Chlorophyll and nitrogen contents were highest in leaves of middle position, similarly as photosynthetic efficiency represented by 14C fixation (maxima in leaf 5 from the top). All the leaves lost 14C after 2 weeks of 14CO2 exposure. However, the reduction in radioactivity was less in young upper leaves than in the mature lower leaves. Leaves exported 14C-photosynthates to stem both above and below the exposed leaf. Very little radioactivity was recovered from the seeds of plants in which only first or second leaves were exposed to 14CO2 implying thereby that the carbon contribution of first two leaves to seed filling was negligible. The contribution of leaves to seed filling increased with the leaf position up to the sixth leaf from the top and after the seventh leaf their contribution to seed filling declined gradually. and Desiraju Subrahmanyam, V. S. Rathore.
Leaf-root interaction is a critical factor for plant growth during maturation and activity of roots is maintained by a sufficient supply of photosynthates. To explain photosynthate distribution among organs in field crops, the node unit hypothesis is proposed. One node unit consists of a leaf and an upper adventitous root, as well as the axillary organs and the lower adventitious root, which is adjacent to one node. Using 14C as tracer, the carbon distribution system has been clarified using spring wheat, soybean, tomato, and potato. The interrelationship among organs from the strongest to the weakest is in the following order: (1) within the node unit > (2) between the node unit in the same or adjacent phyllotaxy > (3) in the main root or apical organs, which are adjacent to the node unit. Within the node unit, 14C assimilated in the leaf on the main stem tended to distribute to axillary organs in the same node unit. The 14C assimilated in the leaf of axillary organs tended to distribute within the axillary organs, including adventitious roots in the axillary organ and then translocated to the leaf on the main leaf of the same node unit. In different organs of the node unit in the same or adjacent phyllotaxy, 14C assimilated in the leaf on the main stem was also distributed to the organs (node unit) belonging to the same phyllotaxy in dicotyledons, while in monocotyledons, the effect of phyllotaxy on 14C distribution was not clear. Among roots/apical organs and node unit, 14C assimilated in the upper node unit was distributed to apical organs and 14C assimilated in the lower node unit was distributed to roots. Thus the node unit hypothesis of photosynthate distribution among organs is very important for understanding the high productivity of field crops. and M. Osaki ... [et al.].
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. HD 2329 and DL 1266-5) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. MSFH 17 and MRSF 1754) plants were grown in field under atmospheric (360±10 cm3 m-3, AC) and elevated (650±50 cm3 m-3, EC) CO2 concentrations in open top chambers for entire period of growth and development till maturity. Net photosynthetic rate (P N) of wheat cvs. when compared at the same internal CO2 concentration (Ci), by generating PN/Ci curves, showed lower PN in EC plants than in AC ones. EC-grown wheat cultivars also showed a lesser response to irradiance than AC plants. In sunflower cultivars, PN/Ci curves and irradiance response curves were not significantly different in AC and EC plants. CO2 and irradiance responses of photosynthesis, therefore, further revealed a down-regulation of P N in wheat but not so in sunflower under long-term CO2 enrichment. Wheat cvs. accumulated in leaves mostly sugars, whereas sunflower accumulated mainly starch. This further strengthened the view that accumulation of excess assimilates in the leaves under EC as starch is not inhibitory to PN. and V. Pandurangam ... [et al.].