Fundamentals

of Crop Science
Crop Science I
Lecture 04.3
Factors affecting
Photosynthesis
1. Light
2. CO2 concentration
3. CO2 diffusion
4. temperature
5. Leaf age
 1. Light

Light ( 400-700nm used in Ps called

photosynthetically active radiation, PAR)
 Light
Ltd by carboxylation
CO2 limited
capacity of rubisco
Light limited
CO2 assimilation

Light compensation point = uptake of CO2(Ps) = evolution of CO2 (Rn)

slope= max quantum yield (no. of absorbed photons to fix one
molecule of CO2)
Which has the highest
photosynthetic
efficiency?
Leaf B has the highest efficiency because the
slope of the response curve at low light levels
is greater than for the other two leaves.

Note that when describing the photosynthetic

efficiency, we are only concerned with the
slope of the line, not the maximal rate of
photosynthesis.

Thus, although leaf A has a lower efficiency, it

can sustain higher maximum rates of
photosynthesis than leaf B
 Light interception by leaves

Leaves absorb the most light when the leaf

lamina is perpendicular to the incident light

Solar tracking – leaves continuously adjust

the orientation of their lamina such that they
are perpendicular to the sun’s rays
 Plasticity of plant leaves

Plants, leaves and cells adapt to their light

environment
Some plants are plastic, able to adapt to a range of light
regimes
Shade plants– have more total chrolophyll per
reaction center, have higher ratio of chla to chlb,
thinner leaves
Sun plants – have higher concentrations of soluble
proteins, rubisco, and xanthophylls
Plants are designed to capture light:
Whole plant ultrastructure
Plants are designed to
capture light:
Whole plant
ultrastructure
Plants are designed to capture light:
Whole plant ultrastructure
Plants are designed
to capture light:
Leaf positioning
 Factors affecting
Photosynthesis
2. CO2 concentration
current = 0.0360% or 360ppm
2020 = 600ppm.
benefit C3 plants, increase CO2
assimilation, increase productivity
 Greenhouse effect
roof transmits visible light which is absorbed by the
plants, part is reemitted as long wavelength ,
however long wavelength are
poorly transmitted, it cant
leave the glasshouse causing the heating up of the
greenhouse
CO2 and CH4 play the same role as the glass roof,
increase heatload on the atmosphere
Greenhouse
effect
 3. CO2 Diffusion

CO2 must diffuse from the atmosphere into

the leaf and into the carboxylation site of
rubisco. Diffusion rate depends on
concentration gradient
 4. Temperature

affects all biochemical reactions of

photosynthesis
response of C4 and C3 due to the
stimulation of photorespiration
with increasing temperature
Temperature <30C Quantum yield of C3 is
higher than C4, temperature> 30C C4 higher
than C3
5. LEAF AGE

maximum photosynthesis at full expansion

 photosynthetic rates
Crop yield depends strongly on the

Crop Yield and

photosynthetic rates in a dynamic
environment dependent on LAI and the
intensity of light
Light intercepted by the canopy is a function of

LAI = leaf area of a crop / area of ground occupied by the crop

 Crop Yield

LAI increases with an increase in light interception until a

critical level

Dry matter production or crop growth rate may remain

constant(soybean) or decrease depending on crops (rice due
to non photosynthesing leaves to make up for respiration)
 How to increase yield?

Harvest index = economic yield

Biological + economic yield

Increase harvest index!

How?
 Harvest Index
CROP HARVEST INDEX
Wheat 0.40-0.55
Corn 0.40-0.55
Rice 0.45-0.55
Dry beans 0.45-0.55
Lentils 0.45-0.55
Soybean 0.25-0.35
Sorghum 0.40-0.55
 How to increase yield?
1. manipulation of the canopy structure
increasing photosynthesis have a direct effect
on yield if economic yield is in the vegetative growth
2. enhance/maintain vegetative growth till maturity
(selection for late senescence)
3. Carbon dioxide enrichment (tomatoes, lettuce,
cucumbers and roses) decrease respiration rates
4. Transfer genes from C4 to C3?
 Sunlight can impose substantial heat load on the leaf, heat
can be dissipated by long-wave radiation, sensible and
Sunlight absorbed
evaporative loss
by leaf Long-wavelength radiation
Sensible heat loss – air
circulation around the leaf Conduction and
removes heat from the leaf convection to cool air
surfaces if the (SHL)

temperature of the leaf is

warmer than that of air
Evaporative cooling from
Evaporative heat loss – water loss
water evaporation from
the leaf
thank you
AGRI 31 Lecture 04.3