Differences between sun (E) and shaded (S) foliage were studied in a Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stand. Response curves describing the dependence of the CO2 assimilation rate (PN) on the CO2 concentration at the catalytic site of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, RuBPCO (PN-Cc) were estimated using the simultaneous measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange. Higher PN, higher electron transport (Ja), higher carboxylation capacity (Vc), and higher RuBPCO activity (τ) for sun acclimated needles was found. The S-needles had higher portion of internal limitation and higher CO2 compensation concentration (Γ) than the E-needles. Because higher degree of limitation of photosynthesis by carboxylation was ascertained, it can be assumed that photosynthesis in shade foliage is limited mainly by lower carboxylation capacity and by low chloroplastic CO2 concentration. and I. Priwitzer ... [et al.].
The long-term impact of elevated concentration of CO2 on assimilation activity of sun-exposed (E) versus shaded (S) foliage was investigated in a Norway spruce stand [Picea abies (L.) Karst, age 14 years] after three years of cultivation in two domes with adjustable windows (DAW). One DAW was supplied with ambient air [AC, ca. 350 µmol(CO2) mol-1) and the second with elevated CO2 concentration [EC = AC plus 350 µmol(CO2) mol-1]. The pronounced vertical profile of the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) led to the typical differentiation of the photosynthetic apparatus between the shaded and sun needles. Namely, photon-saturated values of maximal net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) and apparent quantum yield (α) were significantly higher/lower for E-needles as compared with the S-ones. The prolonged exposure to EC was responsible for the apparent assimilatory activity stimulation observed mainly in deeply shaded needles. The degree of this stimulation decreases in the order: S-needles dense part > S-needles sparse part > E-needles dense part > E-needles sparse part. In exposed needles some signals on a manifestation of the acclimation depression of the photosynthetic activity were found. The long-term effect of EC was responsible for the decrease of nitrogen content of needles and for its smoother gradient between E- and S-needles. The obtained results indicate that the E- and S-foliage respond differently to the long-term impact of EC. and M. V. Marek ... [et al.].
Temperature responses of carbon assimilation processes were studied in four dominant species from mountain grassland ecosystem, i.e. Holcus mollis (L.), Hypericum maculatum (Cr.), Festuca rubra (L.), and Nardus stricta (L.), using the gas exchange technique. Leaf temperature (TL) of all species was adjusted within the range 13-30 °C using the Peltier thermoelectric cooler. The temperature responses of metabolic processes were subsequently modelled using the Arrhenius exponential function involving the temperature coefficient Q10. The expected increase of global temperature led to a significant increase of dark respiration rate
(RD; Q 10 = 2.0±0.5), maximum carboxylation rate (VCmax; Q10 = 2.2±0.6), and maximum electron transport rate (J max; Q 10 = 1.6±0.4) in dominant species of mountain grassland ecosystems. Contrariwise, the ratio between Jmax and VCmax linearly decreased with TL [y = -0.884 TL + 5.24; r2 = 0.78]. Hence temperature did not control the ratio between intercellular and ambient CO2 concentration, apparent quantum efficiency, and photon-saturated CO2 assimilation rate (Pmax). Pmax primarily correlated with maximum stomatal conductance irrespective of TL. Water use efficiency tended to decrease with TL [y = -0.21 TL + 8.1;
r2 = 0.87]. and O. Urban ... [et al.].