Photosynthetic acclimation to temperature is affected by night temperature in Zea mays

Abstract

In this study, Zea mays L. was grown in indoor controlled environment chambers with a uniform daytime temperature of 30°C, and night-time temperatures of 30, 25, 20, or 15°C. Responses of net photosynthesis (PN) of mature leaves at high PPFD to intercellular CO2 concentrations (Ci) were measured at 20, 25, and 30°C using a new method that generates a complete PN vs. Ci curve in less than four minutes. Results indicated that photosynthesis measured at both Ci values of 25 and 150 μmol mol-1 increased strongly with measurement temperature in plants grown with night temperatures of 25 and 30°C, but there was a much smaller change in photosynthesis with temperature in plants grown with night temperatures of 15 or 20°C. These results indicate that the acclimation of photosynthesis to temperature in this C4 species is substantially affected by night temperature.

Keywords

• c4 photosynthesis
• co2 response of photosynthesis
• night temperature
• temperature acclimation