Leaf Structural Properties that Influence Photosynthesis: Interactions Between Gradients of Light, CO2, and Photosynthetic Capacity

光合作用是植物将太阳能转化为化学能的过程。这个过程支撑着这个星球上的所有生命。要了解陆地植物的太阳能转化，有必要详细了解光合作用是如何在树叶中发生的。“影响光合作用的叶片结构特性：光、二氧化碳和光合作用能力梯度之间的相互作用”项目将研究叶片解剖与整个叶片的光合作用表现之间的关系。总体目标是研究导致不同类型植物光合作用表现最优化的机制。已经选择了具有特定叶片解剖特征的物种，我们计划在叶片解剖、光对叶片的穿透和二氧化碳浓度的内部梯度之间建立关联。光和二氧化碳的内部浓度必须优化，以使整个叶片的光合作用性能达到最大。实验结果应该允许我们建立一个基线，以便更机械性地理解为什么某些植物比其他植物更高产。将使用显微镜、二氧化碳交换测量和一种新的光纤微探头技术来完成该项目的目标。由此产生的信息可能被应用于与了解植物生产力和增加作物产量的生理基础有关的问题，以及植物如何应对由大气中温室气体浓度增加引起的全球气候变化。

Photosynthesis os the process whereby plants convert solar energy into chemical energy. This process supports all life on this planet. A detailed knowledge of how photosynthesis occurs in leaves is necessary for understanding solar energy conversion in land plants. The project "Leaf Structural Properties that Influence Photosynthesis: Interactions Between gradients of light, CO2, and Photosynthetic Capacity" will examine how leaf anatomy is related to the photosynthetic performance of the whole leaf. The overall goal is to examine the mechanisms that lead to optimization of photosynthetic performance in different types of plants. Species have been selected that have specific leaf anatomical features and we plan to make correlations between leaf anatomy, penetration of light into the leaf, and internal gradients in carbon dioxide concentration. Internal concentrations of both light and CO2 must be optimized for maximum photosynthetic performance of the whole leaf. Experimental results should allow us to establish a baseline for a more mechanistic understanding of why some plants are more productive than others. Microscopy, CO2 exchange measurements and a new fiber optic microprobe technique will be used to accomplish the objectives of this project. The resulting information may be applied to problems that relate to understanding the physiological basis for plant productivity and increasing crop yield, and how plants may respond to global climate change resulting from increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.