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Leaf day respiration (Rd) strongly influences carbon-use efficiencies of whole plants and the global terrestrial biosphere. It has long been thought that Rd is slower than respiration in the dark at a given temperature, but measuring Rd by gas exchange remains a challenge because leaves in the light are also photosynthesizing. The Kok method and the Laisk method are widely used to estimate Rd. We highlight theoretical limitations of these popular methods, and recent progress toward their improvement by using additional information from chlorophyll fluorescence and by accounting for the photosynthetic reassimilation of respired CO2. The latest evidence for daytime CO2 and energy release from the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in chloroplasts appears to be important to understanding Rd.

Theoretically, the PEP-CK C4 subtype has a higher quantum yield of CO2 assimilation than NADP-ME or NAD-ME subtypes because ATP required for operating the CO2-concentrating mechanism is believed to mostly come from the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC). However, reportedis not higher in PEP-CK than in the other subtypes. We hypothesise, more photorespiration, associated with higher leakiness and O2 evolution in bundle-sheath (BS) cells, cancels out energetic advantages in PEP-CK species.Nine species (two to four species per subtype) were evaluated by gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and two-photon microscopy to estimate the BS conductance (gbs) and leakiness using a biochemical model.Average gbs estimates were 2.9, 4.8, and 5.0 mmol m−2 s−1 bar−1, and leakiness values were 0.129, 0.179, and 0.180, in NADP-ME, NAD-ME, and PEP-CK species, respectively. The BS CO2 level was somewhat higher, O2 level was marginally lower, and thus, photorespiratory loss was slightly lower, in NADP-ME than in NAD-ME and PEP-CK species. Differences in these parameters existed among species within a subtype, and gbs was co-determined by biochemical decarboxylating sites and anatomical characteristics.Our hypothesis and results partially explain variations in observed, but suggest that PEP-CK species probably use less ATP from mETC than classically defined PEP-CK mechanisms.

Chloroplasts movement within mesophyll cells in C4 plants is hypothesized to enhance the CO2 concentrating mechanism, but this is difficult to verify experimentally. A three-dimensional (3D) leaf model can help analyse how chloroplast movement influences the operation of the CO2 concentrating mechanism. The first volumetric reaction-diffusion model of C4 photosynthesis that incorporates detailed 3D leaf anatomy, light propagation, ATP and NADPH production, and CO2, O2 and bicarbonate concentration driven by diffusional and assimilation/emission processes was developed. It was implemented for maize leaves to simulate various chloroplast movement scenarios within mesophyll cells: the movement of all mesophyll chloroplasts towards bundle sheath cells (aggregative movement) and movement of only those of interveinal mesophyll cells towards bundle sheath cells (avoidance movement). Light absorbed by bundle sheath chloroplasts relative to mesophyll chloroplasts increased in both cases. Avoidance movement decreased light absorption by mesophyll chloroplasts considerably. Consequently, total ATP and NADPH production and net photosynthetic rate increased for aggregative movement and decreased for avoidance movement compared with the default case of no chloroplast movement at high light intensities. Leakiness increased in both chloroplast movement scenarios due to the imbalance in energy production and demand in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. These results suggest the need to design strategies for coordinated increases in electron transport and Rubisco activities for an efficient CO2 concentrating mechanism at very high light intensities.

The growing world population and global increases in the standard of living both result in an increasing demand for food, feed and other plant‐derived products. In the coming years, plant‐based research will be among the major drivers ensuring food security and the expansion of the bio‐based economy. Crop productivity is determined by several factors, including the available physical and agricultural resources, crop management, and the resource use efficiency, quality and intrinsic yield potential of the chosen crop. This review focuses on intrinsic yield potential, since understanding its determinants and their biological basis will allow to maximize the plant's potential in food and energy production. Yield potential is determined by a variety of complex traits that integrate strictly regulated processes and their underlying gene regulatory networks. Due to this inherent complexity, numerous potential targets have been identified that could be exploited to increase crop yield. These encompass diverse metabolic and physical processes at the cellular, organ and canopy level. We present an overview of some of the distinct biological processes considered to be crucial for yield determination that could further be exploited to improve future crop productivity.

Triose phosphate utilization (TPU) is a biochemical process indicating carbon sink–source (im)balance within leaves. When TPU limits leaf photosynthesis, photorespiration-associated amino acid exports probably provide an additional carbon outlet and increase leaf CO2 uptake. However, whether TPU is modulated by whole-plant sink–source relations and nitrogen (N) budgets remains unclear. We address this question by model analyses of gas-exchange data measured on leaves at three growth stages of rice plants grown at two N levels. Sink–source ratio was manipulated by panicle pruning, by using yellower-leaf variant genotypes, and by measuring photosynthesis on adaxial and abaxial leaf sides. Across all these treatments, higher leaf N content resulted in the occurrence of TPU limitation at lower intercellular CO2 concentrations. Photorespiration-associated amino acid export was greater in high-N leaves, but was smaller in yellower-leaf genotypes, panicle-pruned plants, and for abaxial measurement. The feedback inhibition of panicle pruning on rates of TPU was not always observed, presumably because panicle pruning blocked N remobilization from leaves to grains and the increased leaf N content masked feedback inhibition. The leaf-level TPU limitation was thus modulated by whole-plant sink–source relations and N budgets during rice grain filling, suggesting a close link between within-leaf and whole-plant sink limitations.

While optimising leaf chlorophyll content ([CHL]) has been proposed as a relevant means to manipulate canopy light penetration and canopy photosynthesis, effects of modifying [CHL] on leaf photosynthesis are yet to be investigated thoroughly. A greenhouse experiment and a field experiment were conducted involving rice genotypes of different genetic backgrounds and their leaf-colour variants. Leaf photosynthesis was more influenced by alteration to yellow-leaf than to stay-green cases. Higher specific leaf area and stomatal conductance were observed in two yellow-leaf variants, while only one yellow-leaf variant showed significantly increased Rubisco carboxylation capacity (Vcmax), maximum electron transport rate (Jmax), and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE). Model analysis indicated that reducing leaf [CHL] decreased the energy loss via non-photochemical quenching, but improving Vcmax, Jmax, and PNUE would require an improved nitrogen distribution pattern within the leaf. Label-free quantitative proteomics confirmed that an increased investment of nitrogen in Cyt b6/f and Rubisco was observed in the yellow-leaf variant of the genetic background with improved Vcmax, Jmax, and PNUE, but not in the other background. Our results suggest that reducing [CHL] can improve leaf photosynthesis only if the saved nitrogen is optimally distributed to proteins that are more rate-limiting to photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts movement within mesophyll cells in C4 plants is hypothesized to enhance the CO2 concentrating mechanism, but this is difficult to verify experimentally. A three-dimensional (3D) leaf model can help analyse how chloroplast movement influences the operation of the CO2 concentrating mechanism. The first volumetric reaction–diffusion model of C4 photosynthesis that incorporates detailed 3D leaf anatomy, light propagation, ATP and NADPH production, and CO2, O2 and bicarbonate concentration driven by diffusional and assimilation/emission processes was developed. It was implemented for maize leaves to simulate various chloroplast movement scenarios within mesophyll cells: the movement of all mesophyll chloroplasts towards bundle sheath cells (aggregative movement) and movement of only those of interveinal mesophyll cells towards bundle sheath cells (avoidance movement). Light absorbed by bundle sheath chloroplasts relative to mesophyll chloroplasts increased in both cases. Avoidance movement decreased light absorption by mesophyll chloroplasts considerably. Consequently, total ATP and NADPH production and net photosynthetic rate increased for aggregative movement and decreased for avoidance movement compared with the default case of no chloroplast movement at high light intensities. Leakiness increased in both chloroplast movement scenarios due to the imbalance in energy production and demand in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. These results suggest the need to design strategies for coordinated increases in electron transport and Rubisco activities for an efficient CO2 concentrating mechanism at very high light intensities.

The growing world population and global increases in the standard of living both result in an increasing demand for food, feed and other plant-derived products. In the coming years, plant-based research will be among the major drivers ensuring food security and the expansion of the bio-based economy. Crop productivity is determined by several factors, including the available physical and agricultural resources, crop management, and the resource use efficiency, quality and intrinsic yield potential of the chosen crop. This review focuses on intrinsic yield potential, since understanding its determinants and their biological basis will allow to maximize the plant's potential in food and energy production. Yield potential is determined by a variety of complex traits that integrate strictly regulated processes and their underlying gene regulatory networks. Due to this inherent complexity, numerous potential targets have been identified that could be exploited to increase crop yield. These encompass diverse metabolic and physical processes at the cellular, organ and canopy level. We present an overview of some of the distinct biological processes considered to be crucial for yield determination that could further be exploited to improve future crop productivity.

Extreme climatic events, such as heat waves, cold snaps and drought spells, related to global climate change, have become more frequent and intense in recent years. Acclimation of plant physiological processes to changes in environmental conditions is a key component of plant adaptation to climate change. We assessed the temperature response of leaf photosynthetic parameters in wheat grown under contrasting water regimes and growth temperatures (Tgrowth). Two independent experiments were conducted under controlled conditions. In Experiment 1, two wheat genotypes were subjected to well-watered or drought-stressed treatments; in Experiment 2, the two water regimes combined with high, medium and low Tgrowth were imposed on one genotype. Parameters of a biochemical C3-photosynthesis model were estimated at six leaf temperatures for each factor combination. Photosynthesis acclimated more to drought than to Tgrowth. Drought affected photosynthesis by lowering its optimum temperature (Topt) and the values at Topt of light-saturated net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance, the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and the maximum rate of carboxylation by Rubisco (Vcmax). Topt for Vcmax was up to 40°C under well-watered conditions but 24–34°C under drought. The decrease in photosynthesis under drought varied among Tgrowth but was similar between genotypes. The temperature response of photosynthetic quantum yield under drought was partly attributed to photorespiration but more to alternative electron transport. All these changes in biochemical parameters could not be fully explained by the changed leaf nitrogen content. Further model analysis showed that both diffusional and biochemical parameters of photosynthesis and their thermal sensitivity acclimate little to Tgrowth, but acclimate considerably to drought and the combination of drought and Tgrowth. The commonly used modelling approaches, which typically consider the response of diffusional par

Context: Recent research has proposed to modify leaf-colour traits to improve canopy photosynthesis (Ac) by allowing light penetration to lower layers of a dense canopy. Research question: Whether and how enhanced light penetration can really increase Ac and whether leaf-colour modification influences other growth-related traits remain unclear. Methods: Canopy light and nitrogen profile parameters (i.e., the extinction coefficient for light, KL; and for nitrogen, KN; and their ratio, KN/KL), Ac, and agronomic yield traits were examined in nine rice genotypes comprising different genetic backgrounds and their leaf-colour variants. Results: Compared with stay-green (G) variants, yellow-leaf (Y) variants caused larger effects on crop growth and development: altered growth duration (increased in one genetic background while decreased in the other), lower tiller number, and reduced leaf area. As with G traits, a delayed senescence at the post-flowering stage was observed in Y variants, which was associated with nitrogen dynamics in plants. Although Y variants expectedly allowed more light penetration into lower layers of the canopy (i.e., lower KL), the leaf-nitrogen profile, and thus, the leaf photosynthetic capacity (i.e., Amax) profile, did not necessarily follow more closely the light profile. Improved Ac and higher daily crop growth rate (CGR) were observed in the Y variant of one genetic background but not of the other, and the higher Ac or CGR were associated with improved leaf photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency and higher canopy KN values. The higher CGR during the grain-filling phase and resulting increased harvest index of this Y variant contributed to its greater grain productivity. Multiple regression analysis of the data of all nine genotypes indicated that the KN:KL ratio was the most important factor determining Ac and CGR. Conclusions and implications: Leaf-colour modification can improve Ac, CGR and crop productivity only if other traits (especially

Water-saving attempts for rice cultivation often reduce yields. Maintaining productivity under drought is possible when rice genotypes are bred with improved metabolism and spikelet fertility. Although attempts have been made to introgress water mining and water use efficiency traits, combining acquired tolerance traits (ATTs), that is, specific traits induced or upregulated to better tolerate severe stress, appears equally important. In our study, we screened 90 rice germplasm accessions that represented the molecular and phenotypic variations of 851 lines of the 3 K rice panel. Utilising phenomics, we identified markers linked to ATTs through association analysis of over 0.2 million SNPs derived from whole-genome sequences. Propensity to respond to ‘induction’ stress varied significantly among genotypes, reflecting differences in cellular protection against oxidative stress. Among the ATTs, the hydroxyl radical and proline contents exhibited the highest variability. Furthermore, these significant variations in ATTs were strongly correlated with spikelet fertility. The 43 significant markers associated with ATTs were further validated using a different subset of contrasting genotypes. Gene expression studies and metabolomic profiling of two well-known contrasting genotypes, APO (tolerant) and IR64 (sensitive), identified two ATT genes: AdoMetDC and Di19. Our study highlights the relevance of polyamine biosynthesis in modulating ATTs in rice. Genotypes with superior ATTs and the associated markers can be effectively employed in breeding rice varieties with sustained spikelet fertility and grain yield under drought.