The rate of net CO2 assimilation of mature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves in ambient air (21% 02. 340 microbars C02) declined with time of illumination at temperatures lower than 25°C, but not at higher temperatures, and the rate of decline increased when maintained in air with higher CO2 concentration (700425 microbars). In this latter case, the decline in the rate of net CO2 assimilation also occurred at high temperatures. Stomatal conductance also declined with time in some cases and stomata became more sensitive to C02, but this was not the primary cause of the decrease in CO2 assimilation because internal partial
MATERIALS AND METHODSPlant Material. Triticum aestivum L. (cv Gabo) plants were grown from seed in a controlled environment cabinet in pots of soil. They were watered twice a day, and were fertilized every other day with nitrate-type Hewitt's solution containing: KNO3, 4 mM; Ca(NO3)2, 4 mM; MgSO4, 1.5 mM; NaH2PO4, 1.33 mM; EDTA FeNa, 60 gM; MnSO4, 10 uM; ZnSO4,1 ,uM; CuSO4,1 ALM; H3BO3, 50 uM; Na2MoO4, 0.5 jiM; NaCl, 0.1 mM; Co(NO3)2, 0.2 uM. The pH of the solution was 6.5. PPFD2 was about 600 to 700 gE _m 2 -s-'. The day/night temperature regime was 25/ 20°C with a daylength of 13 h. RH was between 60 and 80%.Gas Exchange Techniques. Wheat plants were selected from the growth cabinet near the end ofthe night period (10 AM). One or two attached recently mature leaves were enclosed in a photosynthetic chamber, which received an incident PPFD of 1000 iE -m2 -s-'. The rest of the plant, which was kept intact, was also illuminated. CO2 and water exchanges were measured in leaves using an open system gas analysis apparatus (2). Calculations of gas exchange parameters were made as before (20). Leaf to air water vapor pressure differences were maintained at about 8 to 12 mbar at 20 to 23°C and at 20 to 23 mbar at 30°C in most experiments.Light Responses of Photosynthesis. Net rate of CO2 assimilation (A) was measured in wheat leaves for 1 h at a PPFD of 1000 jiE *m-2.s-' to open stomata. Incident PPFD was measured with a quantum sensor (Lambda Instruments, model . PPFD was then decreased by interposing copper screens, and A was measured at every step. Finally, dark CO2 efflux was measured. Leaf temperature was kept constant during these procedures. These measurements were repeated after a period of 4 h