Summary
Yucca glauca in the Colorado shortgrass prairie undergoes a pronounced midday depression in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance under summer field conditions. This phenomenon can be duplicated in the laboratory using potted plants by simulating a typical summer daily pattern of leaf temperature and leaf-to-air water vapor concentration difference (Δw). The decrease in photosynthetic rate appears to be due primarily to high leaf temperatures, while the decrease in stomatal conductance can be attributed mainly to high Δw values. Stomatal conductance also decreases when leaf temperatures exceed a critical threshold value, even when Δw is artificially maintained at a constant level. The threshold temperature is commonly attained for leaves in situ, but only after substantial stomatal closure has already occurred as a result of high Δw values.
The photosynthetic temperature optimum and threshold temperature which promotes stomatal closure increases substantially as the growing season progresses. As a result, the midday depression in photosynthesis occurs at higher temperatures in mid-summer than in late spring. Preliminary evidence suggests that the photosynthetic temperature optimum closely follows the naturally-occurring morning leaf temperatures, while the threshold temperature for stomatal closure matches afternoon leaf temperatures.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1977) Stomatal function in relation to leaf metabolism and environment. Symp Soc Exp Biol 31:471–505
Farquhar GD, Wong SC (1984) An empirical model of stomatal conductance. Aust J Plant Physiol 11:191–210
Farquhar GD, Schulze E_D, Küppers M (1980) Responses to humidity by stomata of Nicotiana glauca L. and Corylus avellona L. are consistent with the optimization of carbon dioxide uptake with respect to water loss. Aust J Plant Physiol 7:315–327
Field C, Berry JA, Mooney HA (1982) A portable system for measuring carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange of leaves. Plant Cell Environ 5:179–186
Lange OL, Tenhunen JD, Braun M (1982) Midday stomatal closure in mediterranean type sclerophylls under simulated habitat conditions in an environmental chamber. I. Comparison of the behavior of various European Mediterranean species. Flora 172:563–579
Monson RK (1984) A field study of photosynthetic temperature acclimation in Carex eleocharis Bailey. Plant Cell Environ 7:301–308
Monson RK, Littlejohn RO, Williams GJ (1983) Photosynthetic adaptation to temperature in four species from the Colorado shortgrass steppe: a physiological model for coexistence. Oecologia (Berlin) 58:43–51
Nobel PS (1984) Biophysical Plant Physiology and Ecology. W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco
Rogers C, Sharpe PJH, Powell RD, Spence RD (1981) High temperature disruption of guard cells of Vicia faba. Effect on stomatal aperture. Plant Physiol 67:193–196
Schulze E-D, Lange OL, Evenari M, Kappen L, Buschbom JJ (1974) The role of air humidity and leaf temperature in controlling stomatal resistance of Prunus armeniaca L. under desert conditions. I. A simulation of the daily course of stomatal resistance. Oecologia (Berlin) 17:159–170
Schulze E-D, Lange OL, Evenari M, Kappen L, Buschbom JJ (1980) Long-term effects of drought on wild and cultiveted plants in the Negev Desert. II. Diurnal patterns of net photosynthesis and daily carbon gain. Oecologia (Berlin) 45:19–25
Smith S, Hartsock TL, Nobel PS (1983) Ecophysiology of Yucca brevifolia, an arborescent monocot of the Mojave Desert. Oecologia (Berlin) 60:10–17
Tenhunen JD, Lange OL, Braun M, Meyer A, Losch R, Pereira JS (1980) Midday stomatal closure in Arbutus unedo leaves in a natural macchia and under simulated habitat conditions in an environmental chamber. Oecologia (Berlin) 47:365–367
Tenhunen JD, Lange OL, Braun M (1981) Midday stomatal closure in Mediterranean type sclerophylls under simulated habitat conditions in an environmental chamber. II. Effect of the complex of leaf temperature and air humidity on gas exchange of Arbitus unedo and Quercus ilex. Oecologia (Berlin) 50:5–11
Tenhunen JD, Lange OL, Jahner D (1982) The control by atmospheric factors and water stress of midday stomatal closure in Arbutus unedo growing in a natural macchia. Oecologia (Berlin) 55:165–169
Tenhunen JD, Lange OL, Gebel J, Beyschlag W, Weber JA (1984) Changes in photosynthetic capacity, carboxylation efficiency, and CO2 compensation point associated with midday stomatal closure and midday depression in net CO2 exchange of leaves of Quercus suber. Planta 162:193–203
von Cammaerer S, Farquhar GD (1981) Some relationships between the biochemistry of photosynthesis and the gas exchange of leaves. Planta 153:376–387
Wong SC, Cowan IR, 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
Roessler, P.G., Monson, R.K. Midday depression in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in Yucca glauca . Oecologia 67, 380–387 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384944
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384944