The determiner of photosynthetic acclimation induced by biochemical limitation under elevated CO2 in japonica rice

Photosynthetic acclimation to prolonged elevated CO₂ could be attributed to the two limited biochemical capacity, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration, however, which one is the primary driver is unclear. To quantify photosynthetic acclimation induced by biochemical limitation, we investigated photosynthetic characteristics and leaf nitrogen allocation to photosynthetic apparatus (Rubisco, bioenergetics, and light-harvesting complex) in a japonica rice grown in open-top chambers at ambient CO₂ and ambient CO₂+200 μmol mol^-1 (e [CO₂]). Results showed that photosynthesis was stimulated under e [CO₂], but concomitantly, photosynthetic acclimation obviously occurred across the whole growth stages. The content of leaf nitrogen allocation to Rubisco and biogenetics was reduced by e [CO₂], while not in light-harvesting complex. Unlike the content, there was little effects of CO₂ enrichment on the percentage of nitrogen allocation to photosynthetic components. Additionally, leaf nitrogen did not reallocate within photosynthetic apparatus until the imbalance of sink-source under e [CO₂]. The contribution of biochemical limitations, including Rubisco carboxylation and RuBP regeneration, to photosynthetic acclimation averaged 36.2% and 63.8% over the growing seasons, respectively. This study suggests that acclimation of photosynthesis is mainly driven by RuBP regeneration limitation and highlights the importance of RuBP regeneration relative to Rubisco carboxylation in the future CO₂ enrichment.

Variation in photosynthetic induction between super hybrid rice and inbred super rice

It is well documented that yield superiority of super hybrid rice is linked with its improved photosynthetic capacity and/or efficiency. In natural environments, the amounts of CO₂ assimilated by plants was also impacted by the rapidity of leaf photosynthesis response to fluctuations of light. However, it remains unknow whether the high yield of super hybrid rice was associated with photosynthetic traits under dynamic state. Here, photosynthetic traits under steady-and dynamic state in two super hybrid rice varieties (Ylinagyou 3218 and Yliangyou 5867) with high yield and two inbred super rice varieties (Zhendao 11 and Nanjing 9108) with lower yield. Under steady state, the net photosynthetic rate (A*) in super hybrid rice was 25.3% larger compared with inbred super rice. During photosynthetic induction, there was no obvious association of the rapidity of net photosynthesis rate (A) to sunflecks with rice subpopulations. Stomatal conductance (g_s) of super hybrid rice increased slower than that of inbred super rice. The cumulative CO₂ fixation (CCF) during photosynthetic induction was 25.2% larger in super hybrid rice than that in inbred super rice. The primary limitation during induction was biochemical limitation rather than stomatal limitation. There was a significantly positive relationship between A* and CCF, while A* was not related with the induction response rate of A. Overall, A* and CCF in super hybrid rice have been improved together, which contributed to its yield superiority, whereas its yield potential still can be improved by increasing induction rate of A under fluctuations of irradiance.

Predator evasion in zooplankton is suppressed by polyunsaturated fatty acid limitation

Herbivorous zooplankton avoid size-selective predation by vertical migration to a deep, cold water refuge. Adaptation to low temperatures in planktonic poikilotherms depends on essential dietary lipids; the availability of these lipids often limits growth and reproduction of zooplankton. We hypothesized that limitation by essential lipids may affect habitat preferences and predator avoidance behavior in planktonic poikilotherms. We used a liposome supplementation technique to enrich the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus and the cyanobacterium Synecchococcus elongatus with the essential lipids, cholesterol and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and an indoor system with a stratified water-column (plankton organ) to test whether the absence of these selected dietary lipids constrains predator avoidance (habitat preferences) in four species of the key-stone pelagic freshwater grazer Daphnia. We found that the capability of avoiding fish predation through habitat shift to the deeper and colder environment was suppressed in Daphnia unless the diet was supplemented with EPA; however, the availability of cholesterol did not affect habitat preferences of the tested taxa. Thus, their ability to access a predator-free refuge and the outcome of predator-prey interactions depends upon food quality (i.e. the availability of an essential fatty acid). Our results suggest that biochemical food quality limitation, a bottom-up factor, may affect the top-down control of herbivorous zooplankton.