Abstract
The carbon dioxide concentrating system in C4 photosynthesis allows high net photosynthetic rates (P N) at low internal carbon dioxide concentrations (C i), permitting higher P N relative to stomatal conductance (g s) than in C3 plants. This relation would be reflected in the ratio of C i to external ambient (C a) carbon dioxide concentration, which is often given as 0.3 or 0.4 for C4 plants. For a C a of 360 µmol mol−1 that would mean a C i about 110–140 µmol mol−1. Our field observations made near midday on three weedy C4 species, Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Setaria faberi, and the C4 crop Sorghum bicolor indicated mean values of C i of 183–212 µ mol mol−1 at C a = 360 µmol mol−1. Measurements in two other C4 crop species grown with three levels of N fertilizer indicated that while midday values of C i at high photon flux were higher at limiting N, even at high nitrogen C i averaged 212 and 196 µmol mol−1 for Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Zea mays, respectively. In these two crops midday C i decreased with increasing leaf to air water vapor pressure difference. Averaged over all measurement days, the mean C i across all C4 species was 198 µmol mol−1, for a C i/C a ratio of 0.55. Prior measurements on four herbaceous C3 species using the same instrument indicated an average C i/C a ratio of 0.69. Hence midday C i values in C 4 species under field conditions may often be considerably higher and more similar to those of C3 species than expected from measurements made on plants in controlled environments. Reducing g s in C4 crops at low water vapor pressure differences could potentially improve their water use efficiency without decreasing P N.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Adam, N.R., Owensby, C.E., Ham, J.M.: The effect of CO2 enrichment on leaf photosynthetic rates and instantaneous water use efficiency of Andropogon gerardii in the tallgrass prairie. — Photosynth. Res. 65: 121–129, 2000.
Ashraf, M., Shabaz, M., Mahmood, S., Rasul, E.: Relationships between growth and photosynthetic characteristics in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under limited water deficits conditions and with enhanced nitrogen supplies. — Belg. J. Bot. 134: 131–144, 2001.
Bunce, J.A.: Low humidity effects on photosynthesis in single leaves of C4 plants. — Oecologia 54: 233–235, 1982.
Bunce, J.A.: Afternoon inhibition of photosynthesis in maize. 1. Evidence and relationship to stand density. — Field Crops Res. 24: 251–260, 1990.
Bunce, J.A.: Effects of humidity on short-term responses of stomatal conductance to an increase in carbon dioxide concen-tration. — Plant Cell Environ. 21: 115–120, 1998.
Bunce, J.A.: Acclimation to temperature of the response of photosynthesis to increased carbon dioxide concentration in Taraxacum officinale. — Photosynth. Res. 64: 89–94, 2000.
Bunce, J.A.: Effects of water vapor pressure difference on leaf gas exchange in potato and sorghum at ambient and elevated carbon dioxide under field conditions. — Field Crops Res. 82: 37–47, 2003.
Evans, J.R.: Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants. — Oecologia 78: 9–19, 1989.
Grace, J., Lloyd, J., Miranda, A.C., Miranda, H., Gash, J.H.C.: Fluxes of carbon dioxide and water vapour over a C4 pasture in south-western Amazonia (Brazil). — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 25: 519–530, 1998.
Grantz, D.A.: Effect of cool temperatures on photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in field-grown sugarcane in Hawaii. — Field Crops Res. 22: 143–155, 1989.
Henderson, S., Caemmerer, S. von, Farquhar, G.D., Wade, L., Hammer, G.: Correlation between carbon isotope discrimination and transpiration efficiency in lines of the C4 species Sorghum bicolor in the glasshouse and the field. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 25: 111–123, 1998.
Hirasawa, T., Hsiao, T.C.: Some characteristics of reduced leaf photosynthesis at midday in maize growing in the field. — Field Crops Res. 62: 53–62, 1999.
Jones, H.G.: Plants and Microclimate. — Pp. 151–152. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge — London — New York — New Rochelle — Melbourne — Sydney 1983.
Laisk, A., Edwards, G.E.: Oxygen and electron flow in C4 photosynthesis: Mehler reaction, photorespiration and CO2 concentration in the bundle sheath. — Planta 205: 632–645, 1998.
Leakey, A.D.B., Bernacchi, C.J., Dohleman, F.G., Ort, D.R., Long, S.P.: Will photosynthesis of maize (Zea mays) in the US corn belt increase in future [CO2] rich atmospheres? An analysis of diurnal courses of CO2 uptake under free-air concentration enrichment (FACE). — Global Change Biol. 10: 951–962, 2004.
LeCain, D.R., Morgan, J.A., Mosier, A.R., Nelson, J.A.: Soil and plant water relations determine photosynthetic responses of C3 and C4 grasses in a semi-arid ecosystem under elevated CO2. — Ann. Bot. 92: 41–52, 2003.
Lee, T.D., Tjoelker, M.G., Ellsworth, D.S., Reich, P.B.: Leaf gas exchange responses of 13 prairie grassland species to elevated CO2 and increased nitrogen supply. — New Phytol. 150: 405–418, 2001.
Livingston, N.J., Guy, R.D., Sun, Z.J., Ethier, G.J.: The effects of nitrogen stress on the stable carbon isotope composition, productivity and water use efficiency of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings. — Plant Cell Environ. 22: 281–289, 1999.
Meinzer, F.C., Plaut, Z., Saliendra, N.Z.: Carbon isotope discrimination, gas exchange, and growth of sugarcane cultivars under salinity. — Plant Physiol. 104: 521–526, 1994.
Meinzer, F.C., Zhu, J.: Nitrogen stress reduces the efficiency of the C4 CO2 concentrating systems, and therefore quantum yield, in Saccharum (sugarcane) species. — J. exp. Bot. 49: 1227–1234, 1998.
Niu, S.L., Jiang, G.M., Li, Y.G., Gao, L.M., Liu, M.Z.: Diurnal gas exchange and superior resources use efficiency of typical C4 species in Hunshandak Sandland, China. — Photosynthetica 41: 221–226, 2003.
Peng, S., Krieg, D.R.: Gas exchange traits and their relationship to water use efficiency of grain sorghum. — Crop Sci. 32: 386–391, 1992.
Ranjith, S.A., Meinzer, F.C., Perry, M.H., Thom, M.: Partitioning of carboxylase activity in nitrogen-stressed sugarcane and its relationship to bundle sheath leakiness to CO2, photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 22: 903–911, 1995.
Saliendra, N.Z., Meinzer, F.C., Perry, M., Thom, M.: Association between partitioning of carboxylase activity and bundle sheath leakiness to CO2, carbon isotope discrimination, photosynthesis, and growth in sugarcane. — J. exp. Bot. 47: 907–914, 1996.
Shangguan, Z.P., Shao, M.A., Dyckmans, J.: Nitrogen nutrition and water stress effects on leaf photosynthetic gas exchange and water use efficiency in winter wheat. — Environ. exp. Bot. 44: 141–149, 2000.
Siegwolf, R.T.W., Matyssek, R., Saurer, M., Maurer, S., Gunthardt-Georg, M.S., Schmutz, P., Bucher, J.B.: Stable isotope analysis reveals differential effects of soil nitrogen and nitrogen dioxide on the water use efficiency in hybrid poplar leaves. — New Phytol. 149: 233–246, 2001.
Tanner, C.B., Sinclair, T.R.: Efficient water use in crop production: Research or research. — In: Taylor, H.M., Jordan, W.R., Sinclair, T.R. (ed.): Limitation to Efficient Water Use in Crop Production. Pp. 1–28. Amer. Soc. Agron., Crop Sci. Soc. Amer., Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison 1983.
Tognetti, R., Johnson, J.D.: The effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and nutrient supply on gas exchange, carbohydrates and foliar phenolic concentration in live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) seedlings. — Ann. Forest Sci. 56: 379–389, 1999.
Wall, G.W., Brooks, T.J., Adam, N.R., Cousins, A.B., Kimball, B.A., Pinter, P.J., Lamorte, R.L., Triggs, L., Ottman, M.J., Leavitt, S.W., Matthias, A.D., Williams, D.G., Webber, A.N.: Elevated atmospheric CO2 improved sorghum plant water status by ameliorating the adverse effects of drought. — New Phytol. 152: 231–248, 2001.
Watson, D.J.: The physiological basis of variation in yield. — Adv. Agron. 4: 101–145, 1952.
Wilson, K.B., Bunce, J.A.: Effects of carbon dioxide concentration on the interactive effects of temperature and water vapour on stomatal conductance in soybean. — Plant Cell Environ. 20: 230–238, 1997.
Ziska, L.H., Bunce, J.A.: Influence of increasing carbon dioxide concentration on the photosynthetic and growth stimulation of selected C4 crops and weeds. — Photosynth. Res. 54: 199–208, 1997.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bunce, J.A. What is the usual internal carbon dioxide concentration in C4 species under midday field conditions?. Photosynthetica 43, 603–608 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-0094-y
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-0094-y