Seasonal fluctuations and temperature dependence in photosynthetic parameters and stomatal conductance at the leaf scale of Populus euphratica Oliv.

A combined model to simulate CO₂ and H₂O gas exchange at the leaf scale was parameterized using data obtained from in situ leaf-scale observations of diurnal and seasonal changes in CO₂ and H₂O gas exchange. The Farquhar et al.-type model of photosynthesis was parameterized by using the Bayesian approach and the Ball et al.-type stomatal conductance model was optimized using the linear least-squares procedure. The results show that the seasonal physiological changes in photosynthetic parameters (e.g., V(cmax25), J(max25), R(d25) and g(m25)) in the biochemical model of photosynthesis and m in the stomatal conductance model should be counted in estimating long-term CO₂ and H₂O gas exchange. Overall, the coupled model successfully reproduced the observed response in net assimilation and transpiration rates.