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Photosynthetic limitation of similar-height Cryptomeria japonica trees growing at different rates

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

We compared light-saturated photosynthetic rates and their stomatal limitations among Cryptomeria japonica trees with a similar height but different current growth rates. Although slow-growing trees had a lower stomatal conductance and a higher carbon isotope ratio in shoots, the stomatal limitations in photosynthesis were not different. Large mesophyll CO2 diffusion resistance contributed to the low photosynthetic rate of the slow-growing trees.

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Abbreviations

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

FG:

fast-growing

SG:

slow-growing

C a :

ambient CO2 concentration

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

C c :

CO2 concentration in chloroplast stroma

g s :

stomatal conductance

r m :

mesophyll CO2 diffusion resistance

CE:

carboxylation efficiency on a nitrogen content basis

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

δ13C:

stable carbon isotope ratio

Ψw :

water potential

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Correspondence to T. Tange.

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Acknowledgements: We are grateful to the staff of the Experimental Station at Tanashi, University of Tokyo, for field assistance. This work was financially supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research to TT (#21380092) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Tange, T., Someya, M., Norisada, M. et al. Photosynthetic limitation of similar-height Cryptomeria japonica trees growing at different rates. Photosynthetica 51, 158–160 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0006-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0006-5

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