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Simulation of leaf photosynthesis of C3 plants under fluctuating light and different temperatures

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Abstract

An induction-dependent empirical model was developed to simulate the C3 leaf photosynthesis under fluctuating light and different temperatures. The model also takes into account the stomatal conductance when the light intensity just exceeds the compensation point after a prolonged period of darkness (initial stomatal conductance, \( g_{{{\text{S}}_{\text{ini}} }} \)). The model was parameterized for both Chrysanthemum morifolium and Spinacia oleracea by artificially changing the induction states of the leaves in the climate chamber. The model was tested under natural conditions that were including frequent light flecks due to partial cloud cover and varying temperatures. The temporal course of observed photosynthesis rate and the carbon gain was compared to the simulation. The ability of the current model to predict the carbon assimilation rate was assessed using different statistical indexes. The model predictions were accurate but the model slightly underestimated the actual overall carbon gain. The accuracy of the simulation was largely dependent on the parameters that were calculated for the particular plant species, of which the simulation is intended for. In particular, the rate of change of induction and the initial stomatal conductance were found to be highly important and these were species-specific parameters for the predictions. The model is suitable for estimating instantaneous leaf CO2 assimilation for different herbaceous plant species under dynamic environmental conditions. It can be simply calibrated for other crops, by estimating the individual parameters.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted under the “Intelligent Handling of Energy” project funded by The Region of Southern Denmark and EU (Reference: ERDFD-08-0021) and Dynalight (Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Journal no: 3412 08 023 27). We also wish to acknowledge the financial support from Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agroecology and Environment, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Isik Ozturk

  2. Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark

    Niels Holst

  3. Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Kirstinebjergvej 10, 5792, Aarslev, Denmark

    Carl-Otto Ottosen

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  1. Isik Ozturk
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Correspondence to Isik Ozturk.

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Communicated by Z. Gombos.

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Ozturk, I., Holst, N. & Ottosen, CO. Simulation of leaf photosynthesis of C3 plants under fluctuating light and different temperatures. Acta Physiol Plant 34, 2319–2329 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1033-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1033-8

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