Abstract
The hypothesis we propose is that during photosynthesis the balance between potentially detrimental and beneficial photochemically induced events can be tipped beneficially toward increased photosynthesis and toward increased crop yield. To test this hypothesis a procedure has been devised with the rice plant, Oryza sativa, that has resulted in increasing both canopy photosynthesis and rice grain yield. Two elite rice varieties selected independently in the contrasting environments of either South China or Texas, each with distinct photosynthetic traits, were crossed to produce a hybrid with an increased canopy photosynthesis and grain yield that is regularly 20 to 22% higher than the mid-yields of the parents. The photosynthetic and mechanisms which may contribute to these beneficial results in the hybrid rice are: a reduction of the midday depression of photosynthesis; a rapid development of the canopy for photosynthetic light interception and an increased canopy photosynthesis; increased amounts of carotenoids for the xanthophyll cycle; an increased protection against free radicals induced by paraquat treatment; a 6 to 12 day shorter plant reproductive life cycle; and a 8 to 10 day increase in the longevity of the flag leaf over the parents. While the hybrid rice has successfully integrated these and likely other unknown characteristics to increase both crop photosynthesis and grain yield, we propose that understanding the underlying beneficial photosynthetic mechanisms supporting these crop plant traits is worthy of thorough investigation and application in crop production.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angelov MN, Sun J-D, Byrd GT, Brown H and Black CC (1993) Novel characteristics of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, a reputed C3-C4 intermediate photosynthesis species. Photosynth Res 38: 61–72
Aono M, Kubo A, Saji H, Natori T, Tanaka K and Kondo N (1991) Resistance to oxygen toxicity of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum that expresses the gene for glutathione reductase from Escherichia coli. Plant Cell Physiol 32: 691–697
Arnon DI (1949) Copper enzymes in chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidases in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol 24: 1–14
Barber J and Andersson B (1992) Too much of a good thing: Light can be bad for photosynthesis. Trends Biochem Sci 17: 61–66
Black CC (1966) Chloroplast reactions with dipyridyl salts. Biochim Biophys Acta 120: 332–340
Black CC (1980) Sunbeams, pathways, and plants. Antioch Review 38: 436–448
Bowler C, VanMontagu M and Inzé D (1992) Superoxide dismutase and stress tolerance. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 43: 83–116
Demmig-Adams B and Adams WWIII (1992) Photoprotection and other responses of plants to high light stress. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 43: 599–626
Demmig B, Winter K, Kruger A and Czygan F-C (1987) Photoinhibition and zeaxanthin formation in intact leaves. A possible role of the xanthophyll cycle in the dissipation of excess light energy. Plant Physiol 84: 218–224
Donald CM (1962) In search of yield. J Aust Inst Agric Sci 28: 171–178
Evans LT (1975) The physiological basis of crop yield. In: Evans LT (ed) Crop Physiology, pp 327–355. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Foyer C, Lelandais M, Galap C and Kunert K (1991) Effects of elevated cytosolic glutathione reductase activity on the cellular pool and photosynthesis in leaves under normal and stress conditions. Plant Physiol 97: 862–872
Gilmore AM and Yamamoto HY (1991) Resolution of lutein and zeaxanthin using a non-endcapped, light carbon-loaded C18 high-performance liquid chromatography column. J Chromatog 543: 137–145
Gilmore AM and Yamamoto HY (1992) Dark induction of zeaxanthin-dependent non-photochemical quenching measured by ATP. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 1899–1903
Hallauer ARJr and Miranda Fo JB (1981) Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA
Krause GH (1988) Photoinhibition of photosynthesis. An evaluation of damaging and protective processes. Plant Physiol 74: 566–574
Melis A (1991) Dynamics of photosynthetic membrane composition and function. Biochim Biophys Acta 1105: 87–106
Moss DN (1976) Studies on increasing photosynthesis in crop plants. In: Burris RH and Black CC (eds) CO2 Metabolism and Plant Productivity, pp 31–41. University Park Press, Baltimore
Murata Y and Matsushima S (1976) Rice. In: Evans LT (ed) Crop Physiology, pp 73–99, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Öquist G, Anderson JM, McCaffery S and Chow WS (1992) Mechanistic differences in photoinhibition of sun and shade plants. Planta 188: 422–431
Rabinowitch EI (1951) Midday depression and adaptation phenomena. In: Photosynthesis, Vol II, Part 1, pp 873–876. Interscience Publishers Inc. New York
Raven JA (1989) Fight or flight: the economics of repair and avoidance of photoinhibition of photosynthesis. Funct Ecol 3: 5–19
Ruban AV, Young AJ and Horton P (1993) Induction of nonphotochemical energy dissipation and absorbance changes in leaves. Plant Physiol 102: 741–750
Sen Gupta A, Heinen JL, Holaday AS, Burke JJ and Allen RD (1993) Increased resistance to oxidative stress in transgenic plants that over-express chloroplastic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90: 1629–1633
Siefermann-Harms D (1984) Evidence for a heterogenous organization of violaxanthin in thylakoid membranes. Photochem Photobiol 40: 507–512
Thayer SS and Björkman (1990) Leaf xanthophyll content and composition in sun and shade determined by HPLC. Photosynth Res 23: 331–343
Tu ZP, Cai WJ, Lin XZ, Huang QM, Lu B and Ye LY (1990) Photoinhibition and rice productivity. Jiangsu J of Agr Sci 6: 1–15
Tu ZP, Yu ZY, Huang QM, Lin XZ, Cai WJ and Lu B (1989) Heterosis, photosynthetic efficiency and rice breeding for both high yield and good quality. Proc 6th Intl Cong of SABRAO, pp 725–726. TsuKuba, Japan
Wise RR, Frederick JR, Alm DM, Kramer DM, Hesketh JD, Crofts AR and Ort DR (1990) Investigations of limitations to photosynthesis induced by leaf water deficit in field-grown sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Plant Cell Environ 13: 923–931
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to the memory of Professor D.I. Arnon who enriched and challenged the study of photosynthesis through a series of discoveries over 4 decades and via his force of personality.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Black, C.C., Tu, Z.P., Counce, P.A. et al. An integration of photosynthetic traits and mechanisms that can increase crop photosynthesis and grain production. Photosynth Res 46, 169–175 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00020427
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00020427