Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of irradiance and temperature on photosynthesis in C3, C4 and C3/C4 Panicum species

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
Photosynthesis Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Species in the Laxa and Grandia groups of the genus Panicum are adapted to low, wet areas of tropical and subtropical America. Panicum milioides is a species with C3 photosynthesis and low apparent photorespiration and has been classified as a C3/C4 intermediate. Other species in the Laxa group are C3 with normal photorespiration. Panicum prionitis is a C4 species in the Grandia group. Since P. milioides has some leaf characteristics intermediate to C3 and C4 species, its photosynthetic response to irradiance and temperature was compared to the closely related C3 species, P. laxum and P. boliviense and to P. prionitis. The response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature was similar to that of P. laxum and P. boliviense, with saturation at a photosynthetic photo flux density of about 1 mmol m-2 s-1 at 30°C and temperature optimum near 30°C. In contrast, P. prionitis showed no light saturation up to 2 mmol m-2 s-1 and an optimum temperature near 40°C. P. milioides exhibited low CO2 loss into CO2-free air in the light and this loss was nearly insensitive to temperature. Loss of CO2 in the light in the C3 species, P. laxum and P. boliviense, was several-fold higher than in P. milioides and increased 2- to 5-fold with increases in temperature from 10 to 40°C. The level of dark respiration and its response to temperature were similar in all four Panicum species examined. It is concluded that the low apparent photorespiration in P. milioides does not influence its response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature in comparison to closely related C3 Panicum species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AP:

apparent photosynthesis

I:

CO2 compensation point

gl:

leaf conductance; gm, mesophyll conductance

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

PR:

apparent photorespiration rate

RuBPC:

sibulose bisphosphate carboxylase

References

  1. Bjöorkman O and Holmgren P (1963) Adaptability of the photosynthetic apparatus to light intensity in ecotypes from exposed and shaded habitats. Physiol Plant 16:889–914

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brown RH (1980) Photosynthesis of grass species differeing in carbon dioxide fixation pathways. IV. Analysis of reduced oxygen response in Panicum milioides and Panicum schenckii. Plant Physiol 65:346–349

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brown RH and Brown WV (1975) Photosynthetic characteristics of Panicum milioides, a species with reduced photorespiration. Crop Sci 15:681–685

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brown RH and Morgan JA (1980) Photosynthesis of grass species differing in carbon dioxide fixation pathways. VI. Differential effects of temperature and light intensity on photorespiration in C3, C4, and intermediate species. Plant Physiol 66:541–544

    Google Scholar 

  5. Brown RH and Wilson JR (1983) Nitrogen response of Panicum species differing in CO2 fixation pathways II CO2 exchange characteristics. Crop Sci 23:1154–1159

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cooper JP and Tainton NM (1968) Light and temperature requirements for the growth of tropical and temperate grasses. Herb Abstr 38:167–176

    Google Scholar 

  7. Edwards GE, Ku MSB and Hatch MD (1982) Photosynthesis in Panicum milioides, a species with reduced photorespiration. Plant Cell Physiol 23:1185–1195

    Google Scholar 

  8. El-Sharkawy GE, Loomis Risand Williams WA (1968) Photosynthetic and respiration exchanges of carbon dioxide by leaves of the grain amaranth. J Appl Ecol 5:243–251

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hatch MD (1976) The C4 pathway of photosynthesis: Mechanism and function. In: Burris RH and Black CC (eds) CO2 Metabolism and plant productivity, pp 59–81 Baltimore: University Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hitchcock AS and Chase A (1910) The North American species of Panicum. Contr US National Herbarium, US Govern Printing Office 15:1–396

    Google Scholar 

  11. Holaday AS and Chollet R (1983) Photosynthetic/photorespiratory carbon metabolism in the C3-C4 intermediate species, Moricandia arvensis and Panicum milioides. Plant Physiol 73:740–745

    Google Scholar 

  12. Holbrook GP, Jordan DB and Chollet R (1985) Reduced apparent photorespiration by the C3-C4 intermediate species, Moricandia arvensis and Panicum milioides. Plant Physiol 77:578–583

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jolliffe PA and Tregunna EB (1973) Environmental regulation of the oxygen effect on apparent photosynthesis in wheat. Can J Bot 51:841–853

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kestler DP, Mayne BC Ray, TBGoldstein, LDBrown and CCBlack (1975) Biochemical components of the photosynetic CO2 compensation point of higher plants. Biochem Res Commun 66:1439–1455

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ku SB, Edwards GE and Kanai R (1976) Distribution of enzymes related to C3 and C4 pathway of photosynthesis between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of Panicum hians and Panicum milioides. Plant Cell Physiol 17:615–620

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ludlow MM and Wilson GL (1971) Photosynthesis of tropical pasture plants. I. Illuminance, carbon dioxide concentration, leaf temperature, and leaf-air vapor pressure difference. Aust J Biol Sci 24:449–470

    Google Scholar 

  17. Morgan JA (1978) A search for grass species intermediate between C3 and C4 photosynthetic types. M.S. Thesis, University of Georgia

  18. Rathman CKM and Chollet R (1979) Photosynthetic carbon metabolism in Panicum milioides, a C3-C4 intermediate species: Evidence for a limited C4 dicarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 548: 500–519

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rosengurtt B, Arrillaga de Maffei B and Izaguirre de Artucio P (1970) Gramineas Uruguayas. Montevideo: Universidad de la Republica

    Google Scholar 

  20. Treharne KJ and Nelson CJ (1975) Effect of growth temperature on photosynthetic and photorespiratory activity in tall fescue. In: Marcelle R (ed) Enviromental and biological control of photosynthesis, pp 61–69. The Hague: Dr W Junk

    Google Scholar 

  21. Uchijima Z (1976) Maize and rice. In: Monteith JL (ed) Vegetation and the atmosphere, pp 33–64, New York: Academic Press

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wilson JR and Brown RH (1983) Nitrogen response of Panicum species differing in CO2 fixation pathways I Growth analysis and carbohydrate accumulation. Crop Sci 23:1148–1153

    Google Scholar 

  23. Winter K, Holtum JAM Edwards GE and O'Leary MH (1982) Effect of low relative humidity on δ13C value in two grasses and in Panicum milioides, a C3-C4 intermediate species. J Exp Bot 33:88–91

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, GA, USA

    J. C. Henning & R. H. Brown

Authors
  1. J. C. Henning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. H. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Henning, J.C., Brown, R.H. Effects of irradiance and temperature on photosynthesis in C3, C4 and C3/C4 Panicum species. Photosynth Res 10, 101–112 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024189

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024189

Key words

Search

Navigation