Studies on the Induction Period of Photosynthesis and Light Respiration in Green Algae

Oxygen as a Factor in Photosynthesis

“…For comparative purposes it is convenient to calculate the percentage inhibition by oxygen as a percentage of the higher rate in the low oxygen concentration, i.e. The inhibition by oxygen affects the carbon dioxide uptake as well as the oxygen output, as was first shown by Gaffron (1940) when he demonstrated that the assimilatory quotient (CO,/O, by volume) was unchanged by the transfer of Scenedesmus cells from 0-2 to 100% oxygen. It was fully confirmed for wheat leaves by McAlister & Myers (1940), who measured Warburg effects on carbon dioxide uptake using an infra-red analyser, and by Miyachi, Izawa & Tamiya (1955) for Chlorella by the use of radiocarbon.…”

“…In most of the early work the rates were measured for short periods of from 30 to 80 min. for comparable samples each in one of the two Gaffron (1940) gas mixtures. Even by these means Tamiya & Huzisige (1949) showed that the effect was reversible, as similar results for inhibition were obtained whether the plant was transferred from oxygen to nitrogen or from nitrogen to oxygen.…”