID: 37335935 PMCID: PMC10517189 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite the global importance of species with C4 photosynthesis, there is a lack of consensus regarding C4 performance under fluctuating light. Contrasting hypotheses and experimental evidence suggest that C4 photosynthesis is either less or more efficient in fixing carbon under fluctuating light than the ancestral C3 form. Two main issues have been identified that may underly the lack of consensus: neglect of evolutionary distance between selected C3 and C4 species and use of contrasting fluctuating light treatments. To circumvent these issues, we measured photosynthetic responses to fluctuating light across 3 independent phylogenetically controlled comparisons between C3 and C4 species from Alloteropsis, Flaveria, and Cleome genera under 21% and 2% O2. Leaves were subjected to repetitive stepwise changes in light intensity (800 and 100 µmol m-2 s-1 photon flux density) with 3 contrasting durations: 6, 30, and 300 s. These experiments reconciled the opposing results found across previous studies and showed that (i) stimulation of CO2 assimilation in C4 species during the low-light phase was both stronger and more sustained than in C3 species; (ii) CO2 assimilation patterns during the high-light phase could be attributable to species or C4 subtype differences rather than photosynthetic pathway; and (iii) the duration of each light step in the fluctuation regime can strongly influence experimental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucίa Arce Cubas
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EA Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Richard L Vath
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EA Cambridge, UK
| | - Emmanuel L Bernardo
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EA Cambridge, UK
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Angela C Burnett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EA Cambridge, UK
| | - Johannes Kromdijk
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EA Cambridge, UK
- Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Wang Y, Stutz SS, Bernacchi CJ, Boyd RA, Ort DR, Long SP. Increased bundle-sheath leakiness of CO 2 during photosynthetic induction shows a lack of coordination between the C 4 and C 3 cycles. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:1661-1675. [PMID: 36098668 PMCID: PMC9827928 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Use of a complete dynamic model of NADP-malic enzyme C4 photosynthesis indicated that, during transitions from dark or shade to high light, induction of the C4 pathway was more rapid than that of C3 , resulting in a predicted transient increase in bundle-sheath CO2 leakiness (ϕ). Previously, ϕ has been measured at steady state; here we developed a new method, coupling a tunable diode laser absorption spectroscope with a gas-exchange system to track ϕ in sorghum and maize through the nonsteady-state condition of photosynthetic induction. In both species, ϕ showed a transient increase to > 0.35 before declining to a steady state of 0.2 by 1500 s after illumination. Average ϕ was 60% higher than at steady state over the first 600 s of induction and 30% higher over the first 1500 s. The transient increase in ϕ, which was consistent with model prediction, indicated that capacity to assimilate CO2 into the C3 cycle in the bundle sheath failed to keep pace with the rate of dicarboxylate delivery by the C4 cycle. Because nonsteady-state light conditions are the norm in field canopies, the results suggest that ϕ in these major crops in the field is significantly higher and energy conversion efficiency lower than previous measured values under steady-state conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign1206 W Gregory DrUrbanaIL61801USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts InnovationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Samantha S. Stutz
- The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign1206 W Gregory DrUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Carl J. Bernacchi
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts InnovationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- USDA‐ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research UnitUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Departments of Plant Biology and Crop SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Ryan A. Boyd
- The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign1206 W Gregory DrUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Donald R. Ort
- The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign1206 W Gregory DrUrbanaIL61801USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts InnovationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Departments of Plant Biology and Crop SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Stephen P. Long
- The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign1206 W Gregory DrUrbanaIL61801USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts InnovationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Departments of Plant Biology and Crop SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterLA1 4YQUK
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Zheng T, Yu Y, Kang H. Short-term elevated temperature and CO 2 promote photosynthetic induction in the C 3 plant Glycine max, but not in the C 4 plant Amaranthus tricolor. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2022; 49:995-1007. [PMID: 35908799 DOI: 10.1071/fp21363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The continuous increases of atmospheric temperature and CO2 concentration will impact global photosynthesis. However, there are few studies considering the interaction of elevated temperature (eT) and elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) on dynamic photosynthesis, particularly for C4 species. We examine dynamic photosynthesis under four different temperature and [CO2 ] treatments: (1) 400ppm×28°C (CT); (2) 400ppm×33°C (CT+); (3) 800ppm×28°C (C+T); and (4) 800ppm×33°C (C+T+). In Glycine max L., the time required to reach 50% (T 50%A ) and 90% (T 90%A ) of full photosynthetic induction was smaller under the CT+, C+T, and C+T+ treatments than those under the CT treatment. In Amaranthus tricolor L., however, neither T 50%A nor T 90%A was not significantly affected by eT or eCO2 . In comparison with the CT treatment, the achieved carbon gain was increased by 58.3% (CT+), 112% (C+T), and 136.6% (C+T+) in G. max and was increased by 17.1% (CT+), 2.6% (C+T) and 56.9% (C+T+) in A. tricolor . The increases of achieved carbon gain in G. max were attributable to both improved photosynthetic induction efficiency (IE) and enhanced steady-state photosynthesis, whereas those in A. tricolor were attributable to enhanced steady-state photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zheng
- Department of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuan Yu
- Department of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Huixing Kang
- Department of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Medeiros DB, Ishihara H, Guenther M, Rosado de Souza L, Fernie AR, Stitt M, Arrivault S. 13CO2 labeling kinetics in maize reveal impaired efficiency of C4 photosynthesis under low irradiance. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:280-304. [PMID: 35751609 PMCID: PMC9434203 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis allows faster photosynthetic rates and higher water and nitrogen use efficiency than C3 photosynthesis, but at the cost of lower quantum yield due to the energy requirement of its biochemical carbon concentration mechanism. It has also been suspected that its operation may be impaired in low irradiance. To investigate fluxes under moderate and low irradiance, maize (Zea mays) was grown at 550 µmol photons m-2 s-l and 13CO2 pulse-labeling was performed at growth irradiance or several hours after transfer to 160 µmol photons m-2 s-1. Analysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry provided information about pool size and labeling kinetics for 32 metabolites and allowed estimation of flux at many steps in C4 photosynthesis. The results highlighted several sources of inefficiency in low light. These included excess flux at phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, restriction of decarboxylation by NADP-malic enzyme, and a shift to increased CO2 incorporation into aspartate, less effective use of metabolite pools to drive intercellular shuttles, and higher relative and absolute rates of photorespiration. The latter provides evidence for a lower bundle sheath CO2 concentration in low irradiance, implying that operation of the CO2 concentration mechanism is impaired in this condition. The analyses also revealed rapid exchange of carbon between the Calvin-Benson cycle and the CO2-concentration shuttle, which allows rapid adjustment of the balance between CO2 concentration and assimilation, and accumulation of large amounts of photorespiratory intermediates in low light that provides a major carbon reservoir to build up C4 metabolite pools when irradiance increases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hirofumi Ishihara
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Manuela Guenther
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | | | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Mark Stitt
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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DiMario RJ, Giuliani R, Ubierna N, Slack AD, Cousins AB, Studer AJ. Lack of leaf carbonic anhydrase activity eliminates the C 4 carbon-concentrating mechanism requiring direct diffusion of CO 2 into bundle sheath cells. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:1382-1397. [PMID: 35233800 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Carbonic anhydrase (CA) performs the first enzymatic step of C4 photosynthesis by catalysing the reversible hydration of dissolved CO2 that diffuses into mesophyll cells from intercellular airspaces. This CA-catalysed reaction provides the bicarbonate used by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to generate products that flow into the C4 carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM). It was previously demonstrated that the Zea mays ca1ca2 double mutant lost 97% of leaf CA activity, but there was little difference in the growth phenotype under ambient CO2 partial pressures (pCO2 ). We hypothesise that since CAs are among the fastest enzymes, minimal activity from a third CA, CA8, can provide the inorganic carbon needed to drive C4 photosynthesis. We observed that removing CA8 from the maize ca1ca2 background resulted in plants that had 0.2% of wild-type leaf CA activity. These ca1ca2ca8 plants had reduced photosynthetic parameters and could only survive at elevated pCO2 . Photosynthetic and carbon isotope analysis combined with modelling of photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination was used to determine if ca1ca2ca8 plants had a functional C4 cycle or were relying on direct CO2 diffusion to ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase within bundle sheath cells. The results suggest that leaf CA activity in ca1ca2ca8 plants was not sufficient to sustain the C4 CCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J DiMario
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Rita Giuliani
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Nerea Ubierna
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Aaron D Slack
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Anthony J Studer
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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7
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von Caemmerer S. Updating the steady-state model of C4 photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:6003-6017. [PMID: 34173821 PMCID: PMC8411607 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
C4 plants play a key role in world agriculture. For example, C4 crops such as maize and sorghum are major contributors to food production in both developed and developing countries, and the C4 grasses sugarcane, miscanthus, and switchgrass are major plant sources of bioenergy. In the challenge to manipulate and enhance C4 photosynthesis, steady-state models of leaf photosynthesis provide an important tool for gas exchange analysis and thought experiments that can explore photosynthetic pathway changes. Here a previous C4 photosynthetic model developed by von Caemmerer and Furbank has been updated with new kinetic parameterization and temperature dependencies added. The parameterization was derived from experiments on the C4 monocot, Setaria viridis, which for the first time provides a cohesive parameterization. Mesophyll conductance and its temperature dependence have also been included, as this is an important step in the quantitative correlation between the initial slope of the CO2 response curve of CO2 assimilation and in vitro phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. Furthermore, the equations for chloroplast electron transport have been updated to include cyclic electron transport flow, and equations have been added to calculate the electron transport rate from measured CO2 assimilation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne von Caemmerer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Correspondence:
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8
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Jaikumar NS, Stutz SS, Fernandes SB, Leakey ADB, Bernacchi CJ, Brown PJ, Long SP. Can improved canopy light transmission ameliorate loss of photosynthetic efficiency in the shade? An investigation of natural variation in Sorghum bicolor. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:4965-4980. [PMID: 33914063 PMCID: PMC8219039 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have found that maximum quantum yield of CO2 assimilation (Φ CO2,max,app) declines in lower canopies of maize and miscanthus, a maladaptive response to self-shading. These observations were limited to single genotypes, leaving it unclear whether the maladaptive shade response is a general property of this C4 grass tribe, the Andropogoneae. We explored the generality of this maladaptation by testing the hypothesis that erect leaf forms (erectophiles), which allow more light into the lower canopy, suffer less of a decline in photosynthetic efficiency than drooping leaf (planophile) forms. On average, Φ CO2,max,app declined 27% in lower canopy leaves across 35 accessions, but the decline was over twice as great in planophiles than in erectophiles. The loss of photosynthetic efficiency involved a decoupling between electron transport and assimilation. This was not associated with increased bundle sheath leakage, based on 13C measurements. In both planophiles and erectophiles, shaded leaves had greater leaf absorptivity and lower activities of key C4 enzymes than sun leaves. The erectophile form is considered more productive because it allows a more effective distribution of light through the canopy to support photosynthesis. We show that in sorghum, it provides a second benefit, maintenance of higher Φ CO2,max,app to support efficient use of that light resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil S Jaikumar
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Samantha S Stutz
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Samuel B Fernandes
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Andrew D B Leakey
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Carl J Bernacchi
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- USDA ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Patrick J Brown
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Stephen P Long
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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Torres R, Romero JM, Lagorio MG. Effects of sub-optimal illumination in plants. Comprehensive chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2021; 218:112182. [PMID: 33813366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The fluorescence signals emitted by chlorophyll molecules of plants is a promising non-destructive indicator of plant physiology due to its close link to photosynthesis. In this work, a deep photophysical study of chlorophyll fluorescence was provided, to assess the sub-optimal illumination effects on three plant species: L. sativa, A. hybridus and S. dendroideum. In all the cases, low light (LL) treatment induced an increase in pigment content. Fluorescence ratios - corrected by light reabsorption processes - remained constant, which suggested that photosystems stoichiometry was conserved. For all species and treatments, quantum yields of photophysical decay remained around 0.2, which meant that the maximum possible photosynthesis efficiency was about 0.8. L. sativa (C3) acclimated to low light illumination, displayed a strong increase in the LHC size and a net decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency. A. hybridus (C4) was not appreciably stressed by the low light availability whereas S. dendroideum (CAM), decreased its antenna and augmented the quantum yield of primary photochemistry. A novel approach to describe NPQ relaxation kinetics was also presented here and used to calculate typical deactivation times and amplitudes for NPQ components. LL acclimated L. sativa presented a much larger deactivation time for its state-transition-related quenching than the other species. Comprehensive fluorescence analysis allowed a deep study of the changes in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis upon low light illumination treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Torres
- CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Dpto. de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 1er piso, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J M Romero
- CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Dpto. de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 1er piso, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M G Lagorio
- CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Dpto. de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 1er piso, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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10
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Ellsworth PZ, Feldman MJ, Baxter I, Cousins AB. A genetic link between leaf carbon isotope composition and whole-plant water use efficiency in the C 4 grass Setaria. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:1234-1248. [PMID: 31968138 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Genetic selection for whole-plant water use efficiency (yield per transpiration; WUEplant ) in any crop-breeding programme requires high-throughput phenotyping of component traits of WUEplant such as intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi ; CO2 assimilation rate per stomatal conductance). Measuring WUEi by gas exchange measurements is laborious and time consuming and may not reflect an integrated WUEi over the life of the leaf. Alternatively, leaf carbon stable isotope composition (δ13 Cleaf ) has been suggested as a potential time-integrated proxy for WUEi that may provide a tool to screen for WUEplant . However, a genetic link between δ13 Cleaf and WUEplant in a C4 species has not been well established. Therefore, to determine if there is a genetic relationship in a C4 plant between δ13 Cleaf and WUEplant under well watered and water-limited growth conditions, a high-throughput phenotyping facility was used to measure WUEplant in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population created between the C4 grasses Setaria viridis and S. italica. Three quantitative trait loci (QTL) for δ13 Cleaf were found and co-localized with transpiration, biomass accumulation, and WUEplant . Additionally, WUEplant for each of the δ13 Cleaf QTL allele classes was negatively correlated with δ13 Cleaf , as would be predicted when WUEi influences WUEplant . These results demonstrate that δ13 Cleaf is genetically linked to WUEplant , likely to be through their relationship with WUEi , and can be used as a high-throughput proxy to screen for WUEplant in these C4 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Z Ellsworth
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Max J Feldman
- Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ivan Baxter
- Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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11
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Lightfoot E, Ustunkaya MC, Przelomska N, O'Connell TC, Hunt HV, Jones MK, Petrie CA. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic variability in foxtail millet (Setaria italica) with watering regime. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2020; 34:e8615. [PMID: 31658389 PMCID: PMC7050514 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Carbonised plant remains are analysed for reconstruction of past climates and agricultural regimes. Several recent studies have used C4 plants to address related questions, and correlations between modern C4 plant δ13 C values and rainfall have been found. The millets were important food crops in prehistoric Eurasia, yet little is known about causes of isotopic variation within millet species. Previous research has shown there to be significant isotopic variation between millet accessions. Here we compare isotope ratios from plants grown under different watering regimes. This allows for a consideration of whether or not Setaria italica is a good proxy for environmental reconstruction. METHODS We compare stable isotope ratios of Setaria italica plants grown in a controlled environment chamber with different watering regimes. We compare the carbon isotope ratios of leaves and grains, and the nitrogen isotope ratios of grains, from 12 accessions of Setaria italica. RESULTS We find significant isotopic variability between watering regimes. Carbon isotope ratios are positively correlated with water availability, and on average vary by 1.9‰ and 1.7‰ for leaves and grains, respectively. Grain nitrogen isotope ratios also vary with watering regime; however, the highest isotope ratios are found with the 130-mL watering regime. CONCLUSIONS The carbon isotope ratios of Setaria italica are strongly correlated with water availability. However, the correlation is the opposite to that seen in studies of C3 plants. The difference in isotopic ratio due to watering regime is comparable with that seen between different accessions; thus distinguishing between changing varieties of Setaria italica and changing climate is problematic. In terms of grain nitrogen isotope ratios, the highest δ15 N values were not associated with the lowest watering regime. Again, δ15 N variation is comparable with that which would be expected from an aridity effect or a manuring effect, and thus distinguishing between these factors is probably problematic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Lightfoot
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological ResearchUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB2 3ERUK
| | - M. Cemre Ustunkaya
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological ResearchUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB2 3ERUK
| | - Natalia Przelomska
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDC20560USA
- Center for Conservation GenomicsSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational ZooWashingtonDC20008USA
| | - Tamsin C. O'Connell
- Department of ArchaeologyUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB2 3DZUK
| | - Harriet V. Hunt
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological ResearchUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB2 3ERUK
| | - Martin K. Jones
- Department of ArchaeologyUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB2 3DZUK
| | - Cameron A. Petrie
- Department of ArchaeologyUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB2 3DZUK
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Gao J, Liu Z, Zhao B, Liu P, Zhang JW. Physiological and comparative proteomic analysis provides new insights into the effects of shade stress in maize (Zea mays L.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:60. [PMID: 32024458 PMCID: PMC7003340 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-2264-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shade stress, a universal abiotic stress, suppresses plant growth and production seriously. However, little is known regarding the protein regulatory networks under shade stress. To better characterize the proteomic changes of maize leaves under shade stress, 60% shade (S) and supplementary lighting (L) on cloudy daylight from tasseling stage to physiological maturity stage were designed, the ambient sunlight treatment was used as control (CK). Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology was used to determine the proteome profiles in leaves. RESULTS Shading significantly decreased the SPAD value, net photosynthetic rate, and grain yield. During two experimental years, grain yields of S were reduced by 48 and 47%, and L increased by 6 and 11%, compared to CK. In total, 3958 proteins were identified by iTRAQ, and 2745 proteins were quantified including 349 proteins showed at least 1.2-fold changes in expression levels between treatments and CK. The differentially expressed proteins were classified into photosynthesis, stress defense, energy production, signal transduction, and protein and amino acid metabolism using the Web Gene Ontology Annotation Plot online tool. In addition, these proteins showed significant enrichment of the chloroplasts (58%) and cytosol (21%) for subcellular localization. CONCLUSIONS 60% shade induced the expression of proteins involved in photosynthetic electron transport chain (especially light-harvesting complex) and stress/defense/detoxification. However, the proteins related to calvin cycle, starch and sucrose metabolisms, glycolysis, TCA cycle, and ribosome and protein synthesis were dramatically depressed. Together, our results might help to provide a valuable resource for protein function analysis and also clarify the proteomic and physiological mechanism of maize underlying shade stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018 People’s Republic of China
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ji-Wang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018 People’s Republic of China
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Stutz SS, Hanson DT. What is the fate of xylem-transported CO 2 in Kranz-type C 4 plants? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:1241-1252. [PMID: 31077397 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
High concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon in stems of herbaceous and woody C3 plants exit leaves in the dark. In the light, C3 species use a small portion of xylem-transported CO2 for leaf photosynthesis. However, it is not known if xylem-transported CO2 will exit leaves in the dark or be used for photosynthesis in the light in Kranz-type C4 plants. Cut leaves of Amaranthus hypochondriacus were placed in one of three solutions of [NaH13 CO3 ] dissolved in KCl water to measure the efflux of xylem-transported CO2 exiting the leaf in the dark or rates of assimilation of xylem-transported CO2 * in the light, in real-time, using a tunable diode laser absorption spectroscope. In the dark, the efflux of xylem-transported CO2 increased with increasing rates of transpiration and [13 CO2 *]; however, rates of 13 Cefflux in A. hypochondriacus were lower compared to C3 species. In the light, A. hypochondriacus fixed nearly 75% of the xylem-transported CO2 supplied to the leaf. Kranz anatomy and biochemistry likely influence the efflux of xylem-transported CO2 out of cut leaves of A. hypochondriacus in the dark, as well as the use of xylem-transported CO2 * for photosynthesis in the light. Thus increasing the carbon use efficiency of Kranz-type C4 species over C3 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha S Stutz
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - David T Hanson
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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14
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Bellasio C, Farquhar GD. A leaf-level biochemical model simulating the introduction of C 2 and C 4 photosynthesis in C 3 rice: gains, losses and metabolite fluxes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:150-166. [PMID: 30859576 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This work aims at developing an adequate theoretical basis for comparing assimilation of the ancestral C3 pathway with CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCM) that have evolved to reduce photorespiratory yield losses. We present a novel model for C3 , C2 , C2 + C4 and C4 photosynthesis simulating assimilatory metabolism, energetics and metabolite traffic at the leaf level. It integrates a mechanistic description of light reactions to simulate ATP and NADPH production, and a variable engagement of cyclic electron flow. The analytical solutions are compact and thus suitable for larger scale simulations. Inputs were derived with a comprehensive gas-exchange experiment. We show trade-offs in the operation of C4 that are in line with ecophysiological data. C4 has the potential to increase assimilation over C3 at high temperatures and light intensities, but this benefit is reversed under low temperatures and light. We apply the model to simulate the introduction of progressively complex levels of CCM into C3 rice, which feeds > 3.5 billion people. Increasing assimilation will require considerable modifications such as expressing the NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase-like complex and upregulating cyclic electron flow, enlarging the bundle sheath, and expressing suitable transporters to allow adequate metabolite traffic. The simpler C2 rice may be a desirable alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Bellasio
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Illes Balears, 07122, Spain
- Trees and Timber Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, 50019, Italy
| | - Graham D Farquhar
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
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15
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Giuliani R, Karki S, Covshoff S, Lin HC, Coe RA, Koteyeva NK, Quick WP, Von Caemmerer S, Furbank RT, Hibberd JM, Edwards GE, Cousins AB. Knockdown of glycine decarboxylase complex alters photorespiratory carbon isotope fractionation in Oryza sativa leaves. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:2773-2786. [PMID: 30840760 PMCID: PMC6506765 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The influence of reduced glycine decarboxylase complex (GDC) activity on leaf atmosphere CO2 and 13CO2 exchange was tested in transgenic Oryza sativa with the GDC H-subunit knocked down in leaf mesophyll cells. Leaf measurements on transgenic gdch knockdown and wild-type plants were carried out in the light under photorespiratory and low photorespiratory conditions (i.e. 18.4 kPa and 1.84 kPa atmospheric O2 partial pressure, respectively), and in the dark. Under approximately current ambient O2 partial pressure (18.4 kPa pO2), the gdch knockdown plants showed an expected photorespiratory-deficient phenotype, with lower leaf net CO2 assimilation rates (A) than the wild-type. Additionally, under these conditions, the gdch knockdown plants had greater leaf net discrimination against 13CO2 (Δo) than the wild-type. This difference in Δo was in part due to lower 13C photorespiratory fractionation (f) ascribed to alternative decarboxylation of photorespiratory intermediates. Furthermore, the leaf dark respiration rate (Rd) was enhanced and the 13CO2 composition of respired CO2 (δ13CRd) showed a tendency to be more depleted in the gdch knockdown plants. These changes in Rd and δ13CRd were due to the amount and carbon isotopic composition of substrates available for dark respiration. These results demonstrate that impairment of the photorespiratory pathway affects leaf 13CO2 exchange, particularly the 13C decarboxylation fractionation associated with photorespiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Giuliani
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Shanta Karki
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Sarah Covshoff
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hsiang-Chun Lin
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Robert A Coe
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Nuria K Koteyeva
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - W Paul Quick
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Susanne Von Caemmerer
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Robert T Furbank
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gerald E Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Gao J, Shi J, Dong S, Liu P, Zhao B, Zhang J. Grain development and endogenous hormones in summer maize (Zea mays L.) submitted to different light conditions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2018; 62:2131-2138. [PMID: 30244320 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-018-1613-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Low light is a type of abiotic stress that seriously affects plant growth and production efficiency. We investigated the response mechanisms of summer maize to low light by measuring the changes in endogenous hormones in the grains and during grain filling in summer maize at different light intensities to provide a theoretical basis for the production and management of summer maize under light stress. We applied different light treatments in a field experiment as follows: S, shading from tassel stage (VT) to maturity stage (R6); CK, natural lighting in the field; and L, increasing light from VT to R6. The shading level was 60%, and the maximum illumination intensity of the increasing light treatment on cloudy days was 1600-1800 μmol m-2 s-1. Compared with the control, shading significantly increased the grain abscisic acid (ABA) content at 5-20 days after pollination and decreased the indole acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellin (GA) contents (P < 0.05). The grain-filling rate decreased under shading conditions. Meanwhile, the grain volume, grain weight, and yield all decreased; the yields in 2013 and 2014 decreased by 61 and 60%, respectively. The grain IAA, ZR, and GA contents were increased by increasing light. The grain ABA content at 5-20 days after pollination did not significantly differ from that of CK (P < 0.05). After 20 days after pollination, the ABA content decreased, the grain-filling rate and the filling duration increased, and the yield increased. However, shading after anthesis increased the grain ABA content and reduced the IAA, ZR, and GA contents. Grain growth and development were inhibited, and the yield decreased. The grain ABA content decreased; the IAA, ZR, and GA contents increased; and the yield increased after increasing light. The results indicate that different light intensities regulated the levels of grains endogenous hormones, which influenced the grain-filling rate and duration, and consequently, regulated grain weight and yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianguo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuting Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiwang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Jansson C, Vogel J, Hazen S, Brutnell T, Mockler T. Climate-smart crops with enhanced photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:3801-3809. [PMID: 30032188 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The potential of enhanced photosynthetic efficiency to help achieve the sustainable yield increases required to meet future demands for food and energy has spurred intense research towards understanding, modeling, and engineering photosynthesis. These current efforts, largely focused on the C3 model Arabidopsis thaliana or crop plants (e.g. rice, sorghum, maize, and wheat), could be intensified and broadened using model systems closely related to our food, feed, and energy crops and that allow rapid design-build-test-learn cycles. In this outlooking Opinion, we advocate for a concerted effort to expand our understanding and improve our ability to redesign carbon uptake, allocation, and utilization. We propose two specific research directions that combine enhanced photosynthesis with climate-smart metabolic attributes: (i) engineering pathways for flexible (facultative) C3-C4 metabolism where plants will operate either C3 or C4 photosynthesis based on environmental conditions such as temperature, light, and atmospheric CO2 levels; and (ii) increasing rhizospheric sink strength for carbon utilization, including strategies that allow for augmented transport of carbon to the soil for improved soil properties and carbon storage without jeopardizing aboveground crop biomass. We argue that such ambitious undertakings be first approached and demonstrated by exploring the full genomic potential of two model grasses, the C3Brachypodium distachyon and the C4Setaria viridis. The development of climate-smart crops could provide novel and bold solutions to increase crop productivity while reducing atmospheric carbon and nitrogen emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christer Jansson
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - John Vogel
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Walnut Creek CA, USA
| | - Samuel Hazen
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | - Todd Mockler
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
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18
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Kolbe AR, Studer AJ, Cousins AB. Biochemical and transcriptomic analysis of maize diversity to elucidate drivers of leaf carbon isotope composition. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2018; 45:489-500. [PMID: 32290988 DOI: 10.1071/fp17265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Carbon isotope discrimination is used to study CO2 diffusion, substrate availability for photosynthesis, and leaf biochemistry, but the intraspecific drivers of leaf carbon isotope composition (δ13C) in C4 species are not well understood. In this study, the role of photosynthetic enzymes and post-photosynthetic fractionation on δ13C (‰) was explored across diverse maize inbred lines. A significant 1.3‰ difference in δ13C was observed between lines but δ13C did not correlate with in vitro leaf carbonic anhydrase (CA), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), or ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity. RNA-sequencing was used to identify potential differences in post-photosynthetic metabolism that would influence δ13C; however, no correlations were identified that would indicate significant differences in post-photosynthetic fractionation between lines. Variation in δ13C has been observed between C4 subtypes, but differential expression of NADP-ME and PEP-CK pathways within these lines did not correlate with δ13C. However, co-expression network analysis provided novel evidence for isoforms of C4 enzymes and putative transporters. Together, these data indicate that diversity in maize δ13C cannot be fully explained by variation in CA, PEPC, or Rubisco activity or gene expression. The findings further emphasise the need for future work exploring the influence of stomatal sensitivity and mesophyll conductance on δ13C in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R Kolbe
- School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 644236, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Anthony J Studer
- Department of Crop Sciences, 1201 West Gregory Drive, Edward R. Madigan Laboratory 289, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 644236, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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19
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Ubierna N, Gandin A, Cousins AB. The response of mesophyll conductance to short-term variation in CO2 in the C4 plants Setaria viridis and Zea mays. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:1159-1170. [PMID: 29474683 PMCID: PMC6018935 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mesophyll conductance (gm) limits rates of C3 photosynthesis but little is known about its role in C4 photosynthesis. If gm were to limit C4 photosynthesis, it would likely be at low CO2 concentrations (pCO2). However, data on C4-gm across ranges of pCO2 are scarce. We describe the response of C4-gm to short-term variation in pCO2, at three temperatures in Setaria viridis, and at 25 °C in Zea mays. Additionally, we quantified the effect of finite gm calculations of leakiness (ϕ) and the potential limitations to photosynthesis imposed by stomata, mesophyll, and carbonic anhydrase (CA) across pCO2. In both species, gm increased with decreasing pCO2. Including a finite gm resulted in either no change or increased ϕ compared with values calculated with infinite gm depending on whether the observed 13C discrimination was high (Setaria) or low (Zea). Post-transitional regulation of the maximal PEP carboxylation rate and PEP regeneration limitation could influence estimates of gm and ϕ. At pCO2 below ambient, the photosynthetic rate was limited by CO2 availability. In this case, the limitation imposed by the mesophyll was similar or slightly lower than stomata limitation. At very low pCO2, CA further constrained photosynthesis. High gm could increase CO2 assimilation at low pCO2 and improve photosynthetic efficiency under situations when CO2 is limited, such as drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Ubierna
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Anthony Gandin
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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20
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Ubierna N, Holloway-Phillips MM, Farquhar GD. Using Stable Carbon Isotopes to Study C 3 and C 4 Photosynthesis: Models and Calculations. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1770:155-196. [PMID: 29978402 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7786-4_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Stable carbon isotopes are a powerful tool to study photosynthesis. Initial applications consisted of determining isotope ratios of plant biomass using mass spectrometry. Subsequently, theoretical models relating C-isotope values to gas exchange characteristics were introduced and tested against instantaneous online measurements of 13C photosynthetic discrimination. Beginning in the twenty-first century, tunable diode laser spectroscopes with sufficient precision for determining isotope mixing ratios became commercially available. This has allowed collection of large data sets, at low cost and with unprecedented temporal resolution. With more data and accompanying knowledge, it has become apparent that there is a need for increased complexity in models and calculations. This chapter describes instantaneous online measurements of 13C photosynthetic discrimination, provides recommendations for experimental setup, and presents a thorough compilation of equations needed for different applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Ubierna
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | | | - Graham D Farquhar
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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21
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Reyna-Llorens I, Hibberd JM. Recruitment of pre-existing networks during the evolution of C 4 photosynthesis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:20160386. [PMID: 28808102 PMCID: PMC5566883 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During C4 photosynthesis, CO2 is concentrated around the enzyme RuBisCO. The net effect is to reduce photorespiration while increasing water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Species that use C4 photosynthesis have evolved independently from their C3 ancestors on more than 60 occasions. Along with mimicry and the camera-like eye, the C4 pathway therefore represents a remarkable example of the repeated evolution of a highly complex trait. In this review, we provide evidence that the polyphyletic evolution of C4 photosynthesis is built upon pre-existing metabolic and genetic networks. For example, cells around veins of C3 species show similarities to those of the C4 bundle sheath in terms of C4 acid decarboxylase activity and also the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Enzymes of C4 photosynthesis function together in gluconeogenesis during early seedling growth of C3Arabidopsis thaliana Furthermore, multiple C4 genes appear to be under control of both light and chloroplast signals in the ancestral C3 state. We, therefore, hypothesize that relatively minor rewiring of pre-existing genetic and metabolic networks has facilitated the recurrent evolution of this trait. Understanding how these changes are likely to have occurred could inform attempts to install C4 traits into C3 crops.This article is part of the themed issue 'Enhancing photosynthesis in crop plants: targets for improvement'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Reyna-Llorens
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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22
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Ellsworth PZ, Ellsworth PV, Cousins AB. Relationship of leaf oxygen and carbon isotopic composition with transpiration efficiency in the C4 grasses Setaria viridis and Setaria italica. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:3513-3528. [PMID: 28859378 PMCID: PMC5853516 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Leaf carbon and oxygen isotope ratios can potentially provide a time-integrated proxy for stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E), and can be used to estimate transpiration efficiency (TE). In this study, we found significant relationships of bulk leaf carbon isotopic signature (δ13CBL) and bulk leaf oxygen enrichment above source water (Δ18OBL) with gas exchange and TE in the model C4 grasses Setaria viridis and S. italica. Leaf δ13C had strong relationships with E, gs, water use, biomass, and TE. Additionally, the consistent difference in δ13CBL between well-watered and water-limited plants suggests that δ13CBL is effective in separating C4 plants with different availability of water. Alternatively, the use of Δ18OBL as a proxy for E and TE in S. viridis and S. italica was problematic. First, the oxygen isotopic composition of source water, used to calculate leaf water enrichment (Δ18OLW), was variable with time and differed across water treatments. Second, water limitations changed leaf size and masked the relationship of Δ18OLW and Δ18OBL with E. Therefore, the data collected here suggest that δ13CBL but not Δ18OBL may be an effective proxy for TE in C4 grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Z Ellsworth
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Farquhar GD, Busch FA. Changes in the chloroplastic CO 2 concentration explain much of the observed Kok effect: a model. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 214:570-584. [PMID: 28318033 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial respiration often appears to be inhibited in the light when compared with measurements in the dark. This inhibition is inferred from the response of the net CO2 assimilation rate (A) to absorbed irradiance (I), changing slope around the light compensation point (Ic ). We suggest a model that provides a plausible mechanistic explanation of this 'Kok effect'. The model uses the mathematical description of photosynthesis developed by Farquhar, von Caemmerer and Berry; it involves no inhibition of respiration rate in the light. We also describe a fitting technique for quantifying the Kok effect at low I. Changes in the chloroplastic CO2 partial pressure (Cc ) can explain curvature of A vs I, its diminution in C4 plants and at low oxygen concentrations or high carbon dioxide concentrations in C3 plants, and effects of dark respiration rate and of temperature. It also explains the apparent inhibition of respiration in the light as inferred by the Laisk approach. While there are probably other sources of curvature in A vs I, variation in Cc can largely explain the curvature at low irradiance, and suggests that interpretation of day respiration compared with dark respiration of leaves on the basis of the Kok effect needs reassessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham D Farquhar
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Florian A Busch
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Yang H, Yu Q, Sheng WP, Li SG, Tian J. Determination of leaf carbon isotope discrimination in C4 plants under variable N and water supply. Sci Rep 2017; 7:351. [PMID: 28336951 PMCID: PMC5428480 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00498-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms underlying variations in carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in C4 plants is critical for predicting the C3/C4 ratio in C3/C4 mixed grassland. The value of Δ is determined by bundle sheath leakiness (Ф) and the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentration (C i /C a ). Leaf nitrogen concentration (N leaf ) is considered a driver of Δ in C4 plants. However, little is known about how N leaf affects Ф and C i /C a , and subsequently Δ. Here leaf carbon isotope composition, N leaf , Ф, and leaf gas exchange were measured in Cleistogenes squarrosa, a dominant C4 species in the Inner Mongolia grassland. Δ remained relatively stable under variable N and water supply. Higher N supply and lower water supply increased N leaf , stimulated photosynthesis and further decreased C i /C a . High N supply increased Ф, which responded weakly to water supply. N leaf exerted similar effects on C i /C a and on Ф in the field and pot experiments. Pooling all the data, N leaf explained 73% of the variation in C i /C a . Overall, both Ф and C i /C a determined Δ; however, the contribution of Ф was stronger. N leaf influenced Δ primarily though C i /C a , rather than Ф. Ф should be considered in estimating Δ of C4 endmember.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Qiang Yu
- National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Wen-Ping Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Sheng-Gong Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Gao J, Zhao B, Dong S, Liu P, Ren B, Zhang J. Response of Summer Maize Photosynthate Accumulation and Distribution to Shading Stress Assessed by Using 13CO 2 Stable Isotope Tracer in the Field. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1821. [PMID: 29123536 PMCID: PMC5662628 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Maize is one of the most important crops globally that provides food, feed, and bioenergy. However, shading stress threatens maize production. In this study, we investigated the effects of shading on photosynthate accumulation and distribution of summer maize in the field. Zhengdan958 (ZD958) and Denghai 605 (DH605) were used as experimental materials in a field experiment running from 2013 to 2015. Shading treatments were applied over different growth stages: from the tassel stage (VT) to physiological maturity (R6) (S1), from the six-leaf stage (V6) to VT (S2), and from emergence stage (VE) to R6 (S3). The effects of shading on plant photosynthesis, photosynthate accumulation and distribution, and yield were evaluated in comparison to ambient sunlight. Shading significantly decreased the leaf area, SPAD value, net photosynthetic rate, dry matter accumulation, and grain yield. During the 3-year experimental period, grain yields of ZD958 and DH605 were reduced by 83.4%, 34.2%, 53.1% and 79.3%, 24.2%, 57.6% as compared to the CK by treatments S3, S2, and S1, respectively. 13CO2 stable isotope tracing revealed that shading differentially affected the photosynthate transfer rate in different stages; photosynthates were transferred from top to bottom plant parts, in the order control > S2 > S1 > S3. We conclude that shading clearly disrupted photosynthate metabolism, and reduced the photosynthate accumulation in the grain, resulting in a yield reduction.
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26
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Ma JY, Sun W, Koteyeva NK, Voznesenskaya E, Stutz SS, Gandin A, Smith-Moritz AM, Heazlewood JL, Cousins AB. Influence of light and nitrogen on the photosynthetic efficiency in the C 4 plant Miscanthus × giganteus. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2017; 131:1-13. [PMID: 27531584 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-016-0281-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
There are numerous studies describing how growth conditions influence the efficiency of C4 photosynthesis. However, it remains unclear how changes in the biochemical capacity versus leaf anatomy drives this acclimation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how growth light and nitrogen availability influence leaf anatomy, biochemistry and the efficiency of the CO2 concentrating mechanism in Miscanthus × giganteus. There was an increase in the mesophyll cell wall surface area but not cell well thickness in the high-light (HL) compared to the low-light (LL) grown plants suggesting a higher mesophyll conductance in the HL plants, which also had greater photosynthetic capacity. Additionally, the HL plants had greater surface area and thickness of bundle-sheath cell walls compared to LL plants, suggesting limited differences in bundle-sheath CO2 conductance because the increased area was offset by thicker cell walls. The gas exchange estimates of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc) activity were significantly less than the in vitro PEPc activity, suggesting limited substrate availability in the leaf due to low mesophyll CO2 conductance. Finally, leakiness was similar across all growth conditions and generally did not change under the different measurement light conditions. However, differences in the stable isotope composition of leaf material did not correlate with leakiness indicating that dry matter isotope measurements are not a good proxy for leakiness. Taken together, these data suggest that the CO2 concentrating mechanism in Miscanthus is robust under low-light and limited nitrogen growth conditions, and that the observed changes in leaf anatomy and biochemistry likely help to maintain this efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Ying Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- School of Biological Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Wei Sun
- School of Biological Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Nuria K Koteyeva
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena Voznesenskaya
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Samantha S Stutz
- School of Biological Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Anthony Gandin
- School of Biological Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Andreia M Smith-Moritz
- Joint BioEnergy Institute and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Joshua L Heazlewood
- Joint BioEnergy Institute and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA.
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Gong XY, Schäufele R, Schnyder H. Bundle-sheath leakiness and intrinsic water use efficiency of a perennial C4 grass are increased at high vapour pressure deficit during growth. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:321-333. [PMID: 27864539 PMCID: PMC5853292 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bundle-sheath leakiness (ϕ) is a key parameter of the CO2-concentrating mechanism of C4 photosynthesis and is related to leaf-level intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi). This work studied short-term dynamic responses of ϕ to alterations of atmospheric CO2 concentration in Cleistogenes squarrosa, a perennial grass, grown at high (1.6 kPa) or low (0.6 kPa) vapour pressure deficit (VPD) combined with high or low N supply in controlled environment experiments. ϕ was determined by concurrent measurements of photosynthetic gas exchange and on-line carbon isotope discrimination, using a new protocol. Growth at high VPD led to an increase of ϕ by 0.13 and a concurrent increase of WUEi by 14%, with similar effects at both N levels. ϕ responded dynamically to intercellular CO2 concentration (C i), increasing with C i Across treatments, ϕ was negatively correlated to the ratio of CO2 saturated assimilation rate to carboxylation efficiency (a proxy of the relative activities of Rubisco and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase) indicating that the long-term environmental effect on ϕ was related to the balance between C3 and C4 cycles. Our study revealed considerable dynamic and long-term variation in ϕ of C. squarrosa, suggesting that ϕ should be determined when carbon isotope discrimination is used to assess WUEi Also, the data indicate a trade-off between WUEi and energetic efficiency in C. squarrosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ying Gong
- Lehrstuhl für Grünlandlehre, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 12, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Rudi Schäufele
- Lehrstuhl für Grünlandlehre, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 12, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Hans Schnyder
- Lehrstuhl für Grünlandlehre, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 12, 85354 Freising, Germany
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Effects of shading on the photosynthetic characteristics and mesophyll cell ultrastructure of summer maize. Naturwissenschaften 2016; 103:67. [PMID: 27437706 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-016-1392-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of shading on the photosynthetic characteristics and mesophyll cell ultrastructure of two summer maize hybrids Denghai605 (DH605) and Zhengdan958 (ZD958). The ambient sunlight treatment was used as control (CK) and shading treatments (40 % of ambient sunlight) were applied at different growth stages from silking (R1) to physiological maturity (R6) (S1), from the sixth leaf stage (V6) to R1 (S2), and from seeding to R6 (S3), respectively. The net photosynthetic rate (P n) was significantly decreased after shading. The greatest reduction of P n was found at S3 treatment, followed by S1 and S2 treatments. P n of S3 was decreased by 59 and 48 % for DH605, and 39 and 43 % for ZD958 at tasseling and milk-ripe stages, respectively, compared to that of CK. Additionally, leaf area index (LAI) and chlorophyll content decreased after shading. In terms of mesophyll cell ultrastructure, chloroplast configuration of mesophyll cells dispersed, and part of chloroplast swelled and became circular. Meanwhile, the major characteristics of chloroplasts showed poorly developed thylakoid structure at the early growth stage, blurry lamellar structure, loose grana, and a large gap between slices and warping granum. Then, plasmolysis occurred in mesophyll cells and the endomembrane system was destroyed, which resulted in the dissolution of cell membrane, karyotheca, mitochondria, and some membrane structures. The damaged mesophyll cell ultrastructure led to the decrease of photosynthetic capacity, and thus resulted in significant yield reduction by 45, 11, and 84 % in S1, S2, and S3 treatments, respectively, compared to that of CK.
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Ellsworth PZ, Cousins AB. Carbon isotopes and water use efficiency in C4 plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 31:155-61. [PMID: 27155062 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2016.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Drought is a major agricultural problem worldwide. Therefore, selection for increased water use efficiency (WUE) in food and biofuel crop species will be an important trait in plant breeding programs. The leaf carbon isotopic composition (δ(13)Cleaf) has been suggested to serve as a rapid and effective high throughput phenotyping method for WUE in both C3 and C4 species. This is because WUE, leaf carbon discrimination (Δ(13)Cleaf), and δ(13)Cleaf are correlated through their relationships with intercellular to ambient CO2 partial pressures (Ci/Ca). However, in C4 plants, changing environmental conditions may influence photosynthetic efficiency (bundle-sheath leakiness) and post-photosynthetic fractionation that will potentially alter the relationship between δ(13)Cleaf and Ci/Ca. Here we discuss how these factors influence the relationship between δ(13)Cleaf and WUE, and the potential of using δ(13)Cleaf as a meaningful proxy for WUE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, United States.
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30
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Bellasio C, Beerling DJ, Griffiths H. Deriving C4 photosynthetic parameters from combined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence using an Excel tool: theory and practice. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2016; 39:1164-79. [PMID: 26286697 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The higher photosynthetic potential of C4 plants has led to extensive research over the past 50 years, including C4 -dominated natural biomes, crops such as maize, or for evaluating the transfer of C4 traits into C3 lineages. Photosynthetic gas exchange can be measured in air or in a 2% Oxygen mixture using readily available commercial gas exchange and modulated PSII fluorescence systems. Interpretation of these data, however, requires an understanding (or the development) of various modelling approaches, which limit the use by non-specialists. In this paper we present an accessible summary of the theory behind the analysis and derivation of C4 photosynthetic parameters, and provide a freely available Excel Fitting Tool (EFT), making rigorous C4 data analysis accessible to a broader audience. Outputs include those defining C4 photochemical and biochemical efficiency, the rate of photorespiration, bundle sheath conductance to CO2 diffusion and the in vivo biochemical constants for PEP carboxylase. The EFT compares several methodological variants proposed by different investigators, allowing users to choose the level of complexity required to interpret data. We provide a complete analysis of gas exchange data on maize (as a model C4 organism and key global crop) to illustrate the approaches, their analysis and interpretation. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Bellasio
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David J Beerling
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Howard Griffiths
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
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31
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Alonso-Cantabrana H, von Caemmerer S. Carbon isotope discrimination as a diagnostic tool for C4 photosynthesis in C3-C4 intermediate species. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:3109-21. [PMID: 26862154 PMCID: PMC4867892 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erv555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The presence and activity of the C4 cycle in C3-C4 intermediate species have proven difficult to analyze, especially when such activity is low. This study proposes a strategy to detect C4 activity and estimate its contribution to overall photosynthesis in intermediate plants, by using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) coupled to gas exchange systems to simultaneously measure the CO2 responses of CO2 assimilation (A) and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) under low O2 partial pressure. Mathematical models of C3-C4 photosynthesis and Δ are then fitted concurrently to both responses using the same set of constants. This strategy was applied to the intermediate species Flaveria floridana and F. brownii, and to F. pringlei and F. bidentis as C3 and C4 controls, respectively. Our results support the presence of a functional C4 cycle in F. floridana, that can fix 12-21% of carbon. In F. brownii, 75-100% of carbon is fixed via the C4 cycle, and the contribution of mesophyll Rubisco to overall carbon assimilation increases with CO2 partial pressure in both intermediate plants. Combined gas exchange and Δ measurement and modeling is a powerful diagnostic tool for C4 photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Alonso-Cantabrana
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Susanne von Caemmerer
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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32
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Yin X, van der Putten PEL, Driever SM, Struik PC. Temperature response of bundle-sheath conductance in maize leaves. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:2699-714. [PMID: 26969744 PMCID: PMC4861018 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A small bundle-sheath conductance (g bs) is essential for the C4 CO2-concentrating mechanism to suppress photorespiration effectively. To predict the productivity of C4 crops accurately under global warming, it is necessary to examine whether and how g bs responds to temperature. We investigated the temperature response of g bs in maize by fitting a C4 photosynthesis model to combined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements of irradiance and CO2 response curves at 21% and 2% O2 within the range of 13.5-39 °C. The analysis was based on reported kinetic constants of C4 Rubisco and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and temperature responses of C3 mesophyll conductance (g m). The estimates of g bs varied greatly with leaf temperature. The temperature response of g bs was well described by the peaked Arrhenius equation, with the optimum temperature being ~34 °C. The assumed temperature responses of g m had only a slight impact on the temperature response of g bs In contrast, using extreme values of some enzyme kinetic constants changed the shape of the response, from the peaked optimum response to the non-peaked Arrhenius pattern. Further studies are needed to confirm such an Arrhenius response pattern from independent measurement techniques and to assess whether it is common across C4 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyou Yin
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter E L van der Putten
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Steven M Driever
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul C Struik
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Mattiello L, Riaño-Pachón DM, Martins MCM, da Cruz LP, Bassi D, Marchiori PER, Ribeiro RV, Labate MTV, Labate CA, Menossi M. Physiological and transcriptional analyses of developmental stages along sugarcane leaf. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 15:300. [PMID: 26714767 PMCID: PMC4696237 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-015-0694-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sugarcane is one of the major crops worldwide. It is cultivated in over 100 countries on 22 million ha. The complex genetic architecture and the lack of a complete genomic sequence in sugarcane hamper the adoption of molecular approaches to study its physiology and to develop new varieties. Investments on the development of new sugarcane varieties have been made to maximize sucrose yield, a trait dependent on photosynthetic capacity. However, detailed studies on sugarcane leaves are scarce. In this work, we report the first molecular and physiological characterization of events taking place along a leaf developmental gradient in sugarcane. RESULTS Photosynthetic response to CO2 indicated divergence in photosynthetic capacity based on PEPcase activity, corroborated by activity quantification (both in vivo and in vitro) and distinct levels of carbon discrimination on different segments along leaf length. Additionally, leaf segments had contrasting amount of chlorophyll, nitrogen and sugars. RNA-Seq data indicated a plethora of biochemical pathways differentially expressed along the leaf. Some transcription factors families were enriched on each segment and their putative functions corroborate with the distinct developmental stages. Several genes with higher expression in the middle segment, the one with the highest photosynthetic rates, were identified and their role in sugarcane productivity is discussed. Interestingly, sugarcane leaf segments had a different transcriptional behavior compared to previously published data from maize. CONCLUSION This is the first report of leaf developmental analysis in sugarcane. Our data on sugarcane is another source of information for further studies aiming to understand and/or improve C4 photosynthesis. The segments used in this work were distinct in their physiological status allowing deeper molecular analysis. Although limited in some aspects, the comparison to maize indicates that all data acquired on one C4 species cannot always be easily extrapolated to other species. However, our data indicates that some transcriptional factors were segment-specific and the sugarcane leaf undergoes through the process of suberizarion, photosynthesis establishment and senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Mattiello
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Genoma Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil.
| | - Diego Mauricio Riaño-Pachón
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Marina Camara Mattos Martins
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Larissa Prado da Cruz
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Denis Bassi
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Paulo Eduardo Ribeiro Marchiori
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Plantas "Coaracy M. Franco", Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Ecofisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto Agronômico, Caixa Postal 28, Campinas, 13020-902, SP, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Vasconcelos Ribeiro
- Departamento de Biologia de Plantas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, Campinas, 13083-970, SP, Brazil.
| | - Mônica T Veneziano Labate
- Laboratório Max Feffer de Genética de Plantas, Departamento de Genética, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 83, Piracicaba, 13400-970, SP, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Alberto Labate
- Laboratório Max Feffer de Genética de Plantas, Departamento de Genética, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 83, Piracicaba, 13400-970, SP, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Menossi
- Laboratório de Genoma Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil.
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Yin X, Struik PC. Constraints to the potential efficiency of converting solar radiation into phytoenergy in annual crops: from leaf biochemistry to canopy physiology and crop ecology. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2015. [PMID: 26224881 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erv371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A new simple framework was proposed to quantify the efficiency of converting incoming solar radiation into phytoenergy in annual crops. It emphasizes the need to account for (i) efficiency gain when scaling up from the leaf level to the canopy level, and (ii) efficiency loss due to incomplete canopy closure during early and late phases of the crop cycle. Equations are given to estimate losses due to the constraints in various biochemical or physiological steps. For a given amount of daily radiation, a longer daytime was shown to increase energy use efficiency, because of the convex shape of the photosynthetic light response. Due to the higher cyclic electron transport, C4 leaves were found to have a lower energy loss via non-photochemical quenching, compared with C3 leaves. This contributes to the more linear light response in C4 than in C3 photosynthesis. Because of this difference in the curvature of the light response, canopy-to-leaf photosynthesis ratio, benefit from the optimum acclimation of the leaf nitrogen profile in the canopy, and productivity gain from future improvements in leaf photosynthetic parameters and canopy architecture were all shown to be higher in C3 than in C4 species. The indicative efficiency of converting incoming solar radiation into phytoenergy is ~2.2 and 3.0% in present C3 and C4 crops, respectively, when grown under well-managed conditions. An achievable efficiency via future genetic improvement was estimated to be as high as 3.6 and 4.1% for C3 and C4 crops, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyou Yin
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul C Struik
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Cui H, Camberato JJ, Jin L, Zhang J. Effects of shading on spike differentiation and grain yield formation of summer maize in the field. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2015; 59:1189-200. [PMID: 25380975 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-014-0930-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of shading on tassel and ear development and yield formation of three summer maize hybrids Zhenjie 2 (ZJ2), Denghai 605 (DH605), and Zhengdan 958 (ZD958). The ambient sunlight treatment was used as control (CK) and shading treatments (40 % of ambient sunlight) were applied at different growth stages from silking stage (R1) to physiological maturity stage (R6) (treatment S1), from the sixth extended leaf stage (V6) to R1 (treatment S2) and from seeding to R6 (treatment S3). Shading had no significant effect on the time from seeding to shoot emergence (VE); however, subsequent growth and development were delayed with shading beyond this point. The differentiation time of both tassel and ear delayed, and female spike (tassel) floret differentiation, sexual organ formation time, and anthesis-silking interval (ASI) were lengthened. After shading, the total number of floret, silk, and fertilization floret reduced significantly; the number of abortive seeds increased, and the total setting percentage among different treatments showed that CK>S2>S1>S3; and the total setting percentages in S1, S2, and S3 of ZD958 were 44, 72, and 15 % respectively. The total floret number of tassel primordium differentiation, fertility rate, and seed setting rate of florets in S3 treatment was the minimum; kernels per ear decreased seriously and single ear setting percentage was only 16 %; although floret degeneration number of S2 during ear differentiation stages increased and floret fertility rate reduced than that of CK, fertilization flower seed production increased and abortive seed decreased after canceling shading. Aborted kernel of S1 increased and kernel dry weight reduced, resulting in a significant decrease of kernel number per ear and kernel weight, and the grain abortive rate of 40-62 %. In conclusion, shading changed the growth and development process and caused infertility of tassel and ear; tassel branches decreased, reducing pollen vitality and silks differentiation cut down; and grain dry matter accumulation and setting percentage decreased, causing yield reduction. Grain yield and biomass reduced 66, 36, and 93 % compared to the control by shading treatments of S1, S2, and S3, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People's Republic of China
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Stata M, Sage TL, Rennie TD, Khoshravesh R, Sultmanis S, Khaikin Y, Ludwig M, Sage RF. Mesophyll cells of C4 plants have fewer chloroplasts than those of closely related C3 plants. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2014; 37:2587-2600. [PMID: 24689501 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of C(4) photosynthesis from C(3) ancestors eliminates ribulose bisphosphate carboxylation in the mesophyll (M) cell chloroplast while activating phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylation in the cytosol. These changes may lead to fewer chloroplasts and different chloroplast positioning within M cells. To evaluate these possibilities, we compared chloroplast number, size and position in M cells of closely related C(3), C(3) -C(4) intermediate and C(4) species from 12 lineages of C(4) evolution. All C(3) species had more chloroplasts per M cell area than their C(4) relatives in high-light growth conditions. C(3) species also had higher chloroplast coverage of the M cell periphery than C(4) species, particularly opposite intercellular air spaces. In M cells from 10 of the 12 C(4) lineages, a greater fraction of the chloroplast envelope was pulled away from the plasmalemma in the C(4) species than their C(3) relatives. C(3) -C(4) intermediate species generally exhibited similar patterns as their C(3) relatives. We interpret these results to reflect adaptive shifts that facilitate efficient C(4) function by enhancing diffusive access to the site of primary carbon fixation in the cytosol. Fewer chloroplasts in C(4) M cells would also reduce shading of the bundle sheath chloroplasts, which also generate energy required by C(4) photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Stata
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3B2
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von Caemmerer S, Ghannoum O, Pengelly JJL, Cousins AB. Carbon isotope discrimination as a tool to explore C4 photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2014; 65:3459-70. [PMID: 24711615 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination is a non-destructive tool for investigating C4 metabolism. Tuneable diode laser absorption spectroscopy provides new opportunities for making rapid, concurrent measurements of carbon isotope discrimination and CO2 assimilation over a range of environmental conditions, and this has facilitated the use of carbon isotope discrimination as a probe of C4 metabolism. In spite of the significant progress made in recent years, understanding how photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination measured concurrently with gas exchange relates to carbon isotope composition of leaf and plant dry matter remains a challenge that requires resolution if this technique is to be successfully applied as a screening tool in crop breeding and phylogenetic research. In this review, we update our understanding of the factors and assumptions that underlie variations in photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination in C4 leaves. Closing the main gaps in our understanding of carbon isotope discrimination during C4 photosynthesis may help advance research aimed at developing higher productivity and efficiency in key C4 food, feed, and biofuel crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne von Caemmerer
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Oula Ghannoum
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia
| | - Jasper J L Pengelly
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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Bellasio C, Griffiths H. Acclimation of C4 metabolism to low light in mature maize leaves could limit energetic losses during progressive shading in a crop canopy. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2014; 65:3725-36. [PMID: 24591058 PMCID: PMC4085954 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
C4 plants have a biochemical carbon-concentrating mechanism that increases CO2 concentration around Rubisco in the bundle sheath. Under low light, the activity of the carbon-concentrating mechanism generally decreases, associated with an increase in leakiness (ϕ), the ratio of CO2 retrodiffusing from the bundle sheath relative to C4 carboxylation. This increase in ϕ had been theoretically associated with a decrease in biochemical operating efficiency (expressed as ATP cost of gross assimilation, ATP/GA) under low light and, because a proportion of canopy photosynthesis is carried out by shaded leaves, potential productivity losses at field scale. Maize plants were grown under light regimes representing the cycle that leaves undergo in the canopy, whereby younger leaves initially developed under high light and were then re-acclimated to low light (600 to 100 μE·m(-2)·s(-1) photosynthetically active radiation) for 3 weeks. Following re-acclimation, leaves reduced rates of light-respiration and reached a status of lower ϕ, effectively optimizing the limited ATP resources available under low photosynthetically active radiation. Direct estimates of respiration in the light, and ATP production rate, allowed an empirical estimate of ATP production rate relative to gross assimilation to be derived. These values were compared to modelled ATP/GA which was predicted using leakiness as the sole proxy for ATP/GA, and, using a novel comprehensive biochemical model, showing that irrespective of whether leaves are acclimated to very low or high light intensity, the biochemical efficiency of the C4 cycle does not decrease at low photosynthetically active radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Bellasio
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Howard Griffiths
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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Ubierna N, Farquhar GD. Advances in measurements and models of photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination in C3 plants. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2014; 37:1494-8. [PMID: 24716900 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Ubierna
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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Sharwood RE, Sonawane BV, Ghannoum O. Photosynthetic flexibility in maize exposed to salinity and shade. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2014; 65:3715-24. [PMID: 24692650 PMCID: PMC4085963 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis involves a close collaboration of the C3 and C4 metabolic cycles across the mesophyll and bundle-sheath cells. This study investigated the coordination of C4 photosynthesis in maize plants subjected to two salinity (50 and 100mM NaCl) treatments and one shade (20% of full sunlight) treatment. Photosynthetic efficiency was probed by combining leaf gas-exchange measurements with carbon isotope discrimination and assaying the key carboxylases [ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC)] and decarboxylases [nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate malic enzyme (NADP-ME) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEP-CK)] operating in maize leaves. Generally, salinity inhibited plant growth and photosynthesis to a lesser extent than shade. Salinity reduced photosynthesis primarily by reducing stomatal conductance and secondarily by equally reducing Rubisco and PEPC activities; the decarboxylases were inhibited more than the carboxylases. Salinity increased photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination (Δp) and reduced leaf dry-matter carbon isotope composition ((13)δ) due to changes in p i/p a (intercellular to ambient CO2 partial pressure), while CO2 leakiness out of the bundle sheath (ϕ) was similar to that in control plants. Acclimation to shade was underpinned by a greater downregulation of PEPC relative to Rubisco activity, and a lesser inhibition of NADP-ME (primary decarboxylase) relative to PEP-CK (secondary decarboxylase). Shade reduced Δp and ɸ without significantly affecting leaf (13)δ or p i/p a relative to control plants. Accordingly, shade perturbed the balance between the C3 and C4 cycles during photosynthesis in maize, and demonstrated the flexible partitioning of C4 acid decarboxylation activity between NADP-ME and PEP-CK in response to the environment. This study highlights the need to improve our understanding of the links between leaf (13)δ and photosynthetic Δp, and the role of the secondary decarboxylase PEP-CK in NADP-ME plants such as maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Sharwood
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, Locked bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Balasaheb V Sonawane
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, Locked bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Oula Ghannoum
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, Locked bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia
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Kromdijk J, Ubierna N, Cousins AB, Griffiths H. Bundle-sheath leakiness in C4 photosynthesis: a careful balancing act between CO2 concentration and assimilation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2014; 65:3443-57. [PMID: 24755278 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Crop species with the C4 photosynthetic pathway are generally characterized by high productivity, especially in environmental conditions favouring photorespiration. In comparison with the ancestral C3 pathway, the biochemical and anatomical modifications of the C4 pathway allow spatial separation of primary carbon acquisition in mesophyll cells and subsequent assimilation in bundle-sheath cells. The CO2-concentrating C4 cycle has to operate in close coordination with CO2 reduction via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle in order to keep the C4 pathway energetically efficient. The gradient in CO2 concentration between bundle-sheath and mesophyll cells facilitates diffusive leakage of CO2. This rate of bundle-sheath CO2 leakage relative to the rate of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation (termed leakiness) has been used to probe the balance between C4 carbon acquisition and subsequent reduction as a result of environmental perturbations. When doing so, the correct choice of equations to derive leakiness from stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ(13)C) during gas exchange is critical to avoid biased results. Leakiness responses to photon flux density, either short-term (during measurements) or long-term (during growth and development), can have important implications for C4 performance in understorey light conditions. However, recent reports show leakiness to be subject to considerable acclimation. Additionally, the recent discovery of two decarboxylating C4 cycles operating in parallel in Zea mays suggests that flexibility in the transported C4 acid and associated decarboxylase could also aid in maintaining C4/CBB balance in a changing environment. In this paper, we review improvements in methodology to estimate leakiness, synthesize reports on bundle-sheath leakiness, discuss different interpretations, and highlight areas where future research is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Kromdijk
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206W Gregory drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Nerea Ubierna
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99164-4236, USA
| | - Howard Griffiths
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB23EA, UK
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Studer AJ, Gandin A, Kolbe AR, Wang L, Cousins AB, Brutnell TP. A Limited Role for Carbonic Anhydrase in C4 Photosynthesis as Revealed by a ca1ca2 Double Mutant in Maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 165:608-617. [PMID: 24706552 PMCID: PMC4044840 DOI: 10.1104/pp.114.237602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the first biochemical step of the carbon-concentrating mechanism of C4 plants, and in C4 monocots it has been suggested that CA activity is near limiting for photosynthesis. Here, we test this hypothesis through the characterization of transposon-induced mutant alleles of Ca1 and Ca2 in maize (Zea mays). These two isoforms account for more than 85% of the CA transcript pool. A significant change in isotopic discrimination is observed in mutant plants, which have as little as 3% of wild-type CA activity, but surprisingly, photosynthesis is not reduced under current or elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2). However, growth and rates of photosynthesis under subambient pCO2 are significantly impaired in the mutants. These findings suggest that, while CA is not limiting for C4 photosynthesis in maize at current pCO2, it likely maintains high rates of photosynthesis when CO2 availability is reduced. Current atmospheric CO2 levels now exceed 400 ppm (approximately 40.53 Pa) and contrast with the low-pCO2 conditions under which C4 plants expanded their range approximately 10 million years ago, when the global atmospheric CO2 was below 300 ppm (approximately 30.4 Pa). Thus, as CO2 levels continue to rise, selective pressures for high levels of CA may be limited to arid climates where stomatal closure reduces CO2 availability to the leaf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Studer
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (A.J.S., A.R.K., L.W., T.P.B.); andSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (A.G., A.B.C.)
| | - Anthony Gandin
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (A.J.S., A.R.K., L.W., T.P.B.); andSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (A.G., A.B.C.)
| | - Allison R Kolbe
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (A.J.S., A.R.K., L.W., T.P.B.); andSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (A.G., A.B.C.)
| | - Lin Wang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (A.J.S., A.R.K., L.W., T.P.B.); andSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (A.G., A.B.C.)
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (A.J.S., A.R.K., L.W., T.P.B.); andSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (A.G., A.B.C.)
| | - Thomas P Brutnell
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (A.J.S., A.R.K., L.W., T.P.B.); andSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (A.G., A.B.C.)
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Bellasio C, Griffiths H. Acclimation to low light by C4 maize: implications for bundle sheath leakiness. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2014; 37:1046-58. [PMID: 24004447 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
C4 plants have a biochemical carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM) that increases CO2 concentration around ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) in the bundle sheath (BS). Under limiting light, the activity of the CCM generally decreases, causing an increase in leakiness, (Φ), the ratio of CO2 retrodiffusing from the BS relative to C4 carboxylation processes. Maize plants were grown under high and low light regimes (respectively HL, 600 versus LL, 100 μE m(-2) s(-1) ). Short-term acclimation of Φ was compared from isotopic discrimination (Δ), gas exchange and photochemistry. Direct measurement of respiration in the light, and ATP production rate (JATP ), allowed us use a novel approach to derive Φ, compared with the conventional fitting of measured and predicted Δ. HL grown plants responded to decreasing light intensities with the well-documented increase in Φ. Conversely, LL plants showed a constant Φ, which has not been observed previously. We explain the pattern by two contrasting acclimation strategies: HL plants maintained a high CCM activity at LL, resulting in high CO2 overcycling and increased Φ; LL plants acclimated by down-regulating the CCM, effectively optimizing scarce ATP supply. This surprising plasticity may limit the impact of Φ-dependent carbon losses in leaves becoming shaded within developing canopies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Bellasio
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
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Sage RF. Stopping the leaks: new insights into C4 photosynthesis at low light. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2014; 37:1037-1041. [PMID: 24818232 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
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Stutz SS, Edwards GE, Cousins AB. Single-cell C(4) photosynthesis: efficiency and acclimation of Bienertia sinuspersici to growth under low light. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2014; 202:220-232. [PMID: 24384064 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, it was believed that C(4) photosynthesis required two types of chlorenchyma cells to concentrate CO(2) within the leaf. However, several species have been identified that perform C(4) photosynthesis using dimorphic chloroplasts within an individual cell. The goal of this research was to determine how growth under limited light affects leaf structure, biochemistry and efficiency of the single-cell CO(2) -concentrating mechanism in Bienertia sinuspersici. Measurements of rates of CO(2) assimilation and CO(2) isotope exchange in response to light intensity and O(2) were used to determine the efficiency of the CO(2) -concentrating mechanism in plants grown under moderate and low light. In addition, enzyme assays, chlorophyll content and light microscopy of leaves were used to characterize acclimation to light-limited growth conditions. There was acclimation to growth under low light with a decrease in capacity for photosynthesis when exposed to high light. This was associated with a decreased investment in biochemistry for carbon assimilation with only subtle changes in leaf structure and anatomy. The capture and assimilation of CO(2) delivered by the C(4) cycle was lower in low-light-grown plants. Low-light-grown plants were able to acclimate to maintain structural and functional features for the performance of efficient single-cell C(4) photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha S Stutz
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Gerald E Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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Sun W, Ubierna N, Ma JY, Walker BJ, Kramer DM, Cousins AB. The coordination of C4 photosynthesis and the CO2-concentrating mechanism in maize and Miscanthus x giganteus in response to transient changes in light quality. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 164:1283-92. [PMID: 24488966 PMCID: PMC3938620 DOI: 10.1104/pp.113.224683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Unequal absorption of photons between photosystems I and II, and between bundle-sheath and mesophyll cells, are likely to affect the efficiency of the CO2-concentrating mechanism in C4 plants. Under steady-state conditions, it is expected that the biochemical distribution of energy (ATP and NADPH) and photosynthetic metabolite concentrations will adjust to maintain the efficiency of C4 photosynthesis through the coordination of the C3 (Calvin-Benson-Bassham) and C4 (CO2 pump) cycles. However, under transient conditions, changes in light quality will likely alter the coordination of the C3 and C4 cycles, influencing rates of CO2 assimilation and decreasing the efficiency of the CO2-concentrating mechanism. To test these hypotheses, we measured leaf gas exchange, leaf discrimination, chlorophyll fluorescence, electrochromatic shift, photosynthetic metabolite pools, and chloroplast movement in maize (Zea mays) and Miscanthus × giganteus following transitional changes in light quality. In both species, the rate of net CO2 assimilation responded quickly to changes in light treatments, with lower rates of net CO2 assimilation under blue light compared with red, green, and blue light, red light, and green light. Under steady state, the efficiency of CO2-concentrating mechanisms was similar; however, transient changes affected the coordination of C3 and C4 cycles in M. giganteus but to a lesser extent in maize. The species differences in the ability to coordinate the activities of C3 and C4 cycles appear to be related to differences in the response of cyclic electron flux around photosystem I and potentially chloroplast rearrangement in response to changes in light quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China (W.S.)
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (W.S., N.U., B.J.W., A.B.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China (J.-Y.M.); and
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Energy-Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 (D.M.K.)
| | | | - Jian-Ying Ma
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China (W.S.)
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (W.S., N.U., B.J.W., A.B.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China (J.-Y.M.); and
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Energy-Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 (D.M.K.)
| | - Berkley J. Walker
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China (W.S.)
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (W.S., N.U., B.J.W., A.B.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China (J.-Y.M.); and
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Energy-Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 (D.M.K.)
| | - David M. Kramer
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China (W.S.)
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 (W.S., N.U., B.J.W., A.B.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China (J.-Y.M.); and
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Energy-Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 (D.M.K.)
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Kubásek J, Urban O, Šantrůček J. C4 plants use fluctuating light less efficiently than do C3 plants: a study of growth, photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2013; 149:528-39. [PMID: 23550566 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Revised: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Plants in the field are commonly exposed to fluctuating light intensity, caused by variable cloud cover, self-shading of leaves in the canopy and/or leaf movement due to turbulence. In contrast to C3 plant species, only little is known about the effects of dynamic light (DL) on photosynthesis and growth in C4 plants. Two C4 and two C3 monocot and eudicot species were grown under steady light or DL conditions with equal sum of daily incident photon flux. We measured leaf gas exchange, plant growth and dry matter carbon isotope discrimination to infer CO2 bundle sheath leakiness in C4 plants. The growth of all species was reduced by DL, despite only small changes in steady-state gas exchange characteristics, and this effect was more pronounced in C4 than C3 species due to lower assimilation at light transitions. This was partially attributed to increased bundle sheath leakiness in C4 plants under the simulated lightfleck conditions. We hypothesize that DL leads to imbalances in the coordination of C4 and C3 cycles and increasing leakiness, thereby decreasing the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis. In addition to their other constraints, the inability of C4 plants to efficiently utilize fluctuating light likely contributes to their absence in such environments as forest understoreys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Kubásek
- Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- The University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, CZ-370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Otmar Urban
- Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šantrůček
- The University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, CZ-370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, CZ-370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Cernusak LA, Ubierna N, Winter K, Holtum JAM, Marshall JD, Farquhar GD. Environmental and physiological determinants of carbon isotope discrimination in terrestrial plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2013; 200:950-65. [PMID: 23902460 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ(13) C) of terrestrial plants are employed across a diverse range of applications in environmental and plant sciences; however, the kind of information that is desired from the δ(13) C signal often differs. At the extremes, it ranges between purely environmental and purely biological. Here, we review environmental drivers of variation in carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in terrestrial plants, and the biological processes that can either damp or amplify the response. For C3 plants, where Δ is primarily controlled by the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentrations (ci /ca ), coordination between stomatal conductance and photosynthesis and leaf area adjustment tends to constrain the potential environmentally driven range of Δ. For C4 plants, variation in bundle-sheath leakiness to CO2 can either damp or amplify the effects of ci /ca on Δ. For plants with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), Δ varies over a relatively large range as a function of the proportion of daytime to night-time CO2 fixation. This range can be substantially broadened by environmental effects on Δ when carbon uptake takes place primarily during the day. The effective use of Δ across its full range of applications will require a holistic view of the interplay between environmental control and physiological modulation of the environmental signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Cernusak
- Department of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, Australia
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von Caemmerer S. Steady-state models of photosynthesis. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2013; 36:1617-30. [PMID: 23496792 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Revised: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In the challenge to increase photosynthetic rate per leaf area mathematical models of photosynthesis can be used to help interpret gas exchange measurements made under different environmental conditions and predict underlying photosynthetic biochemistry. To do this successfully it is important to improve the modelling of temperature dependencies of CO₂ assimilation and gain better understanding of internal CO₂ diffusion limitations. Despite these shortcomings steady-state models of photosynthesis provide simple easy to use tools for thought experiments to explore photosynthetic pathway changes such as redirecting photorespiratory CO₂, inserting bicarbonate pumps into C₃ chloroplasts or inserting C₄ photosynthesis into rice. Here a number of models derived from the C₃ model by Farquhar, von Caemmerer and Berry are discussed and compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne von Caemmerer
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
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Ubierna N, Sun W, Kramer DM, Cousins AB. The efficiency of C4 photosynthesis under low light conditions in Zea mays, Miscanthus x giganteus and Flaveria bidentis. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2013; 36:365-81. [PMID: 22812384 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2012.02579.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of C(4) photosynthesis in Zea mays, Miscanthus x giganteus and Flaveria bidentis in response to light was determined using measurements of gas exchange, (13) CO(2) photosynthetic discrimination, metabolite pools and spectroscopic assays, with models of C(4) photosynthesis and leaf (13) CO(2) discrimination. Spectroscopic and metabolite assays suggested constant energy partitioning between the C(4) and C(3) cycles across photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Leakiness (φ), modelled using C(4) light-limited photosynthesis equations (φ(mod)), matched values from the isotope method without simplifications (φ(is)) and increased slightly from high to low PAR in all species. However, simplifications of bundle-sheath [CO(2)] and respiratory fractionation lead to large overestimations of φ at low PAR with the isotope method. These species used different strategies to maintain similar φ. For example, Z. mays had large rates of the C(4) cycle and low bundle-sheath cells CO(2 ) conductance (g(bs)). While F. bidentis had larger g(bs) but lower respiration rates and M. giganteus had less C(4) cycle capacity but low g(bs), which resulted in similar φ. This demonstrates that low g(bs) is important for efficient C(4) photosynthesis but it is not the only factor determining φ. Additionally, these C(4) species are able to optimize photosynthesis and minimize φ over a range of PARs, including low light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Ubierna
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
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