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Comparison of parameters estimated from A/C i and A/C c curve analysis

  • Original Papers
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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The parameters estimated from traditional A/C i curve analysis are dependent upon some underlying assumptions that substomatal CO2 concentration (C i) equals the chloroplast CO2 concentration (C c) and the C i value at which the A/C i curve switches between Rubisco- and electron transport-limited portions of the curve (C i-t) is set to a constant. However, the assumptions reduced the accuracy of parameter estimation significantly without taking the influence of C i-t value and mesophyll conductance (g m) on parameters into account. Based on the analysis of Larix gmelinii’s A/C i curves, it showed the C i-t value varied significantly, ranging from 24 Pa to 72 Pa and averaging 38 Pa. t-test demonstrated there were significant differences in parameters respectively estimated from A/C i and A/C c curve analysis (p<0.01). Compared with the maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate (Vcmax), the maximum electron transport rate (Jmax) and Jmax/Vcmax estimated from A/C c curve analysis which considers the effects of g m limit and simultaneously fits parameters with the whole A/C c curve, mean Vcmax estimated from A/C i curve analysis (Vcmax-C i) was underestimated by 37.49%; mean Jmax estimated from A/C i curve analysis (Jmax-C i) was overestimated by 17.8% and (Jmax-C i)/(Vcmax-C i) was overestimated by 24.2%. However, there was a significant linear relationship between Vcmax estimated from A/C i curve analysis and Vcmax estimated from A/C c curve analysis, so was it Jmax (p<0.05).

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Abbreviations

A :

photosynthesis rate

A c :

Rubisco-limited rates of carboxylation

A j :

electron transport-limited rates of carboxylation

A/Cc curve analysis:

net assimilation rate of CO2-chloroplast CO2 concentration

A/Ci curve analysis:

net assimilation rate of CO2-intercellular CO2 concentration

c :

scaling constant

C c :

chloroplast CO2 concentration

Cc-t:

chloroplast CO2 concentration transitional point

C i :

substomatal CO2 concentration

Ci-t:

intercellular CO2 concentration transitional point

FvCB model:

Farquhar-von-Caemmerer-Berry model of photosynthesis

g m :

mesophyll conductance

J:

electron transport rate

Jmax :

maximum electron transport rate

Jmax-C c :

Jmax estimated from A/C c curve analysis

Jmax-C i :

Jmax estimated from A/C i curve analysis

Kc :

the Michaelis-Menten constants of Rubisco activity for CO2

Ko :

the Michaelis-Menten constants of Rubisco activity for O2

O :

the O2 partial pressure in intercellular spaces

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

R:

gas constant

R D :

dark respiration

Vc :

the rate of carboxylation of Rubisco

Vcmax :

maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate

Vcmax-C c :

Vcmax estimated from A/C c curve analysis

Vcmax-C i :

Vcmax estimated from A/C i curve analysis

Γ:

the CO2 compensation point in the absence of R D

ΔHa :

enthalpy of activation

ΔHd :

enthalpy of deactivation

ΔS:

entropy

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate anonymous reviewers and the personnel of Hu Zhong Nature Preservation Region for their hard work and help. This research was jointly supported by the R&D Special Fund for Public Welfare Industry (Meteorology)(GYHY(QX) 2007-6-21), National Key Basic Research Specific Foundation (2004CB418507-1), National Natural Science Foundation of China (40625015) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences knowledge innovation project (KZCX2-YW-432-04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    W. Zeng, G. S. Zhou, B. R. Jia, Y. L. Jiang & Y. Wang

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    W. Zeng & Y. Wang

  3. Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    G. S. Zhou

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  1. W. Zeng
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Correspondence to G. S. Zhou.

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Zeng, W., Zhou, G.S., Jia, B.R. et al. Comparison of parameters estimated from A/C i and A/C c curve analysis. Photosynthetica 48, 323–331 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-010-0042-3

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