Abstract
The green leaves of plants are photosynthetically active organs which are able to store absorbed solar energy in reduced organic compounds. These assimilates represent the pool for both energy and compounds which have to meet the plant’s requirements for growth and development. Although the dry matter production of a plant does not correlate well with net leaf photosynthesis, high-yielding crops must have high photosynthetic rates combined with energetically efficient dark respiration and assimilate partitioning which favours the harvested plant organ. Agricultural techniques therefore aim to maintain high overall photosynthetic capacity, i.e. high assimilatory rates and quantum yields, under a variety of environmental conditions. Enhancing the flexibility of photosynthesis is also the guiding principle for adaptations and modifications in leaf anatomy and morphology, generally supported by suitable leaf orientation, stand geometry and density (Chapter 6).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anderson, J.M. (1986) Photoregulation of the composition, function and structure of thylakoid membranes. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 37, 93–136.
Downton, W.J.S., J.A. Berry and E.B. Tregunna (1970) C4 photosynthesis: non-cyclic electron flow and grana development in bundle sheath chloroplasts. J. Plant Physiol. 63, 194–198.
Eastman, P.A.K., N.G. Dengler and C.A. Peterson (1988) Suberized bundle sheaths in grasses (Poaceae) on different photosynthetic types. I. Anatomy, ultrastructure and histochemistry. II. Apoplastic permeability. Protoplasma 142, 92–126.
Ellis, R.P. (1977) Distribution of the Kranz syndrome in the southern African Ergrostoideae and Panicoideae according to bundle sheath cytology. Agroplantae 9, 73–110.
Hatch, M.D. (1988) C4 photosynthesis: a unique blend of modified biochemistry, anatomy and ultrastructure. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 895, 81–106.
Hattersley, P.W. (1987) Variations in the photosynthetic pathway. In: Grass Systematics and Evolution. (Soderstrom, T.R., Hilu, K.W., Campbell, C.S. and Barkworth, H.E., eds.) Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington DC. pp. 49–64.
Long, S.P., P.K. Farage, H.R. Bolhàr-Nordenkampf and U. Rohrhofer (1989) Separating the contribution of the upper and lower mesophyll to photosynthesis in Zea mays leaves. Planta 177, 207–216.
Post’, W. and H.R. Bolhàr-Nordenkampf (1990) The light response of CO2 fixation separated for the upper and lower side of a maize leaf. In: Current Research in Photosynthesis. Vol.IV. (M. Baltscheffsky, ed.) Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht. pp. 31–34.
Pearcy, R.W. (1990) Sunflecks and photosynthesis in plant canopies. Ann. Rev. Plant. Physiol. Plant. Mol. Biol. 41, 421–453.
Pendergast, H.D.V. and P.W. Hattersley (1987) Australian C4 grasses (Poaceae): Leaf blade anatomical features in relation to C4 acid decarboxylation types. Australian J. Bot. 35, 355–382.
Terashima, I., S. Sakaguchi and N. Hara (1986) Intra-leaf and intracellular gradients in chloroplast ultrastructure of dorsiventral leaves illuminated from the adaxial or abaxial side during their development. Plant Cell Physiol. 27, 1023–1031.
Turrell, F.M. (1936) The area of the internal exposed surface of dicotyledon leaves. American J. Bot. 23, 255–264.
Further Reading
Cutter, E.G. (1973) Plant Anatomy. I. Cells and Tissues; II. Organs. Edward Arnold, London.
Evans, J.R., S. von Caemerer and W.W. Adams III (1988) Ecology of photosynthesis in sun and shade. Australian J. Plant. Physiol. 15, 1–2.
Edwards, G. and D.A. Walker (1983) С3, C4: Mechanisms,Cellular and Environmental Regulation of Photosynthesis. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.
Esau, K. (1977) Anatomy of Seed Plants, 2nd edn. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Fahn, A. (1982) Plant Anatomy, 3rd edn. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Johansen, D.A. (1940) Plant Microtechnique. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Larcher, W. (1975) Physiological Plant Ecology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Napp-Zinn, K. (1973/74) Anatomie des Blattes. Blattanatomie der Angiospermen. In: Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. Vol. VIII 2A/1+2 (Linsbauer, ed.) Gebr. Bornträger, Berlin.
O’Brien, T.P. and M.E. McCully (1981) The Study of Plant Structure, Principles and Selected Methods. Termarcarphi (Pty) Ltd., Melbourne.
Purvis, M.J., D.C. Collier and D. Walls (1966) Laboratory Techniques in Botany. Butterworth, London.
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bolhàr-Nordenkampf, H.R., Draxler, G. (1993). Functional leaf anatomy. In: Hall, D.O., Scurlock, J.M.O., Bolhàr-Nordenkampf, H.R., Leegood, R.C., Long, S.P. (eds) Photosynthesis and Production in a Changing Environment. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1566-7_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1566-7_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-42910-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1566-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive