Single Leaf Photosynthesis

The Leaf (brief review of stomata and resistances to CO2)

Terminology - Definitions and Units of Measure

Environmental Factors Affecting Photosynthesis

 The Leaf

Leaf Characteristics:

1. A large, flat surface

2. Has upper and lower protective surfaces
3. Contains a large number of stomata
4. Has extensive internal surface and interconnecting air spaces
5. Contains large number of chloroplasts
6. Photosynthetic cells that are in close proximity to vascular
tissue (transport system)
 The Leaf (con’t)

 Cuticle and epidermis are almost transparent to allow light

to penetrate into the leaf, yet they are largely impermeable
to water vapor loss from the leaf. Water loss from leaves is
primarily through open stomatal pores.

 Cuticle is a waxy layer.

 The leaf is adapted to withstand various environmental

conditions, but it’s primary purpose is to absorb light and
facilitate CO2 uptake for photosynthesis.
Clover
(dicot) C3
STOMATA
Maize
(grass) C4

Stomata in rows

Staggered or random
arrangement of stomata
Stomatal number and size of several crop species
Common Adaxial Abaxial Open
name (upper) (lower) stomatal
Scientific name
epidermis epidermis size (µm)
- - no. / mm2 - -
Alfalfa Medicago sativa
Apple 169 138 ---
Pyrus malus
Bean 0 294 ---
Phaseolus vulgaris
Cabbage 40 281 7X3
Brassica oleracea
Castor 141 226 ---
Ricinus communis
Maize 64 176 10 X 4
Zea mays
Oat 52 68 19 X 5
Avena sativa
Potato 25 23 38 X 8
Solanum tuberosum
Sunflower 51 161 ---
Helianthus annus
Tomato 85 156 22 X 8
Lycopersicon esculentum
Wheat 12 130 13 X 6
Triticum astivum
33 14 38 X 7
RESISTANCES TO CO2 MOVEMENT

1) ra (laminar or boundary layer

resistance) is affected by turbulence

2) rs (stomatal resistance)is affected by

stomatal opening

3) rm (mesophyll resistance) is affected

by movement through liquid phase and
fixation by carboxylating enzymes
 RESISTANCES TO CO2 MOVEMENT
INTO THE LEAF

 CO2 moves into the leaf by diffusion along concentration gradients

rCO2 = ra + rs + rm

rCO2 Total resistance to CO2 diffusion

ra Boundary layer resistance, air resistance

rs Stomatal resistance

rm Mesophyll resistance
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Some Definitions:

1) Gross photosynthesis
Total CO2 uptake
(does not consider CO2 from respiration)

2) Net photosynthesis
Net flux of CO2
(Gross Photosynthesis - Respiration)

3) Preferred term: Carbon exchange rate (CER)

Net amount of CO2 accumulated per leaf area per second
(mg m-2 s-1 or µmol m-2 s-1)
 C4

C3: 25-35 mg CO2 m-2 s-1

C4: 40-60 mg CO2 m-2 s-1

 C4 photosynthesis is generally 40-60% higher than C3 photosynthesis

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Light

CO2

Temperature

Water

Nutrients

Leaf Age
Response of Single Leaf Photosynthesis

to

Light Intensity
 C3 Light Response Curve

Single leaf
response

(PS is max)

CER – Carbon Exchange Rate (PS-RS)

At zero light, CO2 is evolved (respiration) – CER is negative.
Light compensation point is the light level at which PS=RS (no net CO2
uptake). CER (carbon exchange rate) = 0 at light compensation point
C3 vs. C4 - Responses of Photosynthesis to Light

(C4 plant)

(C3 plant)
Sun plants vs. Shade plants
Response of Single Leaf Photosynthesis

to

Carbon Dioxide Concentrations

Response of Single Leaf Photosynthesis

To

Temperature
 Warm Season C4

Cool Season C3
Response of Single Leaf Photosynthesis

to

Leaf Nitrogen Content

Response of Single Leaf Photosynthesis

to

Leaf Age
Nutrient content /protein levels – Usually decline with leaf age.
Carboxylation enzymes and chlorophyll are depleted with leaf age
and the declines are correlated with reductions in photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis usually declines with leaf age.
Rubisco (RUBP carboxylase) is the most
abundant protein in leaves and is the most
abundant protein on earth.

It accounts for 50% of the soluble leaf protein

in C3 plants (20-30% of total leaf nitrogen) and
30% of soluble leaf protein in C4 plants
(5-9% of leaf total nitrogen).
Response of Single Leaf Photosynthesis

to

Leaf Carbohydrate Content (Starch)

(end-product inhibition)
 FACTORS AFFECTING PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Water:

Affects photosynthesis through its effect on stomatal opening and

closing (rs).

Severe water stress may increase rm .

(We will cover water stress effects on photosynthesis in much more

detail in a following section focused on water, per se.)

WATER USE EFFICIENCY

Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Amount of carbon fixed per unit of water
transpired

WUE = Photosynthesis
Transpiration

WUE is affected by the gradients of CO2 and water vapor from the stomatal
cavity to the air above the leaf surface.
Review of Cost of Producing

Various Plant Constituents

 General Structures of Starch, Lipid and Protein
Amylopectin (starch) Lipid

Protein Chain

Amino Acids
It takes 1.17 g of glucose to produce 1 g of carbohydrate, 1.61 g of glucose to
produce 1 g of protein, and 2.8 g of glucose to produce 1 g of lipid.

Thus, it takes much more glucose (the substrate of respiration) to produce

the plant constituents that are in a soybean seed (higher in protein and oil/lipid),
than is required to produce a corn or wheat seed which are much higher in
carbohydrates (ie. starch)