Abstract
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Bintje) were grown in a naturally lit glasshouse. Laboratory measurements on leaves at three insertion levels showed a decline with leaf age in photosynthetic capacity and in stomatal conductance at near saturating irradiance. Conductance declined somewhat more with age than photosynthesis, resulting in a smaller internal CO2 concentration in older relative to younger leaves. Leaves with different insertion number behaved similarly. The changes in photosynthesis rate and in nitrogen content with leaf age were closely correlated. When PAR exceeded circa 100 W m−2 the rate of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance changed proportionally as indicated by a constant internal CO2 concentration. The photosynthesis-irradiance data were fitted to an asymptotic exponential model. The parameters of the model are AMAX, the rate of photosynthesis at infinite irradiance, and EFF, the slope at low light levels. AMAX declined strongly with leaf age, as did EFF, but to a smaller extent. During drought stress photosynthetic capacity declined directly with decreasing water potential (range −0.6 to −1.1 MPa). Initially, stomatal conductance declined faster than photosynthetic capacity.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- LNx:
-
leaf number x, counted in acropetal direction
- DAP:
-
days after planting
- DALA:
-
days after leaf appearance
- Ci :
-
CO2 concentration in the leaf
- Ca :
-
CO2 concentration in ambient air
- LWP:
-
leaf water potential
- OP:
-
osmotic potential
- PAR:
-
photosynthetically active radiation
References
Bodlaender KBA, van deWaart M and Marinus J (1986) Effects of drought on water use, photosynthesis and transpiration of potatoes. 2. Drought, photosynthesis and transpiration. In: Beekman AGB (eds) Potato Research of Tomorrow, pp 44–54. Wageningen: Pudoc
Bunce JA (1984) Effects of humidity on photosynthesis. J Exp Bot 35 (158): 1245–1251
Dwelle RB, Hurley PJ and Pavek JJ (1983) Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of potato clones (Solanum tuberosum L.). Plant Physiol 72: 172–176
Ehleringer J and Björkman (1977) Quantum yields for CO2 uptake in C3 and C4 plants. Dependence on temperature, CO2, and O2 concentration. Plant Physiol 59: 86–90
Farquhar GD and Sharkey TD (1982) Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 33: 317–345
Farquhar GD and Wong SC (1984) An empirical model of stomatal conductance. Aust J Plant Physiol 11: 191–209
Gaastra P (1959) Photosynthesis of crop plants as influenced by light, carbon dioxide, temperature, and stomatal diffusion resistance. Meded Landbouwhogeschool 59–13. Wageningen: Agricultural University, 68 pp
Goudriaan J and vanLaar HH (1978) Calculation of daily totals of the gross CO2 assimilation of leaf canopies. Neth J Agric Sci 26: 373–382
Goudriaan J and vanLaar HH (1978) Relations between leaf resistance, CO2-concentration and CO2-assimilation in maize, beans, lalang grass and sunflower. Photosynthetica 12:241–249
Gregory PJ, Marshall B and Biscoe PV (1981) Nutrient relations of winter wheat. 3. Nitrogen uptake, photosynthesis of flag leaves and translocation of nitrogen to grain. J Agric Sci Camb 96: 539–547
Hall AE and Schulze ED (1980) Stomatal response to environment and a possible interrelation between stomatal effects on transpiration and CO2 assimilation. Plant, Cell and Environment 3: 467–474
Jarvis PG and Morison JIL (1981) The control of transpiration and photosynthesis by the stomata. In: Jarvis PG and Mansfield TA (eds) Stomatal Physiology. Soc for Exp Bot; Seminar Series 8, pp 247–279. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Johnson JD and Ferrell WK (1983) Stomatal response to vapour pressure deficit and the effect of plant water stress. Plant Cell Envir 6: 451–456
Ku SB, Edwards GE and Tanner CB (1977) Effects of light, carbon dioxide and temperature on photosynthesis, oxygen inhibition of photosynthesis, and transpiration in Solanum tuberosum. Plant Physiol 59: 868–872
Louwerse W and vanOorschot JLP (1969) An assembly for routine measurements of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration of intact plants under controlled conditions. Photosynthetica 3: 305–315
Monteith JL (1973) Principles of environmental physics. London: Edward Arnold
Moorby J, Munns R and Walcott J (1975) Effects of water deficit on photosynthesis and tuber metabolism in potatoes. Aust J Plant Physiol 2: 323–333
Rawson HM, Hindmarsh JH, Fischer RA and Stockman YM (1983) Change in leaf photosynthesis with plant ontogeny and relationships with yield per ear in wheat cultivars and 120 progeny. Aust J Plant Physiol 10: 503–514
Schulze ED and Hall AE (1982) Stomatal respones, water loss and CO2 assimilation rates of plants in contrasting environments. In: Lange OL, Nobel PS, Osmond CB and Ziegler H (eds) Physiological Plant Ecology II. Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, New Series, Vol 12B, pp 181–230. Berlin: Springer-Verlag
Schulze ED and Küppers (1979) Short-term and long-term effects of plant water deficits on stomatal response to humidity in Corylus Aveliana L. Planta 146: 319–326
Šesták Z (1981) Leaf ontogeny and photosynthesis. In: Johnson CB (ed.) Physiological Processes limiting Plant Productivity, pp 147–158. London: Butterworth
Sharkey TD (1984) Transpiration-induced changes in the photosynthetic capacity of leaves. Planta 160: 143–150
Vos J (1981) Effects of temperature and nitrogen supply on post-floral growth of wheat; measurements and simulations. Agric Res Rep no 911. Wageningen: Pudoc. 164 pp
Vos J (1986) Research on water relations and stomatal conductance in potatoes. 2. A comparison of three varieties differing in drought tolerance. In: Beekman AGB (ed.) Potato Research of Tomorrow, pp 29–35. Wageningen: Pudoc
Wong SC, Cowan IR and Farquhar GD (1979) Stomatal conductance correlates with photosynthetic capacity. Nature 282: 424–426
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vos, J., Oyarzún, P.J. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of potato leaves—effects of leaf age, irradiance, and leaf water potential. Photosynth Res 11, 253–264 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055065
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055065