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Quantum yields for uptake of carbon dioxide in C3 vascular plants of contrasting habitats and taxonomic groupings

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Abstract

The maximum quantum yields (ϕa,c) for CO2 uptake in low-oxygen atmospheres were determined for 11 species of C3 vascular plants of diverse taxa, habitat and life form using an Ulbricht-sphere leaf chamber. Comparisons were also made between tissues of varied age within species. The species examined were Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv., Davallia bullata Wall. ex Hook., Cycas revoluta Thunb., Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco, Picea abies (L.) Karst., Nerium oleander L., Ruellia humilis Nutt., Pilea microphylla (L.) Karst., Beaucarnea stricta Lem., Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P. Beauv. and Poa annua L. Quantum yields were calculated from the initial slopes of the response of CO2 uptake to the quantity of photons absorbed in conditions of diffuse lighting. Regression analysis of variance of the initial slopes of the response of CO2 uptake to photon absorption failed to show any statistically significant differences between age classes within species or between the mature photosynthetic organs of different species. The constancy of ϕa,c was apparent despite marked variation in the light-saturated rates of CO2 uptake within and between species. The mean ϕa,c was 0.093±0.003 for 11 species. By contrast, surface absorptance varied markedly between species from 0.90 to 0.60, producing proportional variation in the quantum yield calculated on an incidentlight basis. The ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence emission at 695 nm for the same tissues also failed to show any statistically significant variation between species, with a mean of 0.838±0.008. Mean values of ϕa,c reported here for C3 species, in the absence of photorespiration, are higher than reported in previous surveys of vascular plants, but consistent with recent estimates of the quantum yields of O2 evolution.

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Abbreviations

A:

rate of CO2 uptake per unit projected area (μmol · m−2 · s−1)

Fm :

the maximum fluorescence emission at 695 nm in saturating excitation light when closure of PSII reaction centres is maximal (relative units)

Fo :

the ground fluorescence at 695 nm when all PSII reaction centres are assumed open (relative units)

Fv :

the difference between Fm and Fo

JQ :

rate of CO2 uptake by the sample (nmol · s−1)

JQ :

rate of photon absorption by the sample (nmol · s−1)

Q:

absorbed photon flux per unit of projected area (nmol · m−2 · s−1)

α1 :

the light absorptance of photosynthetic organs (dimensionless)

s1 and s'1 :

the total and projected surface areas of the photosynthetic organs examined (m2)

ϕa,c and ϕi,c :

the quantum yields for CO2 uptake on an absorbed- and incident-light basis, respectively (dimensionless)

ϕa,o :

the quantum yield for O2 evolution on an absorbed-light basis (dimensionless)

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Author notes

  1. S. P. Long (Visiting Scientist)

    Present address: Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 318, 11973, Upton, Long Island, NY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Essex, CO4 3SQ, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, UK

    S. P. Long (Visiting Scientist)

  2. Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 11973, Upton, NY, USA

    S. P. Long (Visiting Scientist)

  3. Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie der Universität Wien, Althanstrasse 14, A-1091, Vienna, Austria

    W. F. Postl & H. R. Bolhár-Nordenkampf

Authors
  1. S. P. Long
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  2. W. F. Postl
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  3. H. R. Bolhár-Nordenkampf
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Additional information

This work was supported by grant PI7179-BIO, FWF, Austria to H.B-N. and by a British Council travel award to S.P.L. This work was completed under the auspices of U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-76CH00016. We also thank Dr. K.J. Parkinson of PP Systems, Hitchin, UK for the loan of a prototype of a commercial integrating-sphere leaf chamber developed from our design.

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Long, S.P., Postl, W.F. & Bolhár-Nordenkampf, H.R. Quantum yields for uptake of carbon dioxide in C3 vascular plants of contrasting habitats and taxonomic groupings. Planta 189, 226–234 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195081

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