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The relationship between CO2 assimilation and electron transport in leaves

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Abstract

The inter-relationships between the quantum efficiencies of photosystems I (φI) and II (φII) and the quantum yield of CO2 fixation % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabeA8aMnaaBa% aaleaacaWGdbGaam4tamaaBaaameaacaaIYaaaleqaaaqabaaaaa!3BD3!\[\phi _{CO_2 } \] were investigated in pea (Pisum sativum (L)) leaves with differing rates of photosynthesis using both photorespiratory and non-photorespiratory conditions, and in a leaf of Hedera helix (L) under photorespiratory conditions. The results indicate that under photorespiratory conditions the relationship between % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabeA8aMnaaBa% aaleaacaWGdbGaam4tamaaBaaameaacaaIYaaaleqaaaqabaaaaa!3BD3!\[\phi _{CO_2 } \] and both φI and φII is non-linear and variable. The relationship between φI and φII under these circumstances remains predominantly linear. Under non-photorespiratory conditions, leaves with a low rate of photosynthesis due to sink limitation exhibit a non-linear relationship between φI and φII, though the relationship between φI and φII remains linear suggesting a close relationship between linear electron flow and CO2 fixation. Leaves irradiated at the CO2 compensation point also exhibit a non-linear relationship between φI and φII. These results suggest that for leaves in air linear electron flow is the predominant source of energy for metabolism. The role of cyclic electron transport is considered when the requirement for the products of linear electron transport is depressed.

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Abbreviations

qp :

the coefficient for photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence

φexe :

the quantum efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PS II traps

φII :

the quantum efficiency for electron transport by PS II

φI :

the quantum efficiency (for electron transport) by PS I

% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabeA8aMnaaBa% aaleaacaWGdbGaam4tamaaBaaameaacaaIYaaaleqaaaqabaaaaa!3BD3!\[\phi _{CO_2 } \]:

the quantum yield for CO2 fixation (obtained as the gross rate of CO2 fixation divided by the irradiance)

% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabgs5aenaaBa% aaleaacqaH8oqBdaWgaaadbaGaamisamaaCaaabeqaaiabgUcaRaaa% aeqaaaWcbeaaaaa!3CB0!\[\Delta _{\mu _{H^ + } } \]:

trans-thylakoid proton potential difference

PAQF:

photosynthetically active quantum flux

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Author notes

  1. Jeremy Harbinson

    Present address: ATO Agrotechnology, Postbus 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Innes Institute, Colney Lane, NR4 7UH, Norwich, UK

    Jeremy Harbinson

  2. Dept. of Biology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, CO4 3SQ, Colchester, Essex, UK

    Bernard Genty & Neil R. Baker

Authors
  1. Jeremy Harbinson
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  2. Bernard Genty
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  3. Neil R. Baker
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Harbinson, J., Genty, B. & Baker, N.R. The relationship between CO2 assimilation and electron transport in leaves. Photosynth Res 25, 213–224 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033162

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