Photosynthetic acclimation of plants to growth irradiance: the relative importance of specific leaf area and nitrogen partitioning in maximizing carbon gain

Changes in specific leaf area (SLA, projected leaf area per unit leaf dry mass) and nitrogen partitioning between proteins within leaves occur during the acclimation of plants to their growth irradiance. In this paper, the relative importance of both of these changes in maximizing carbon gain is qua...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant, cell and environment cell and environment, 2001-08, Vol.24 (8), p.755-767
Main Authors: Evans, J. R., Poorter, H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorptance
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Metabolism
photosynthesis
Photosynthesis, respiration. Anabolism, catabolism
Plant physiology and development
Rubisco
shade acclimation
sun
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Summary:Changes in specific leaf area (SLA, projected leaf area per unit leaf dry mass) and nitrogen partitioning between proteins within leaves occur during the acclimation of plants to their growth irradiance. In this paper, the relative importance of both of these changes in maximizing carbon gain is quantified. Photosynthesis, SLA and nitrogen partitioning within leaves was determined from 10 dicotyledonous C3 species grown in photon irradiances of 200 and 1000 µmol m−2 s−1. Photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area measured under the growth irradiance was, on average, three times higher for high‐light‐grown plants than for those grown under low light, and two times higher when measured near light saturation. However, light‐saturated photosynthetic rate per unit leaf dry mass was unaltered by growth irradiance because low‐light plants had double the SLA. Nitrogen concentrations per unit leaf mass were constant between the two light treatments, but plants grown in low light partitioned a larger fraction of leaf nitrogen into light harvesting. Leaf absorptance was curvilinearly related to chlorophyll content and independent of SLA. Daily photosynthesis per unit leaf dry mass under low‐light conditions was much more responsive to changes in SLA than to nitrogen partitioning. Under high light, sensitivity to nitrogen partitioning increased, but changes in SLA were still more important.
ISSN:0140-7791
1365-3040
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-3040.2001.00724.x