1
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Rao S, Liu T, Cernusak LA, Song X. Harnessing photosynthetic C 18O 16O discrimination dynamics under leaf water nonsteady state to estimate mesophyll conductance: a new, regression-based method. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 38634162 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Mesophyll conductance (gm) is a crucial plant trait that can significantly limit photosynthesis. Measurement of photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination (Δ18O) has proved to be the only viable means of resolving gm in both C3 and C4 plants. However, the currently available methods to exploit Δ18O for gm estimation are error prone due to their inadequacy in constraining the degree of oxygen isotope exchange (θ) during mesophyll CO2 hydration. Here, we capitalized on experimental manipulation of leaf water isotopic dynamics to establish a novel, nonsteady state, regression-based approach for simultaneous determination of gm and θ from online Δ18O measurements. We demonstrated the methodological and theoretical robustness of this new Δ18O-gm estimation approach and showed through measurements on several C3 and C4 species that this approach can serve as a benchmark method against which to identify previously-unrecognized biases of the existing Δ18O-gm methods. Our results highlight the unique value of this nonsteady state-based approach for contributing to ongoing efforts toward quantitative understanding of mesophyll conductance for crop yield improvement and carbon cycle modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Rao
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Tao Liu
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Lucas A Cernusak
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, 4878, Australia
| | - Xin Song
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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2
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Binstock BR, Manandhar A, McAdam SAM. Characterizing the breakpoint of stomatal response to vapor pressure deficit in an angiosperm. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 194:732-740. [PMID: 37850913 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Vapor pressure difference between the leaf and atmosphere (VPD) is the most important regulator of daytime transpiration, yet the mechanism driving stomatal responses to an increase in VPD in angiosperms remains unresolved. Here, we sought to characterize the mechanism driving stomatal closure at high VPD in an angiosperm species, particularly testing whether abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis could explain the observation of a trigger point for stomatal sensitivity to an increase in VPD. We tracked leaf gas exchange and modeled leaf water potential (Ψl) in leaves exposed to a range of step-increases in VPD in the herbaceous species Senecio minimus Poir. (Asteraceae). We found that mild increases in VPD in this species did not induce stomatal closure because modeled Ψl did not decline below a threshold close to turgor loss point (Ψtlp), but when leaves were exposed to a large increase in VPD, stomata closed as modeled Ψl declined below Ψtlp. Leaf ABA levels were higher in leaves exposed to a step-increase in VPD that caused Ψl to transiently decline below Ψtlp and in which stomata closed compared with leaves in which stomata did not close. We conclude that the stomata of S. minimus are insensitive to VPD until Ψl declines to a threshold that triggers the biosynthesis of ABA and that this mechanism might be common to angiosperms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Binstock
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Anju Manandhar
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Scott A M McAdam
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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3
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Pathare VS, Panahabadi R, Sonawane BV, Apalla AJ, Koteyeva N, Bartley LE, Cousins AB. Altered cell wall hydroxycinnamate composition impacts leaf- and canopy-level CO2 uptake and water use in rice. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 194:190-208. [PMID: 37503807 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Cell wall properties play a major role in determining photosynthetic carbon uptake and water use through their impact on mesophyll conductance (CO2 diffusion from substomatal cavities into photosynthetic mesophyll cells) and leaf hydraulic conductance (water movement from xylem, through leaf tissue, to stomata). Consequently, modification of cell wall (CW) properties might help improve photosynthesis and crop water use efficiency (WUE). We tested this using 2 independent transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) lines overexpressing the rice OsAT10 gene (encoding a "BAHD" CoA acyltransferase), which alters CW hydroxycinnamic acid content (more para-coumaric acid and less ferulic acid). Plants were grown under high and low water levels, and traits related to leaf anatomy, CW composition, gas exchange, hydraulics, plant biomass, and canopy-level water use were measured. Alteration of hydroxycinnamic acid content led to statistically significant decreases in mesophyll CW thickness (-14%) and increased mesophyll conductance (+120%) and photosynthesis (+22%). However, concomitant increases in stomatal conductance negated the increased photosynthesis, resulting in no change in intrinsic WUE (ratio of photosynthesis to stomatal conductance). Leaf hydraulic conductance was also unchanged; however, transgenic plants showed small but statistically significant increases in aboveground biomass (AGB) (+12.5%) and canopy-level WUE (+8.8%; ratio of AGB to water used) and performed better under low water levels than wild-type plants. Our results demonstrate that changes in CW composition, specifically hydroxycinnamic acid content, can increase mesophyll conductance and photosynthesis in C3 cereal crops such as rice. However, attempts to improve photosynthetic WUE will need to enhance mesophyll conductance and photosynthesis while maintaining or decreasing stomatal conductance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha S Pathare
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Rahele Panahabadi
- College of Agricultural. Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Balasaheb V Sonawane
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Anthony Jude Apalla
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Nuria Koteyeva
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Laura E Bartley
- College of Agricultural. Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
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4
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Hu W, Lu Z, Gu H, Ye X, Li X, Cong R, Ren T, Lu J. Potassium availability influences the mesophyll structure to coordinate the conductance of CO 2 and H 2 O during leaf expansion. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:2987-3000. [PMID: 35864569 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Leaf growth relies on photosynthesis and hydraulics to provide carbohydrates and expansion power; in turn, leaves intercept light and construct organism systems for functioning. Under potassium (K) deficiency stress, leaf area, photosynthesis and hydraulics are all affected by alterations in leaf structure. However, the connection between changes in leaf growth and function caused by the structure under K regulation is unclear. Consequently, the leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf ) and photosynthetic rate (A) combined with leaf anatomical characteristics of Brassica napus were continuously observed during leaf growth under different K supply levels. The results showed that Kleaf and A decreased simultaneously after leaf area with the increasing K deficiency stress. K deficiency significantly increased longitudinal mesophyll cell investment, leading to a reduced volume fraction of intercellular air-space (fias ) and decreased leaf expansion rate. Furthermore, reduced fias decreased mesophyll and chloroplast surfaces exposed to intercellular airspace and gas phase H2 O transport, which induced coordinated changes in CO2 mesophyll conductance and hydraulic conductance in extra-xylem pathways. Adequate K supply facilitated higher fias through smaller palisade tissue cell density (loose mesophyll cell arrangement) and smaller spongy tissue cell size, which coordinated CO2 and H2 O conductance and promoted leaf area expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshi Hu
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhifeng Lu
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Hehe Gu
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolei Ye
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Rihuan Cong
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Ren
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianwei Lu
- Microelement Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan, China
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5
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Huang G, Zhang Q, Yang Y, Shu Y, Ren X, Peng S, Li Y. Interspecific variation in the temperature response of mesophyll conductance is related to leaf anatomy. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:221-234. [PMID: 35962704 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Although mesophyll conductance (gm ) is known to be sensitive to temperature (T), the mechanisms underlying the temperature response of gm are not fully understood. In particular, it has yet to be established whether interspecific variation in gm -T relationships is associated with mesophyll anatomy and vein traits. In the present study, we measured the short-term response of gm in eight crop species, and leaf water potential (Ψleaf ) in five crop species over a temperature range of 15-35°C. The considered structural parameters are surface areas of mesophyll cells and chloroplasts facing intercellular airspaces per unit leaf area (Sm and Sc ), cell wall thickness (Tcw ), and vein length per area (VLA). We detected large interspecific variations in the temperature responses of gm and Ψleaf . The activation energy for gm (Ea,gm ) was found to be positively correlated with Sc , although it showed no correlation with Tcw . In contrast, VLA was positively correlated with the slope of the linear model of Ψleaf -T (a), whereas Ea,gm was marginally correlated with VLA and a. A two-component model was subsequently used to model gm -T relationships, and the mechanisms underlying the temperature response of gm are discussed. The data presented here indicate that leaf anatomy is a major determinant of the interspecific variation in gm -T relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanjun Huang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
| | - Qiangqiang Zhang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
| | - Yuhan Yang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
| | - Yu Shu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
| | - Xifeng Ren
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Shaobing Peng
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
| | - Yong Li
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
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6
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Jahan E, Thomson PC, Tissue DT. Mesophyll conductance in two cultivars of wheat grown in glacial to super-elevated CO2 concentrations. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:7191-7202. [PMID: 34232298 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Mesophyll conductance (gm) is an important factor limiting photosynthesis. However, gm response to long-term growth in variable [CO2] is not well understood, particularly in crop plants. Here, we grew two cultivars of wheat (Halberd and Cranbrook), known to differ in gm under current environmental conditions, in four [CO2] treatments: glacial (206 μmol mol-1), pre-industrial (344 μmol mol-1), current ambient (489 μmol mol-1), and super-elevated (1085 μmol mol-1), and two water treatments (well-watered and moderate water limitation), to develop an evolutionary and future climate perspective on gm control of photosynthesis and water-use efficiency (WUE). In the two wheat genotypes, gm increased with rising [CO2] from glacial to ambient [CO2], but declined at super-elevated [CO2]. The responses of gm to different growth [CO2] also depend on water stress; however, the specific mechanism of gm response to [CO2] remains unclear. Although gm and gm/gsc (mesophyll conductance/stomatal conductance) were strongly associated with the variability of photosynthetic rates (A) and WUE, we found that plants with higher gm may increase A without increasing gsc, which increased WUE. These results may be useful to inform plant breeding programmes and cultivar selection for Australian wheat under future environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eisrat Jahan
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Camden NSW, Australia
| | - Peter C Thomson
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Camden NSW, Australia
| | - David T Tissue
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith NSW, Australia
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7
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Harwood R, Théroux-Rancourt G, Barbour MM. Understanding airspace in leaves: 3D anatomy and directional tortuosity. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:2455-2465. [PMID: 33974719 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The leaf intercellular airspace is a tortuous environment consisting of cells of different shapes, packing densities, and orientation, all of which have an effect on the travelling distance of molecules from the stomata to the mesophyll cell surfaces. Tortuosity, the increase in displacement over the actual distance between two points, is typically defined as encompassing the whole leaf airspace, but heterogeneity in pore dimensions and orientation between the spongy and palisade mesophyll likely result in heterogeneity in tortuosity along different axes and would predict longer traveling distance along the path of least tortuosity, such as vertically within the columnar cell matrix of the palisade layer. Here, we compare a previously established geometric method to a random walk approach, novel for this analysis in plant leaves, in four different Eucalyptus species. The random walk method allowed us to quantify directional tortuosity across the whole leaf profile, and separately for the spongy and palisade mesophyll. For all species tortuosity was higher in the palisade mesophyll than the spongy mesophyll and horizontal (parallel to the epidermis) tortuosity was consistently higher than vertical (from epidermis to epidermis) tortuosity. We demonstrate that a random walk approach improves on previous geometric approaches and is valuable for investigating CO2 and H2 O transport within leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Harwood
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Margaret M Barbour
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Science, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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8
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Sonawane BV, Koteyeva NK, Johnson DM, Cousins AB. Differences in leaf anatomy determines temperature response of leaf hydraulic and mesophyll CO 2 conductance in phylogenetically related C 4 and C 3 grass species. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:1802-1814. [PMID: 33605441 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Leaf hydraulic and mesophyll CO2 conductance are both influenced by leaf anatomical traits, however it is poorly understood how the temperature response of these conductances differs between C4 and C3 species with distinct leaf anatomy. This study investigated the temperature response of leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf ), stomatal (gs ) and mesophyll (gm ) conductance to CO2 , and leaf anatomical traits in phylogenetically related Panicum antidotale (C4 ) and P. bisulcatum (C3 ) grasses. The C4 species had lower hydraulic conductance outside xylem (Kox ) and Kleaf compared with the C3 species. However, the C4 species had higher gm compared with the C3 species. Traits associated with leaf water movement, Kleaf and Kox , increased with temperature more in the C3 than in the C4 species, whereas traits related to carbon uptake, Anet and gm , increased more with temperature in the C4 than the C3 species. Our findings demonstrate that, in addition to a CO2 concentrating mechanism, outside-xylem leaf anatomy in the C4 species P. antidotale favours lower water movement through the leaf and stomata that provides an additional advantage for greater leaf carbon uptake relative to water loss with increasing leaf temperature than in the C3 species P. bisulcatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasaheb V Sonawane
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Nuria K Koteyeva
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V. L. Komarov Botanical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Popov Street 2, St Petersburg, 197376, Russia
| | - Daniel M Johnson
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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9
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Ma WT, Tcherkez G, Wang XM, Schäufele R, Schnyder H, Yang Y, Gong XY. Accounting for mesophyll conductance substantially improves 13 C-based estimates of intrinsic water-use efficiency. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:1326-1338. [PMID: 32984961 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been used widely to infer intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) of C3 plants, a key parameter linking carbon and water fluxes. Despite the essential role of mesophyll conductance (gm ) in photosynthesis and Δ, its effect on Δ-based predictions of iWUE has generally been neglected. Here, we derive a mathematical expression of iWUE as a function of Δ that includes gm (iWUEmes ) and exploits the gm -stomatal conductance (gsc ) relationship across drought-stress levels and plant functional groups (deciduous or semideciduous woody, evergreen woody and herbaceous species) in a global database. iWUEmes was further validated with an independent dataset of online-Δ and CO2 and H2 O gas exchange measurements with seven species. Drought stress reduced gsc and gm by nearly one-half across all plant functional groups, but had no significant effect on the gsc : gm ratio, with a well supported value of 0.79 ± 0.07 (95% CI, n = 198). gm was negatively correlated to iWUE. Incorporating the gsc : gm ratio greatly improved estimates of iWUE, compared with calculations that assumed infinite gm . The inclusion of the gsc : gm ratio, fixed at 0.79 when gm was unknown, proved desirable to eliminate significant errors in estimating iWUE from Δ across various C3 vegetation types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ting Ma
- Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology (Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province Funded), College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Guillaume Tcherkez
- Research School of Biology, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
- Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, INRAe, Université d'Angers, 42 rue Georges Morel, Beaucouzé, 49070, France
| | - Xu Ming Wang
- Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology (Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province Funded), College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Rudi Schäufele
- Lehrstuhl für Grünlandlehre, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 12, Freising, 85354, Germany
| | - Hans Schnyder
- Lehrstuhl für Grünlandlehre, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 12, Freising, 85354, Germany
| | - Yusheng Yang
- Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology (Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province Funded), College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Xiao Ying Gong
- Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology (Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province Funded), College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
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10
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Veromann-Jürgenson LL, Brodribb TJ, Niinemets Ü, Tosens T. Variability in the chloroplast area lining the intercellular airspace and cell walls drives mesophyll conductance in gymnosperms. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:4958-4971. [PMID: 32392579 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The photosynthetic efficiency of plants in different environments is controlled by stomata, hydraulics, biochemistry, and mesophyll conductance (gm). Recently, gm was demonstrated to be the key limitation of photosynthesis in gymnosperms. Values of gm across gymnosperms varied over 20-fold, but this variation was poorly explained by robust structure-bound integrated traits such as leaf dry mass per area. Understanding how the component structural traits control gm is central for identifying the determinants of variability in gm across plant functional and phylogenetic groups. Here, we investigated the structural traits responsible for gm in 65 diverse gymnosperms. Although the integrated morphological traits, shape, and anatomical characteristics varied widely across species, the distinguishing features of all gymnosperms were thick mesophyll cell walls and low chloroplast area exposed to intercellular airspace (Sc/S) compared with angiosperms. Sc/S and cell wall thickness were the fundamental traits driving variations in gm across gymnosperm species. Chloroplast thickness was the strongest limitation of gm among liquid-phase components. The variation in leaf dry mass per area was not correlated with the key ultrastructural traits determining gm. Thus, given the absence of correlating integrated easy-to-measure traits, detailed knowledge of underlying component traits controlling gm across plant taxa is necessary to understand the photosynthetic limitations across ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy J Brodribb
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Tiina Tosens
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
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11
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Pathare VS, Sonawane BV, Koteyeva N, Cousins AB. C 4 grasses adapted to low precipitation habitats show traits related to greater mesophyll conductance and lower leaf hydraulic conductance. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2020; 43:1897-1910. [PMID: 32449181 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In habitats with low water availability, a fundamental challenge for plants will be to maximize photosynthetic C-gain while minimizing transpirational water-loss. This trade-off between C-gain and water-loss can in part be achieved through the coordination of leaf-level photosynthetic and hydraulic traits. To test the relationship of photosynthetic C-gain and transpirational water-loss, we grew, under common growth conditions, 18 C4 grasses adapted to habitats with different mean annual precipitation (MAP) and measured leaf-level structural and anatomical traits associated with mesophyll conductance (gm ) and leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf ). The C4 grasses adapted to lower MAP showed greater mesophyll surface area exposed to intercellular air spaces (Smes ) and adaxial stomatal density (SDada ) which supported greater gm . These grasses also showed greater leaf thickness and vein-to-epidermis distance, which may lead to lower Kleaf . Additionally, grasses with greater gm and lower Kleaf also showed greater photosynthetic rates (Anet ) and leaf-level water-use efficiency (WUE). In summary, we identify a suite of leaf-level traits that appear important for adaptation of C4 grasses to habitats with low MAP and may be useful to identify C4 species showing greater Anet and WUE in drier conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha S Pathare
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Balasaheb V Sonawane
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Nouria Koteyeva
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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12
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Sonawane BV, Cousins AB. Mesophyll CO 2 conductance and leakiness are not responsive to short- and long-term soil water limitations in the C 4 plant Sorghum bicolor. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:1590-1602. [PMID: 32438487 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Breeding economically important C4 crops for enhanced whole-plant water-use efficiency (WUEplant ) is needed for sustainable agriculture. WUEplant is a complex trait and an efficient phenotyping method that reports on components of WUEplant , such as intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi , the rate of leaf CO2 assimilation relative to water loss via stomatal conductance), is needed. In C4 plants, theoretical models suggest that leaf carbon isotope composition (δ13 C), when the efficiency of the CO2 -concentrating mechanism (leakiness, ϕ) remains constant, can be used to screen for WUEi . The limited information about how ϕ responds to water limitations confines the application of δ13 C for WUEi screening of C4 crops. The current research aimed to test the response of ϕ to short- or long-term moderate water limitations, and the relationship of δ13 C with WUEi and WUEplant , by addressing potential mesophyll CO2 conductance (gm ) and biochemical limitations in the C4 plant Sorghum bicolor. We demonstrate that gm and ϕ are not responsive to short- or long-term water limitations. Additionally, δ13 C was not correlated with gas-exchange estimates of WUEi under short- and long-term water limitations, but showed a significant negative relationship with WUEplant . The observed association between the δ13 C and WUEplant suggests an intrinsic link of δ13 C with WUEi in this C4 plant, and can potentially be used as a screening tool for WUEplant in sorghum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasaheb V Sonawane
- 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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13
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Yang Y, Zhang Q, Huang G, Peng S, Li Y. Temperature responses of photosynthesis and leaf hydraulic conductance in rice and wheat. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2020; 43:1437-1451. [PMID: 32073150 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Studies on the temperature (T) responses of photosynthesis and leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf ) are important to plant gas exchange. In this study, the temperature responses of photosynthesis and Kleaf were studied in Shanyou 63 (Oryza sativa) and Yannong 19 (Triticum aestivum). Leaf water potential (Ψleaf ) was insensitive to T in Shanyou 63, while it significantly decreased with T in Yannong 19. The differential Ψleaf - T relationship partially accounted for the differing gm -T relationships, where gm was less sensitive to T in Yannong 19 than in Shanyou 63. With different gm -T and Ψleaf -T relationships, the temperature responses of photosynthetic limitations were surprisingly similar between the two lines, and the photosynthetic rate was highly correlated with gm . With the increasing T, Kleaf increased in Shanyou 63 while it decreased in Yannong 19. The different Kleaf -T relationships were related to different Ψleaf -T relationships. When excluding the effects of water viscosity and Ψleaf , Kleaf was insensitive to T in both lines. gm and Kleaf were generally not coordinated across different temperatures. This study highlights the importance of Ψleaf on leaf carbon and water exchanges, and the mechanisms for the gm -T and Kleaf -T relationships were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiangqiang Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guanjun Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaobing Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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14
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Xiong D, Nadal M. Linking water relations and hydraulics with photosynthesis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 101:800-815. [PMID: 31677190 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
For land plants, water is the principal governor of growth. Photosynthetic performance is highly dependent on the stable and suitable water status of leaves, which is balanced by the water transport capacity, the water loss rate as well as the water capacitance of the plant. This review discusses the links between leaf water status and photosynthesis, specifically focussing on the coordination of CO2 and water transport within leaves, and the potential role of leaf capacitance and elasticity on CO2 and water transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Miquel Nadal
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) - Institute of Agro-Environmental Research and Water Economy (INAGEA), Carretera de Valldemossa, 07122, Palma, Spain
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15
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Knauer J, Zaehle S, De Kauwe MG, Haverd V, Reichstein M, Sun Y. Mesophyll conductance in land surface models: effects on photosynthesis and transpiration. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 101:858-873. [PMID: 31659806 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The CO2 transfer conductance within plant leaves (mesophyll conductance, gm ) is currently not considered explicitly in most land surface models (LSMs), but instead treated implicitly as an intrinsic property of the photosynthetic machinery. Here, we review approaches to overcome this model deficiency by explicitly accounting for gm , which comprises the re-adjustment of photosynthetic parameters and a model describing the variation of gm in dependence of environmental conditions. An explicit representation of gm causes changes in the response of photosynthesis to environmental factors, foremost leaf temperature, and ambient CO2 concentration, which are most pronounced when gm is small. These changes in leaf-level photosynthesis translate into a stronger climate and CO2 response of gross primary productivity (GPP) and transpiration at the global scale. The results from two independent studies show consistent latitudinal patterns of these effects with biggest differences in GPP in the boreal zone (up to ~15%). Transpiration and evapotranspiration show spatially similar, but attenuated, changes compared with GPP. These changes are indirect effects of gm caused by the assumed strong coupling between stomatal conductance and photosynthesis in current LSMs. Key uncertainties in these simulations are the variation of gm with light and the robustness of its temperature response across plant types and growth conditions. Future research activities focusing on the response of gm to environmental factors and its relation to other plant traits have the potential to improve the representation of photosynthesis in LSMs and to better understand its present and future role in the Earth system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Knauer
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sönke Zaehle
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Michael-Stifel Center Jena for Data-Driven and Simulation Science, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin G De Kauwe
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Vanessa Haverd
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Markus Reichstein
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Michael-Stifel Center Jena for Data-Driven and Simulation Science, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Ying Sun
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
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16
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Shrestha A, Song X, Barbour MM. The temperature response of mesophyll conductance, and its component conductances, varies between species and genotypes. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2019; 141:65-82. [PMID: 30771063 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-019-00622-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The temperature response of mesophyll conductance to CO2 diffusion (gm) has been shown to vary considerably between species but remains poorly understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that increases in chloroplast surface area with increasing temperature, due to the formation of chloroplast protrusions, caused observed positive responses of gm to temperature. We found no evidence of chloroplast protrusions. Using simultaneous measurements of carbon and oxygen isotope discrimination during photosynthesis to separate total gm (gm13) into cell wall and plasma membrane conductance (gm18) and chloroplast membrane conductance (gcm) components, we explored the temperature response in genotypes of soybean and barley, and sunflower plants grown at differing CO2 concentrations. Differences in the temperature sensitivity of gm18 were found between genotypes and between plants grown at differing CO2 concentration but did not relate to measured anatomical features such as chloroplast surface area or cell wall thickness. The closest fit of modelled gm13 to estimated values was found when cell wall thickness was allowed to decline at higher temperatures and transpiration rates, but it remains to be tested if this decline is realistic. The temperature response of gcm (calculated from the difference between 1/gm13 and 1/gm18) varied between barley genotypes, and was best fitted by an optimal response in sunflower. Taken together, these results indicate that gm is a highly complex trait with unpredictable sensitivity to temperature that varies between species, between genotypes within a single species, with growth environment, between replicate leaves, and even with age for an individual leaf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjina Shrestha
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 380 Werombi Road, Brownlow Hill, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - Xin Song
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 380 Werombi Road, Brownlow Hill, NSW, 2570, Australia
- School of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Ave, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Margaret M Barbour
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 380 Werombi Road, Brownlow Hill, NSW, 2570, Australia.
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17
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Stangl ZR, Tarvainen L, Wallin G, Ubierna N, Räntfors M, Marshall JD. Diurnal variation in mesophyll conductance and its influence on modelled water-use efficiency in a mature boreal Pinus sylvestris stand. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2019; 141:53-63. [PMID: 31123952 PMCID: PMC6612512 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-019-00645-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Mesophyll conductance (gm) is a critical variable for the use of stable carbon isotopes to infer photosynthetic water-use efficiency (WUE). Although gm is similar in magnitude to stomatal conductance (gs), it has been measured less often, especially under field conditions and at high temporal resolution. We mounted an isotopic CO2 analyser on a field photosynthetic gas exchange system to make continuous online measurements of gas exchange and photosynthetic 13C discrimination (Δ13C) on mature Pinus sylvestris trees. This allowed the calculation of gm, gs, net photosynthesis (Anet), and WUE. These measurements highlighted the asynchronous diurnal behaviour of gm and gs. While gs declined from around 10:00, Anet declined first after 12:00, and gm remained near its maximum until 16:00. We suggest that high gm played a role in supporting an extended Anet peak despite stomatal closure. Comparing three models to estimate WUE from ∆13C, we found that a simple model, assuming constant net fractionation during carboxylation (27‰), predicted WUE well, but only for about 75% of the day. A more comprehensive model, accounting explicitly for gm and the effects of daytime respiration and photorespiration, gave reliable estimates of WUE, even in the early morning hours when WUE was more variable. Considering constant, finite gm or gm/gs yielded similar WUE estimates on the diurnal scale, while assuming infinite gm led to overestimation of WUE. These results highlight the potential of high-resolution gm measurements to improve modelling of Anet and WUE and demonstrate that such gm data can be acquired, even under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsofia R Stangl
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lasse Tarvainen
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Göran Wallin
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nerea Ubierna
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mats Räntfors
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - John D Marshall
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.
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18
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Ubierna N, Cernusak LA, Holloway-Phillips M, Busch FA, Cousins AB, Farquhar GD. Critical review: incorporating the arrangement of mitochondria and chloroplasts into models of photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2019; 141:5-31. [PMID: 30955143 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-019-00635-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The arrangement of mitochondria and chloroplasts, together with the relative resistances of cell wall and chloroplast, determine the path of diffusion out of the leaf for (photo)respired CO2. Traditional photosynthesis models have assumed a tight arrangement of chloroplasts packed together against the cell wall with mitochondria located behind the chloroplasts, deep inside the cytosol. Accordingly, all (photo)respired CO2 must cross the chloroplast before diffusing out of the leaf. Different arrangements have recently been considered, where all or part of the (photo)respired CO2 diffuses through the cytosol without ever entering the chloroplast. Assumptions about the path for the (photo)respiratory flux are particularly relevant for the calculation of mesophyll conductance (gm). If (photo)respired CO2 can diffuse elsewhere besides the chloroplast, apparent gm is no longer a mere physical resistance but a flux-weighted variable sensitive to the ratio of (photo)respiration to net CO2 assimilation. We discuss existing photosynthesis models in conjunction with their treatment of the (photo)respiratory flux and present new equations applicable to the generalized case where (photo)respired CO2 can diffuse both into the chloroplast and through the cytosol. Additionally, we present a new generalized Δ13C model that incorporates this dual diffusion pathway. We assess how assumptions about the fate of (photo)respired CO2 affect the interpretation of photosynthetic data and the challenges it poses for the application of different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Ubierna
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Lucas A Cernusak
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Florian A Busch
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Graham D Farquhar
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
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19
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Zait Y, Shtein I, Schwartz A. Long-term acclimation to drought, salinity and temperature in the thermophilic tree Ziziphus spina-christi: revealing different tradeoffs between mesophyll and stomatal conductance. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 39:701-716. [PMID: 30597082 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpy133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis is limited by three main factors: stomatal conductance (gs), mesophyll conductance (gm) and maximum capacity for Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax). It is unclear how limiting factors vary under stress, particularly during long-term stress acclimation. In this work, we compared for the first time photosynthesis limitation resulting from long-term acclimation to three major abiotic stresses: drought, salinity and temperature. We used saplings of Ziziphus spina-christi, a thermophilic and drought-tolerant tree, which recently became more abundant in the Mediterranean, presumably due to increased winter temperatures. Stress acclimation was investigated by measuring growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf structure. For each stress, photosynthesis-limiting factors were compared. We developed an integrative stress index that allowed us to precisely define stress level, enabling a comparison between stress types. Photosynthesis under all stresses was limited mostly by gs and gm (80-90%); whereas biochemistry (Vcmax) made a minor contribution (10-20%). The relative contribution of gs and gm on photosynthetic limitation was influenced by stress type. During acclimation to drought or salinity, photosynthesis was limited by a decline in gs, while intolerance to low temperatures was driven by decline in gm. In all the stresses, gm decreased only under progressive reduction in leaf physiological functionality and was associated with low turgor under drought, an increase in leaf Na+ under salinity and low leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) at low temperatures. Mesophyll structure (mesophyll surface area exposed to the intercellular air spaces, leaf thickness, % intercellular air spaces) did not explain gm acclimation to stress. Current work gives methodology for stress studies, and defines the main factors underlying the plant response to climate change. The ability to minimize mesophyll-imposed limitations on photosynthesis was found as a strong indicator of progressive stress tolerance. Moreover, the results demonstrate how warming climate benefits the photosynthetic function in thermophilic species, such as Ziziphus spina-christi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotam Zait
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ilana Shtein
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amnon Schwartz
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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20
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Knauer J, Zaehle S, De Kauwe MG, Bahar NHA, Evans JR, Medlyn BE, Reichstein M, Werner C. Effects of mesophyll conductance on vegetation responses to elevated CO 2 concentrations in a land surface model. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1820-1838. [PMID: 30809890 PMCID: PMC6487956 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mesophyll conductance (gm ) is known to affect plant photosynthesis. However, gm is rarely explicitly considered in land surface models (LSMs), with the consequence that its role in ecosystem and large-scale carbon and water fluxes is poorly understood. In particular, the different magnitudes of gm across plant functional types (PFTs) are expected to cause spatially divergent vegetation responses to elevated CO2 concentrations. Here, an extensive literature compilation of gm across major vegetation types is used to parameterize an empirical model of gm in the LSM JSBACH and to adjust photosynthetic parameters based on simulated An - Ci curves. We demonstrate that an explicit representation of gm changes the response of photosynthesis to environmental factors, which cannot be entirely compensated by adjusting photosynthetic parameters. These altered responses lead to changes in the photosynthetic sensitivity to atmospheric CO2 concentrations which depend both on the magnitude of gm and the climatic conditions, particularly temperature. We then conducted simulations under ambient and elevated (ambient + 200 μmol/mol) CO2 concentrations for contrasting ecosystems and for historical and anticipated future climate conditions (representative concentration pathways; RCPs) globally. The gm -explicit simulations using the RCP8.5 scenario resulted in significantly higher increases in gross primary productivity (GPP) in high latitudes (+10% to + 25%), intermediate increases in temperate regions (+5% to + 15%), and slightly lower to moderately higher responses in tropical regions (-2% to +5%), which summed up to moderate GPP increases globally. Similar patterns were found for transpiration, but with a lower magnitude. Our results suggest that the effect of an explicit representation of gm is most important for simulated carbon and water fluxes in the boreal zone, where a cold climate coincides with evergreen vegetation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Knauer
- Department of Biogeochemical IntegrationMax Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryJenaGermany
- International Max Planck Research School for Global Biogeochemical Cycles (IMPRS gBGC)JenaGermany
| | - Sönke Zaehle
- Department of Biogeochemical IntegrationMax Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryJenaGermany
- Michael‐Stifel Center Jena for Data‐Driven and Simulation ScienceJenaGermany
| | - Martin G. De Kauwe
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the Climate Change Research CentreUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Nur H. A. Bahar
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Division of Plant SciencesResearch School of Biology, Australian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - John R. Evans
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Division of Plant SciencesResearch School of Biology, Australian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Belinda E. Medlyn
- Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNSWAustralia
| | - Markus Reichstein
- Department of Biogeochemical IntegrationMax Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryJenaGermany
- Michael‐Stifel Center Jena for Data‐Driven and Simulation ScienceJenaGermany
| | - Christiane Werner
- Department of Ecosystem PhysiologyUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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21
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Sonawane BV, Cousins AB. Uncertainties and limitations of using carbon-13 and oxygen-18 leaf isotope exchange to estimate the temperature response of mesophyll CO 2 conductance in C 3 plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 222:122-131. [PMID: 30394538 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The internal CO2 gradient imposed by mesophyll conductance (gm ) reduces substrate availability for C3 photosynthesis. With several assumptions, estimates of gm can be made from coupled leaf gas exchange with isoflux analysis of carbon ∆13 C-gm and oxygen in CO2 , coupled with transpired water (H2 O) ∆18 O-gm to partition gm into its biochemical and anatomical components. However, these assumptions require validation under changing leaf temperatures. To test these assumptions, we measured and modeled the temperature response (15-40°C) of ∆13 C-gm and ∆18 O-gm along with leaf biochemistry in the C3 grass Panicum bisulcatum, which has naturally low carbonic anhydrase activity. Our study suggests that assumptions regarding the extent of isotopic equilibrium (θ) between CO2 and H2 O at the site of exchange, and that the isotopic composition of the H2 O at the sites of evaporation ( δw-e18 ) and at the site of exchange ( δw-ce18 ) are similar, may lead to errors in estimating the ∆18 O-gm temperature response. The input parameters for ∆13 C-gm appear to be less sensitive to temperature. However, this needs to be tested in species with diverse carbonic anhydrase activity. Additional information on the temperature dependency of cytosolic and chloroplastic pH may clarify uncertainties used for ∆18 O-gm under changing leaf temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasaheb V Sonawane
- 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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22
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Ren T, Weraduwage SM, Sharkey TD. Prospects for enhancing leaf photosynthetic capacity by manipulating mesophyll cell morphology. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:1153-1165. [PMID: 30590670 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Leaves are beautifully specialized organs designed to maximize the use of light and CO2 for photosynthesis. Engineering leaf anatomy therefore holds great potential to enhance photosynthetic capacity. Here we review the effect of the dominant leaf anatomical traits on leaf photosynthesis and confirm that a high chloroplast surface area exposed to intercellular airspace per unit leaf area (Sc) is critical for efficient photosynthesis. The possibility of improving Sc through appropriately increasing mesophyll cell density is further analyzed. The potential influences of modifying mesophyll cell morphology on CO2 diffusion, light distribution within the leaf, and other physiological processes are also discussed. Some potential target genes regulating leaf mesophyll cell proliferation and expansion are explored. Indeed, more comprehensive research is needed to understand how manipulating mesophyll cell morphology through editing the potential target genes impacts leaf photosynthetic capacity and related physiological processes. This will pinpoint the targets for engineering leaf anatomy to maximize photosynthetic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ren
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Sarathi M Weraduwage
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory and Plant Resiience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Thomas D Sharkey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory and Plant Resiience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
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23
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Shrestha A, Buckley TN, Lockhart EL, Barbour MM. The response of mesophyll conductance to short- and long-term environmental conditions in chickpea genotypes. AOB PLANTS 2019; 11:ply073. [PMID: 30680087 PMCID: PMC6340285 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/ply073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
. Mesophyll conductance (g m) has been shown to vary between genotypes of a number of species and with growth environments, including nitrogen availability, but understanding of g m variability in legumes is limited. We might expect g m in legumes to respond differently to limited nitrogen availability, due to their ability to fix atmospheric N2. Using online stable carbon isotope discrimination method, we quantified genetic variability in g m under ideal conditions, investigated g m response to N source (N2-fixation or inorganic N) and determined the effects of N source and water availability on the rapid response of g m to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and radiation wavelength in three genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Genotypes varied 2-fold in g m under non-limiting environments. N-fed plants had higher g m than N2-fixing plants in one genotype, while g m in the other two genotypes was unaffected. g m response to PPFD was altered by N source in one of three genotypes, in which the g m response to PPFD was statistically significant in N-fed plants but not in N2-fixing plants. There was no clear effect of moderate water stress on the g m response to PPFD and radiation wavelength. Genotypes of a single legume species differ in the sensitivity of g m to both long- and short-term environmental conditions, precluding utility in crop breeding programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjina Shrestha
- The Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Thomas N Buckley
- The Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Erin L Lockhart
- The Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Margaret M Barbour
- The Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Wang X, Du T, Huang J, Peng S, Xiong D. Leaf hydraulic vulnerability triggers the decline in stomatal and mesophyll conductance during drought in rice. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:4033-4045. [PMID: 29788146 PMCID: PMC6054168 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the physiological responses of crops to drought is important for ensuring sustained crop productivity under climate change, which is expected to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of periods of drought. Drought responses involve multiple traits, and the correlations between these traits are poorly understood. Using a variety of techniques, we estimated the changes in gas exchange, leaf hydraulic conductance, and leaf turgor in rice (Oryza sativa) in response to both short- and long-term soil drought. We performed a photosynthetic limitation analysis to quantify the contributions of each limiting factor to the resultant overall decrease in photosynthesis during drought. Biomass, leaf area, and leaf width significantly decreased during the 2-week drought treatment, but leaf mass per area and leaf vein density increased. Light-saturated photosynthetic rate declined dramatically during soil drought, mainly due to the decrease in stomatal conductance (gs) and mesophyll conductance (gm). Stomatal modeling suggested that the decline in leaf hydraulic conductance explained most of the decrease in stomatal closure during the drought treatment, and may also trigger the drought-related decrease of stomatal conductance and mesophyll conductance. The results of this study provide insight into the regulation of carbon assimilation under drought conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tingting Du
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianliang Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shaobing Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dongliang Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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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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Dewar R, Mauranen A, Mäkelä A, Hölttä T, Medlyn B, Vesala T. New insights into the covariation of stomatal, mesophyll and hydraulic conductances from optimization models incorporating nonstomatal limitations to photosynthesis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 217:571-585. [PMID: 29086921 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Optimization models of stomatal conductance (gs ) attempt to explain observed stomatal behaviour in terms of cost--benefit tradeoffs. While the benefit of stomatal opening through increased CO2 uptake is clear, currently the nature of the associated cost(s) remains unclear. We explored the hypothesis that gs maximizes leaf photosynthesis, where the cost of stomatal opening arises from nonstomatal reductions in photosynthesis induced by leaf water stress. We analytically solved two cases, CAP and MES, in which reduced leaf water potential leads to reductions in carboxylation capacity (CAP) and mesophyll conductance (gm ) (MES). Both CAP and MES predict the same one-parameter relationship between the intercellular : atmospheric CO2 concentration ratio (ci /ca ) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD, D), viz. ci /ca ≈ ξ/(ξ + √D), as that obtained from previous optimization models, with the novel feature that the parameter ξ is determined unambiguously as a function of a small number of photosynthetic and hydraulic variables. These include soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance, implying a stomatal closure response to drought. MES also predicts that gs /gm is closely related to ci /ca and is similarly conservative. These results are consistent with observations, give rise to new testable predictions, and offer new insights into the covariation of stomatal, mesophyll and hydraulic conductances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roderick Dewar
- Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Aleksanteri Mauranen
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, PO Box 68, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Annikki Mäkelä
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Teemu Hölttä
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Belinda Medlyn
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Timo Vesala
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, PO Box 68, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
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