Effect of photosynthetic photon flux density on carboxylation efficiency.

The effect of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) on photosynthetic response (A) to CO(2) partial pressures between 35 pascals and CO(2) compensation point (Gamma) was investigated, especially below PPFD saturation. Spinacia oleracea cv ;Atlanta,' Glycine max cv ;Clark,' and Arbutus unedo were studied in detail. The initial slope of the photosynthetic response to CO(2) ( partial differentialA/ partial differentialC[Gamma]) was constant above a PPFD of about 500 to 600 micromoles per square meter per second for all three species; but declined rapidly with PPFD below this critical level. For Gamma there was also a critical PPFD (approximately 200 micromoles per square meter per second for S. oleracea and G. max; 100 for A. unedo) above which Gamma was essentially constant, but below which Gamma increased with decreasing PPFD. All three species showed a dependence of partial differentialA/ partial differentialC(Gamma) on PPFD at low PPFD. Simulated photosynthetic responses obtained with a biochemically based model of whole-leaf photosynthesis were similar to measured responses.