Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles

The response of carbon fixation in C<sub>3</sub> plants to elevated CO<sub>2</sub> is relatively larger when photosynthesis is limited by carboxylation capacity (V<sub>C</sub>) than when limited by electron transport (J). Recent experiments under controlled, stead...

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Main Author: James Bunce
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2603
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author James Bunce
author_facet James Bunce
author_sort James Bunce
collection DOAJ
description The response of carbon fixation in C<sub>3</sub> plants to elevated CO<sub>2</sub> is relatively larger when photosynthesis is limited by carboxylation capacity (V<sub>C</sub>) than when limited by electron transport (J). Recent experiments under controlled, steady-state conditions have shown that photosynthesis at elevated CO<sub>2</sub> may be limited by V<sub>C</sub> even at limiting PPFD. These experiments were designed to test whether this also occurs in dynamic field environments. Leaf gas exchange was recorded every 5 min using two identical instruments both attached to the same leaf. The CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in one instrument was controlled at 400 μmol mol<sup>−1</sup> and one at 600 μmol mol<sup>−1</sup>. Leaves were exposed to ambient sunlight outdoors, and cuvette air temperatures tracked ambient outside air temperature. The water content of air in the leaf cuvettes was kept close to that of the ambient air. These measurements were conducted on multiple, mostly clear days for each of three species, <i>Glycine max</i>, <i>Lablab purpureus</i>, and <i>Hemerocallis fulva</i>. The results indicated that in all species, photosynthesis was limited by V<sub>C</sub> rather than J at both ambient and elevated CO<sub>2</sub> both at high midday PPFDs and also at limiting PPFDs in the early morning and late afternoon. During brief reductions in PPFD due to midday clouds, photosynthesis became limited by J. The net result of the apparent deactivation of Rubisco at low PPFD was that the relative stimulation of diurnal carbon fixation at elevated CO<sub>2</sub> was larger than would be predicted when assuming limitation of photosynthesis by J at low PPFD.
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spelling doaj.art-3fa2a7ec091f4fc5bc9eabe982856cdd2023-11-23T10:10:34ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-11-011012260310.3390/plants10122603Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal CyclesJames Bunce0Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USAThe response of carbon fixation in C<sub>3</sub> plants to elevated CO<sub>2</sub> is relatively larger when photosynthesis is limited by carboxylation capacity (V<sub>C</sub>) than when limited by electron transport (J). Recent experiments under controlled, steady-state conditions have shown that photosynthesis at elevated CO<sub>2</sub> may be limited by V<sub>C</sub> even at limiting PPFD. These experiments were designed to test whether this also occurs in dynamic field environments. Leaf gas exchange was recorded every 5 min using two identical instruments both attached to the same leaf. The CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in one instrument was controlled at 400 μmol mol<sup>−1</sup> and one at 600 μmol mol<sup>−1</sup>. Leaves were exposed to ambient sunlight outdoors, and cuvette air temperatures tracked ambient outside air temperature. The water content of air in the leaf cuvettes was kept close to that of the ambient air. These measurements were conducted on multiple, mostly clear days for each of three species, <i>Glycine max</i>, <i>Lablab purpureus</i>, and <i>Hemerocallis fulva</i>. The results indicated that in all species, photosynthesis was limited by V<sub>C</sub> rather than J at both ambient and elevated CO<sub>2</sub> both at high midday PPFDs and also at limiting PPFDs in the early morning and late afternoon. During brief reductions in PPFD due to midday clouds, photosynthesis became limited by J. The net result of the apparent deactivation of Rubisco at low PPFD was that the relative stimulation of diurnal carbon fixation at elevated CO<sub>2</sub> was larger than would be predicted when assuming limitation of photosynthesis by J at low PPFD.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2603photosynthesiselevated CO<sub>2</sub>Rubiscoelectron transportlightdiurnal cycle
spellingShingle James Bunce
Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles
Plants
photosynthesis
elevated CO<sub>2</sub>
Rubisco
electron transport
light
diurnal cycle
title Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles
title_full Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles
title_fullStr Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles
title_full_unstemmed Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles
title_short Carboxylation Capacity Can Limit C<sub>3</sub> Photosynthesis at Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> throughout Diurnal Cycles
title_sort carboxylation capacity can limit c sub 3 sub photosynthesis at elevated co sub 2 sub throughout diurnal cycles
topic photosynthesis
elevated CO<sub>2</sub>
Rubisco
electron transport
light
diurnal cycle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2603
work_keys_str_mv AT jamesbunce carboxylationcapacitycanlimitcsub3subphotosynthesisatelevatedcosub2subthroughoutdiurnalcycles