Measurement and interpretation

of CO2 response curves (A vs Ci)

using the LI-COR 6400 Portable
Photosynthesis System

Dr. Alfredo J. Huerta

Department of Botany
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
Objectives:

1. Very brief overview of photosynthesis

2. Why determine A vs Ci curves?

3. How to determine A vs Ci curves with the LI-COR 6400

4. Interpretation of A vs Ci curves
Objectives:

1. Very brief overview of photosynthesis

2. Why determine A vs Ci curves?

3. How to determine A vs Ci curves with the LI-COR 6400

4. Interpretation of A vs Ci curves
Photosynthesis In mesophyll cells

X
Chloroplast
structure
• PHOTOSYNTESIS…

– PHOTOCHEMISTRY (Light Reactions):

– Thylakoid membranes
• Absorption of light energy and conversion to chemical energy
as NADPH and ATP

– BIOCHEMISTRY (Dark Reactions):

– Stroma
• Utilization of NADPH and ATP during reduction of CO2 to
carbohydrate
Typical textbook view of photochemistry
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
(Light Reactions):
PHOTOCHEMISTRY (Light Reactions):
 PHOTOSYNTESIS
BIOCHEMISTRY (Dark Reactions)

Melvin Calvin: 1911-1997

• NADPH and ATP…
• NADPH and ATP…

Used as electron and energy sources

for reducing CO2 to carbohydrate in
chloroplast stroma as part of the Calvin
Cycle
BIOCHEMISTRY (Dark Reactions):

?
Some of the Calvin Cycle enzymes
must be activated for maximal activity
Several Calvin Cycle enzymes activated by…

High pH, Mg++, Thioredoxin

(These activation mechanisms require light energy)

RUBISCO…

Activated by high pH, Mg++,

Rubisco activase, Carbamylation

(These activation mechanisms require light energy)

So… Dark reactions are

NOT really “light independent”
It would be nice to command the stomata to open wide.
Or, if only we could peel off the epidermis.
We could then measure net CO2 fixation rate of
mesophyll cells (photosynthetic capacity) with NO
diffusion resistance through epidermis to worry about
 Unfortunately…
We can’t command stomata to open

We can’t remove the epidermis

What to do?

CO2 response (A vs Ci) curves to the rescue !!

A = Net CO2 assimilation rate

Ci = CO2 internal
= Concentration of CO2
in the mesophyll

Note…
A is a measured value

Ci is a calculated value