Activities of some enzymes related to carbon metabolism were studied in different ecotypes of Rumex nepalensis growing at 1 300, 2 250, and 3 250 m above mean sea level. Activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, aspartate aminotransferase, and glutamine synthetase increased with altitude, whereas activities of malate dehydrogenase, NAD-malic enzyme, and citrate synthase did not show a significant difference with change in altitude. and N. Kumar ... [et al.].
Most organisms inhabiting earth feed directly or indirectly on the products synthesized by the reaction of photosynthesis, which at the current atmospheric CO2 levels operates only at two thirds of its peak efficiency. Restricting the photorespiratory loss of carbon and thereby improving the efficiency of photosynthesis is seen by many as a good option to enhance productivity of food crops. Research during last half a century has shown that several plant species developed CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) to restrict photorespiration under lower concentration of available CO2. CCMs are now known to be operative in several terrestrial and aquatic plants, ranging from most advanced higher plants to algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms. Plants with C4 pathway of photosynthesis (where four-carbon compound is the first product of photosynthesis) or crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) may consistently operate CCM. Some plants however can undergo a shift in photosynthetic metabolism only with change in environmental variables. More recently, a shift in plant photosynthetic metabolism is reported at high altitude where improved efficiency of CO2 uptake is related to the recapture of photorespiratory loss of carbon. Of the divergent CO2 assimilation strategies operative in different oraganisms, the capacity to recapture photorespiratory CO2 could be an important approach to develop plants with efficient photosynthetic capacity. and S. K. Vats, S. Kumar, P. S. Ahuja
In addition to other factors, high altitude (HA) environment is characterized by high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Photosynthetic characteristics of wild and cultivated plants were studied at different irradiances at Losar, India (altitude 4 200 m). Wild plants were tolerant to high PPFDs. Slopes of curve between net photosynthetic rate (PN) and intercellular CO2 concentration
(Ci) or stomatal conductance (gs) increased with increase in irradiance suggesting insensitivity or tolerance of these plants to higher PPFD. Cultivated plants, however, were sensitive to higher PPFD, their slopes of curves between PN and Ci or gs decreased with increased PPFD. Tolerance or insensitivity to higher PPFD was an important parameter affecting plant performance at HA. and N. Kumar, S. Kumar, P. S. Ahuja.
Leaf stomatal density (SD), net photosynthetic rates (PN), and stomatal conductance (gs) of Hordeum vulgare and Pisum sativum cultivars in Himalaya increased with altitude. Higher PN and leaf temperature under low CO2 partial pressure at high altitudes could evoke a higher gs and SD to allow sufficient influx of CO2 as well as more efficient leaf cooling through transpiration. and S. K. Vats, N. Kumar, S. Kumar.
Our experiment was conducted in order to find out effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ; 30 μl l-1) on morphology, photosynthetic process, and stress markers under water surplus and deficit conditions in several wheat genotypes. Study revealed that relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic rate, and maximal quantum yield of PSII (FV/FM) was improved after a PBZ application both under irrigation and water deficit across the genotypes, while the stomatal conductance was reduced. Further, the application of PBZ led to reduced leaf area in wheat genotypes. Moreover, a proline content was higher in the wheat genotypes under water stress as compared to the irrigated plants. The application of PBZ led to downregulation of the proline content under water deficit, while there was no significant change in the content and activity under irrigation with or without the PBZ treatment. These findings indicated that due to the application of PBZ the wheat genotypes might sense a lower stress level (indicated by the proline content) and better drought tolerance (according to RWC and photosynthetic characteristics)., S. K. Dwivedi, Ajay Arora, S. Kumar., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Photosynthetic characteristics were compared between plants of low altitude (LA) grown at LA (Palampur; 1 300 m) and at high altitude, HA (Kibber; 4 200 m), and plants naturally occurring at different altitudes (Palampur, 1 300 m; Palchan, 2 250 m; and Marhi, 3 250 m). Net photosynthetic rate (PN) was not significantly different between altitudes. However, the slopes of the curve relating PN to intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were higher in plants at Palchan, Marhi, and Kibber compared to those at Palampur, indicating that plants had higher efficiency of carbon uptake (the initial slope of PN/Ci curve is an indication) at HA. They had also higher stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate, and lower water use efficiency at HA. gs was insensitive to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) for plants naturally occurring at Palampur, Palchan, and Marhi, whereas plants from LA grown at Palampur and Kibber responded linearly to increasing PPFD. Insensitivity of gs to PPFD could be one of the adaptive features allowing wider altitudinal distribution of the plants. and N. Kumar, S. Kumar, P.S. Ahuja.
Diurnal variation in net photosynthetic rate (PN) of three-year-old plants of Ginkgo biloba was studied under open, O (receiving full sunlight), net-shade, NS (40 % of photosynthetically active radiation, PAR), or greenhouse, G (25 % PAR) conditions. In all three conditions, PN was higher in morning along with stomatal conductance (gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), while leaf temperature and vapour pressure deficit were low. The O-plants exhibited a typical decline in PN during midday, which was not observed in NS-plants. This indicated a possible photoinhibition in O-plants as the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and photosystem 2 (PS2) yield (ΦPS2) values were higher in the NS- and G-plants. On the contrary, stomatal density and index, chlorophyll a/b ratio, leaf thickness, and density of mesophyll cells were greater in O-plants. Further, higher PN throughout the day along with higher relative growth rate under NS as compared to O and G suggested the better efficiency of Ginkgo plants under NS conditions. Therefore, this plant species could be grown at 40 % irradiance to meet the ever-increasing demand of leaf and also to increase its export potential. and S. Pandey, S. Kumar, P. K. Nagar.
Plants of Podophyllum hexandrum, collected from lower, mid, and upper distribution limits in alpine Himalaya were studied under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the photosynthetic response. Net photosynthetic rates (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and efficiency of carbon uptake increased with altitude. The maximum PN and gs were measured in the considered population during the 3-6th week of development. PN and gs decreased on an average by 58 and 48 % from maximum rates reached around 4th week to the 10th week of growth, respectively. The photosynthetic response in the three ecotypes appeared to be genetically controlled. and S. K. Vats, S. Kumar.