Abstract
Thirteen dicot weed species comprising C3, C3−C4 and C4 photosynthetic types were examined in an attempt to understand relationships between leaf anatomical characteristics and net photosynthetic CO2 uptake. Plants grown on field soil in open air under natural sunlight were used for measurements of net photosynthetic CO2 uptake and leaf anatomical characteristics. The data on net photosynthetic rates and leaf anatomical features of test plants showed consistent grouping into C3, C3−C4 and C4 photosynthetic types. Overall the C3−C4 group of plants invariably exhibited an intermediate nature in all leaf anatomical characteristics as well as photosynthetic rates between those of C3 and C4 groups of plants.
Correlation analysis showed significant relationships between photosynthetic rates and some leaf anatomical characteristics across diverse photosynthetic types but these were insignificant among different species of the same photosynthetic type. The results indicate that differences in internal leaf characteristics between different photosynthetic types are probably important factors contributing to differences in their net photosynthetic rates. A definite relationship between photosynthetic capacity to fix CO2 and some leaf anatomical characteristics among diverse photosynthetic type of plants indicate selection for plant species or genotypes with efficient leaf anatomical characteristics could be possible to improve photosynthetic efficiency and, in turn, plant productivity.
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Prasada Rao, A., Rajendrudu, G. Net photosynthetic rate in relation to leaf anatomical characteristics of C3, C3−C4 and C4 dicotyledons. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 99, 529–537 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053422
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053422