Influence of certain environmental factors on photosynthesis and photorespiration in Simmondsia chinensis.

The response of net photosynthesis and apparent light respiration to changes in [O2], light intensity, and drought stress was determined by analysis of net photosynthetic CO2 response curves. Low [O2] treatment resulted in a large reduction in the rate of photorespiratory CO2 evolution. Lightintensity levels influenced the maximum net photosynthetic rate at saturating [CO2]. These results indicate that [CO2], [O2] and light intensity affect the levels of substrates involved in the enzymatic reactions of photosynthesis and photorespiration. Intracellular resistance to CO2 uptake decreased in low [O2] and increased at low leaf water potentials. This response reflects changes in the efficiency with which photosynthetic and photorespiratory substrates are formed and utilized. Water stress had no effect on the CO2 compensation point or the [CO2] at which net photosynthesis began to saturate at high light intensity. The relationship between these data and recently published in-vitro kinetic measurements with ribulose-diphosphate carboxylase is discussed.