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Annals of Botany 2006 97(4):549-557; doi:10.1093/aob/mcl001
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Seasonal Changes in Temperature Dependence of Photosynthetic Rate in Rice Under a Free-air CO2 Enrichment

ALMAZ BORJIGIDAI1,*, KOUKI HIKOSAKA1, TADAKI HIROSE1,2, TOSHIHIRO HASEGAWA3, MASUMI OKADA4 and KAZUHIKO KOBAYASHI5

1 Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan, 2 Department of International Agriculture Development, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Sakuragaoka 1-1-1, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan, 3 National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-1 Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-8604, Japan, 4 National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region, 4 Akahira, Shimiikuriyagawa, Morioka 020-0198, Japan and 5 Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan

* For correspondence. E-mail almas{at}biology.tohoku.ac.jp

Received: 9 September 2005    Returned for revision: 13 October 2005    Accepted: 26 November 2005    Published electronically: 6 January 2006


   ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 

Background and Aims Influences of rising global CO2 concentration and temperature on plant growth and ecosystem function have become major concerns, but how photosynthesis changes with CO2 and temperature in the field is poorly understood. Therefore, studies were made of the effect of elevated CO2 on temperature dependence of photosynthetic rates in rice (Oryza sativa) grown in a paddy field, in relation to seasons in two years.

Methods Photosynthetic rates were determined monthly for rice grown under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) compared to the normal atmosphere (570 vs 370 µmol mol–1). Temperature dependence of the maximum rate of RuBP (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate) carboxylation (Vcmax) and the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) were analysed with the Arrhenius equation. The photosynthesis–temperature response was reconstructed to determine the optimal temperature (Topt) that maximizes the photosynthetic rate.

Key Results and Conclusions There was both an increase in the absolute value of the light-saturated photosynthetic rate at growth CO2 (Pgrowth) and an increase in Topt for Pgrowth caused by elevated CO2 in FACE conditions. Seasonal decrease in Pgrowth was associated with a decrease in nitrogen content per unit leaf area (Narea) and thus in the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and the maximum rate of RuBP carboxylation (Vcmax). At ambient CO2, Topt increased with increasing growth temperature due mainly to increasing activation energy of Vcmax. At elevated CO2, Topt did not show a clear seasonal trend. Temperature dependence of photosynthesis was changed by seasonal climate and plant nitrogen status, which differed between ambient and elevated CO2.

Key words: Temperature dependence, photosynthesis, optimal temperature, activation energy, limiting step, temperature acclimation, free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE), seasonal change, rice, Oryza sativa


   INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Global atmospheric CO2 concentration has risen from approx. 280 µmol mol–1 in pre-industrial times to approx. 370 µmol mol–1 now and may reach 570 µmol mol–1 by 2050. Most global climate models predict that global surface temperature will increase by 3 °C, associated with increasing greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2001Go). Influences of increasing CO2 and temperature on plant growth and ecosystem function have become a major area of concern in recent decades (Mitchell et al., 1995Go; Norby and Luo, 2004Go).

Photosynthesis, a key determinant of the rate of plant growth, is influenced by both CO2 and temperature. Photosynthetic rates increase with a short-term increase in CO2 concentration and are related parabolically to leaf temperature (von Caemmerer, 2000Go). These responses are mechanistically described by the biochemical model of photosynthesis (Farquhar et al., 1980Go). The model has two major parameters, the potential rate of electron transport (Jmax) and the maximum rate of RuBP (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate) carboxylation (Vcmax).

The model of Farquhar et al. (1980)Go has contributed substantially to modelling gas exchange rates of plants and terrestrial ecosystems under changing environments. However, many modelling studies have ignored the effects of growth conditions on photosynthetic characteristics (long-term response). Photosynthesis often shows down-regulation under a long-term increase in CO2 concentration (CO2 acclimation; Sage, 1994Go; Ziska et al., 1996Go; Seneweera et al., 2002Go; Ainsworth et al., 2003Go; Chen et al., 2005Go). In many species, a long-term increase in temperature leads to an increase in the optimal temperature for maximal photosynthetic rate (temperature acclimation; Slatyer et al., 1977Go; Berry and Björkman, 1980Go; Badger et al., 1982Go; Ferrar et al., 1989Go; Hikosaka et al., 1999Go; Hikosaka et al., 2006Go). Some recent studies have investigated responses in Vcmax and Jmax to growth temperature (Hikosaka et al., 1999Go; Bunce, 2000Go; Hikosaka, 2005Go; Yamori et al., 2005Go) and to seasonal environment (Medlyn et al., 2002aGo; Han et al., 2004Go; Onoda et al., 2005bGo). However, no study, as far as we know, has investigated seasonal change in temperature dependence of Vcmax and Jmax under elevated CO2 concentrations. We have investigated the effects on photosynthetic rate and seasonal acclimation of rice leaves grown in the field under current and increased CO2 concentrations.

Field-grown plants were exposed to natural diurnal, seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations in leaf temperature in a free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) system that raises atmospheric CO2 concentration in the field with minimal artefacts (Long et al., 2004Go). Seasonal changes in photosynthetic characteristics were measured for two seasons. Temperature dependence of photosynthetic rates were analysed based on the model of Farquhar et al. (1980)Go. Questions addressed here are: (1) does temperature dependence of photosynthesis change seasonally and, if so, how different is it between ambient and elevated CO2? (2) What biochemical mechanisms are involved in the change in temperature dependence of photosynthesis? (3) Does growth temperature explain the seasonal change in the photosynthetic characteristics?


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 
The rice field was located at Shizukuishi in northern Honshu, Japan (39°38'N, 140°57'E, 200 m a.s.l.). Mean annual temperature and precipitation in 1976–2004 were 9·3 °C and 1540 mm, respectively. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ca) was created with a FACE system (Okada et al., 2001Go), consisting of octagonal 12-m diameter CO2 emission structures (‘rings’) established within the paddy. The target Ca at the centre of the rings was 200 µmol mol–1 above ambient CO2. The experiment was conducted over two years (2003 and 2004). The seasonal averages of Ca in the ambient CO2 plots and in the elevated CO2 plots were 384 ± 14 and 606 ± 29 µmol mol–1 in 2003, and 366 ± 12 and 548 ± 28 µmol mol–1 in 2004, respectively. Two ambient CO2 (X and Z) and two elevated CO2 plots (B and D) were used (for description of these plots see Okada et al., 2001Go). Mean temperature and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) during the experiment are shown in Table 1.


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TABLE 1. Climate conditions and leaf characteristics (order and age) for the photosynthetic measurements

 
Rice (Oryza sativa L. ‘Akitakomachi’) plants were grown following the agronomic techniques typical of the local area (Kobayashi et al., 2001Go; Anten et al., 2003Go; Kim et al., 2003Go). On 21 May 2003 and 20 May 2004, 25 d after emergence, seedlings were transplanted into paddies. Seedlings raised in a greenhouse under ambient CO2 were planted in the ambient CO2 plots, and those raised in another greenhouse under elevated CO2 were planted in the elevated CO2 plots. Distances between plants (‘hills’) and rows were 17·5 and 30 cm, respectively (equivalent to 19·1 hills m–2). The amounts of fertilizers added were: 8 g N m–2 (25 % ammonium sulfate and 75 % LP-70) on 16 May in both 2003 and 2004, 30 g P2O5 m–2 on 24 April 2003 and 19 April 2004, 15 g K2O m–2 on 25 April 2003 and 19 April 2004, respectively.

Photosynthetic measurements were made on the most recently fully expanded leaves in the experimental periods (leaf order and leaf age after emergence are given in Table 1). Photosynthetic rates were measured using an open gas exchange system (Model LI-6400, LiCor Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA), with an LED light source (LI-6400-02B, LiCor) and a dual Peltier device to regulate the PPF and temperature in the chamber (3 x 2 cm2).

Measurements were replicated using at least three leaves in each plot. CO2 response curves of photosynthesis were determined at approx. 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C leaf temperature at PPF >1800 µmol m–2 s–1. The vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was kept at <1·5 kPa for 15–30 °C, and 1·5–2·5 kPa for 35 °C. Leaves were allowed to equilibrate for 5–10 min at each new temperature before measurement. For each CO2 response curve, photosynthesis was first measured at the growth CO2 concentration (ambient CO2, 370 µmol mol–1 or elevated CO2, 570 µmol mol–1; Pgrowth), and then the Ca was increased in eight steps from 50 to 1500 µmol mol–1. In moving to a new CO2 concentration, sufficient time was given (>5 min) to allow a steady-state to be attained prior to measurement of the photosynthetic rate. Immediately after gas exchange measurements were completed, the leaf was detached and 3-cm-long segments were excised (excluding the tip and base) and their width measured for calculation of area with an absolute digimatic caliper (Mitutoyo, CD-S15C, Kanagawa, Japan). The dry mass of leaf segments was determined after oven-drying at 70 °C for >72 h, and then the nitrogen content was determined using an NC analyser (Sumigraph NC-80,Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan).

Models
The photosynthesis curve plotted against intercellular CO2 concentration (ACi curve) was analysed to determine the maximum rate of RuBP carboxylation (Vcmax) and the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) using the biochemical model of photosynthesis (Farquhar et al., 1980Go). When ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) is saturated, the photosynthetic rate is determined by:

Formula 1(1)
where Pc is the photosynthetic rate limited by the Rubisco activity, Ci is the concentration of CO2 at intercellular space, {Gamma}* is the CO2 compensation point in the absence of day respiration (Rd), Kc and Ko are Michaelis constants of RuBP carboxylase for CO2 and O2, respectively, and O is the O2 concentration. When RuBP regeneration limits photosynthesis, the photosynthetic rate is expressed as:

Formula 2(2)
where Pr is the photosynthetic rate limited by RuBP regeneration. The photosynthetic rate is the minimum of Pc and Pr.

The temperature dependence of kinetic parameters is described by the Arrhenius equation (Harley and Tenhunen, 1991Go; Bernacchi et al., 2001Go):

Formula 3(3)
where fis the value of a parameter. f(25) is f at 25 °C, Ea is the activation energy, R is the gas constant (8·314 J mol–1 K–1) and Tk is leaf temperature in K.

We calculated values of Kc using eqn (3), where Kc at 25 °C and Ea of Kc were assumed to be 404·9 µmol mol–1 and 79·43 kJ mol–1, respectively. Similarly, Ko and {Gamma}* values were calculated assuming that Ko and {Gamma}* at 25 °C were 278·4 mmol mol–1 and 42·8 µmol mol–1, and Ea of Ko and Ea of {Gamma}* were 36·38 kJ mol–1 and 37·83 kJ mol–1, respectively (Bernacchi et al., 2001Go). Using the calculated Kc, Ko and {Gamma}* values, eqn (1) was fitted to the Ci-response curves of photosynthesis at a lower range of CO2 (Ci < 300 µmol mol–1). Rd was assumed to be 0·02 of Vcmax (von Caemmerer, 2000Go). Jmax was calculated by fitting eqn (2) to a higher range of CO2 (Ci > 600 µmol mol–1). Ea of Vcmax and of Jmax were obtained from pooled data for each plot as a regression coefficient (eqn 3). Curve fitting was performed with Kaleida graph (Synergy Software, Reading, PA, USA).

Statistical analysis
Data are presented as means ± s.e. Statistical tests were performed using SPSS 7·5·1 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). ANOVA (split-plot) was conducted to test the effects of year (main plot), CO2 (subplot), months (sub-subplot) and their interactions on photosynthetic characteristics. Student's t-test was used for the effect of the CO2 treatments.


   RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 
The mean daily temperature (Tg) and mean daily PPF during a 2-week period prior to each measurement (Table 1) are considered as the ‘growth environment’ for the leaves; they varied seasonally. Tg was highest in August and lowest in June in both 2003 and 2004. When compared for the same month, Tg was slightly higher in 2004. PPF was highest in June and lowest in September in 2003 and in July in 2004.

Effects of elevated CO2 and seasonal environment on photosynthetic characteristics
Seasonal changes in temperature dependence of the light-saturated photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area (Pgrowth) determined at the growth CO2 concentration (Fig. 1) tended to increase to a maximum with increasing leaf temperature, and then either remained constant or decreased with further increase in leaf temperature. At any given temperature and month, Pgrowth was higher in leaves grown at elevated CO2. Pgrowth decreased as the growing season progressed (Table 2).


Figure 1
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FIG. 1. Temperature dependence of the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis (Pgrowth) for rice (Oryza sativa) grown at (A, C) ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1, open symbols) and (B, D) at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1, closed symbols) in 2003 (A, B) and 2004 (C, D). Measurements were made in June (circles), July (squares), August (triangles) and September (diamonds). Data from two plots are pooled and presented as mean ± s.e. (n = 6).

 

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TABLE 2. Summary of analysis of variance (ANOVA, presented as F-values) for the effects of month, CO2, year, and their interactions on the photosynthetic rate at 25 °C under growth CO2 concentration (Pgrowth25), leaf nitrogen content (Narea), stomatal conductance at 25°C (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration at 25 °C (Ci), the maximum rate of electron transport at 25 °C (Jmax25), the maximum rate of RuBP carboxylation at 25 °C (Vcmax25), the Jmax to Vcmax ratio at 25 °C (J/V), activation energy of Jmax (Eaj), activation energy of Vcmax (Eav), and optimum temperature of photosynthesis predicted by the model (Topt)

 
Stomatal conductance (gs), determined at 25 °C, was lower in leaves grown at elevated CO2 (Tables 2, 3). It differed significantly between months, although no seasonal trend was observed. The average intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) at 25 °C was 79·9 % of Ca at ambient CO2 and 80·7 % of Ca at elevated CO2, and increased during the growing season in both ambient and elevated CO2 (Tables 2, 3). Leaf nitrogen content per unit area (Narea) was not affected by CO2 during growth, but declined during the growing season irrespective of CO2 treatment (Tables 2, 3).


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TABLE 3. Stomatal conductance for water vapour (gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) at 25 °C under growth CO2 concentration, and leaf nitrogen content per unit area (Narea) for rice grown at ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1) and at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1)

 
Jmax and Vcmax determined at 25 °C (Jmax25 and Vcmax25, respectively) decreased during the season (Fig. 2A–D). Since the decrease in Vcmax25 was greater than that in Jmax25, the Jmax/Vcmax ratio increased (Fig. 2E, F). There was a significant effect of CO2 on Vcmax25 (Table 2), but was not on Jmax25. Vcmax25 tended to be lower at elevated CO2 (Fig. 2C, D).


Figure 2
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FIG. 2. Seasonal change in (A, B) the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax25), (C, D) the maximum rate of caboxylation (Vcmax25), and (E, F) the Jmax25/Vcmax25 ratio at 25 °C for rice (Oryza sativa) grown at ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1, open symbols) and at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1, closed symbols) in 2003 (A, C, E) and 2004 (B, D, F). Data from two plots are pooled and shown as mean ± s.e. (n = 6). Asterisks indicate significant differences between CO2 treatments at P < 0·05.

 
Jmax and Vcmax increased exponentially with leaf temperature: an example is shown in Fig. 3, with the curve fitted using the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy (Ea) is a measure of temperature dependence of photosynthetic rate. Since deactivation at high temperatures was not observed for either Jmax or Vcmax, we did not use a model characterized by an optimum (peak) (Medlyn et al., 2002aGo, bGo). ANOVA suggested that the activation energy of Jmax (Eaj) was not different between leaves grown in different CO2 concentrations (Table 2). However, the seasonal change in Eaj was not consistent across years and CO2 conditions (Fig. 4). For example, at elevated CO2, Eaj increased seasonally in 2003 (P = 0·004, Fig. 4A), while it decreased in 2004 (P = 0·003, Fig. 4B). Eav was not affected by growth CO2 but was significantly different among months (Table 2, Fig. 4C, D).


Figure 3
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FIG. 3. An example of the temperature dependence of the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and the maximum rate of caboxylation (Vcmax) of rice (Oryza sativa) grown at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1) in June 2004. Data are fitted with the Arrhenius equation (eqn. 3). Activation energy of Jmax (Eaj) was 19·42 kJ mol–1 and activation energy of Vcmax (Eav) was 52·93 kJ mol–1.

 

Figure 4
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FIG. 4. (A, B) Seasonal change in the activation energy of Jmax (Eaj), and (C, D) activation energy of Vcmax (Eav) for rice grown at ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1) and at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1) in 2003 (A, C) and 2004 (B, D). One point denotes one plot.

 
Modelling of temperature dependence of photosynthetic rate at growth CO2 conditions
Using the above parameters Ci, Jmax, Vcmax, Eaj and Eav, we reconstructed the temperature dependence of photosynthetic rate at the CO2 concentrations during leaf growth. There was a strong correlation between measured and estimated rates of photosynthesis (y = 0·95x; r = 0·97, P < 0·0001) with the regression was very close to the 1 : 1 line (Fig. 5). This indicates that the present photosynthesis model gave a fairly good quantitative description of the effect of years and CO2 on growth. At ambient CO2, photosynthesis at optimal temperature was limited by Pc in both years, while at elevated CO2 photosynthesis at optimal temperature was limited by Pr in earlier stages (June, July and August), and by Pc in the latest stage (September; data not shown). Temperature dependence of (relative) photosynthetic rate differed between ambient and elevated CO2 (Fig. 6). The optimal temperature of photosynthesis (Topt, the value where the photosynthetic rate was maximum) was significantly higher at elevated CO2 (Table 2): it ranged from 22 to 34·5 °C with an average value of 28·9 °C at ambient CO2, and from 29·5 to 37 °C with an average value of 33·5 °C at elevated CO2. Temperature dependence of photosynthesis also showed a large seasonal change. There was a significant effect of month on Topt (Table 2).


Figure 5
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FIG. 5. Comparison between measured and estimated photosynthesis of plants grown at ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1, open symbols) and at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1, closed symbols) in 2003 (circles) and 2004 (squares). The solid line is the regression y = 0·95x (r = 0·97, P < 0·0001). The broken line indicates equivalence between measured and estimated photosynthesis.

 

Figure 6
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FIG. 6. Modelled temperature dependence of photosynthesis at (A, C) ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1), and (B, D) elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1)in 2003 (A, B) and 2004 (C, D) growing seasons (June, July, August and September). Values are normalized to 1 at 25 °C. Circles indicate the maximum photosynthesis.

 
Relationship between growth temperature (Tg) and photosynthetic characteristics
There was no significant difference in Eav between leaves grown at the two CO2 concentrations (Table 2). Eav was positively correlated with Tg across both CO2 concentrations (Fig. 7A, P = 0·025). However, Eaj was not correlated with Tg (data not shown). There was a significant correlation between Topt and Tg at ambient CO2 (P = 0·018), but not at elevated CO2 (P = 0·122; Fig. 7B).


Figure 7
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FIG. 7. Relationship between growth temperature (Tg, the mean daily temperature in the 2 weeks prior to measurements) and photosynthetic characteristics: (A) activation energy of Vcmax (Eav) and (B) the optimal temperature of photosynthesis at growth CO2 (Topt). Plants were grown at ambient CO2 (370 µmol mol–1, open symbols) and at elevated CO2 (570 µmol mol–1, closed symbols) in 2003 (circles) and 2004 (squares). Regression lines: (A) y = 23·96 + 1·98x (r = 0·40, P = 0·025) and (B) y = 4·86 + 1·21x (r = 0·58 P = 0·018, ambient), and y = 20·92 + 0·64x (r = 0·40, P = 0·122, FACE). One point denotes one plot.

 


   DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 
The biochemical model of photosynthesis developed by Farquhar et al. (1980)Go is useful for predicting carbon exchange by plants under global environmental change because it represents a mechanism for the effects of elevated CO2 on photosynthetic rates. The model is also useful for analysing temperature dependence of photosynthesis. As photosynthesis–temperature curves are parabolic with a broad peak, many data points are needed to obtain the optimal temperature (e.g. Cunningham and Read, 2002Go). However, as most of the parameters in the model of Farquhar et al. (1980)Go follow the Arrhenius equation, it is possible to describe photosynthetic response to temperature with a relatively small number of data points. The similarity between measured and estimated values (Fig. 5) suggests that the model gave a fairly good quantitative description of photosynthetic rates. Several studies have shown changes in temperature dependence of model parameters (such as Eav and Eaj) under a seasonal environment (Medlyn et al., 2002aGo; Han et al., 2004Go), but information is still insufficient when large acclimational change and interspecific differences are considered (Leuning, 2002Go; Medlyn et al., 2002bGo). The present study is the first report showing a seasonal change in temperature dependence of photosynthetic parameters at elevated CO2.

Absolute photosynthetic rate (Pgrowth)
Elevated CO2 significantly increased Pgrowth (Fig. 1). This is simply ascribed to higher Ci (Table 3). However, a slight but significant decrease in Vcmax25 at elevated CO2 (Fig. 2, Table 2) partly offset the effect of increased Ci. This down-regulation may be caused by sugar accumulation (Rey and Jarvis, 1998Go; Seneweera et al., 2002Go; Rogers et al., 2004Go) or by accelerated leaf senescence with advanced plant development (Rogers et al., 1996Go; Ludewing and Sonnewald, 2000Go; von Caemmerer et al., 2001Go; Seneweera et al., 2002Go).

At both CO2 concentrations, Pgrowth25 (Pgrowth at 25 °C) decreased as the plants grew (Fig. 1), consistent with previous studies for rice (Hasegawa et al., 1996 for ambient CO2; Seneweera et al., 2002Go). This is attributed to the seasonal decrease in Jmax and Vcmax (Fig. 2), which is associated with the reduction in Narea (Table 3). Seasonal reduction in Narea may be related to plant ontogeny rather than environmental change. As plant mass increases, nutrient supply from the soil may become relatively insufficient, leading to a nitrogen deficiency in the plant body. In the later stages of the life cycle, reallocation of nitrogen to reproductive organs may also decrease nitrogen in vegetative parts. Mae and Ohira (1981)Go showed that about half of the nitrogen in vegetative organs was retranslocated to reproductive organs in rice.

Temperature dependence of photosynthesis
The optimal temperature of the photosynthetic rate determined by the model (Topt) was higher at elevated than at ambient CO2 (Figs 6, 7B). In earlier stages (June, July and August), this is attributed to the difference in the limiting step of photosynthesis: photosynthesis at Topt was limited by Pc at ambient CO2 and by Pr at elevated CO2 (data not shown). In many species, Pc has a lower optimal temperature than Pr (Kirschbaum and Farquhar, 1984Go; Hikosaka, 1997Go; Hikosaka et al., 1999Go; Onoda et al., 2005bGo). This is because the increase in the carboxylation rate with increasing temperature is partly offset by the increase in photorespiration rate (Kirschbaum and Farquhar, 1984Go). In September, on the other hand, photosynthesis at Topt was limited by Pc at both CO2 concentrations. The increase in Topt at elevated CO2 is thus attributed to the effect of Ci on temperature dependence of Pc, which is directly influenced by the balance between carboxylation and photorespiration. Increasing CO2 concentration decreases the contribution of photorespiration, which makes photosynthesis more temperature-dependent and increases the optimal temperature (Kirschbaum and Farquhar, 1984Go; Long, 1991Go).

Topt showed a significant difference between months (Table 2). This may be partly explained by the increase in growth temperature at ambient CO2 (Fig. 7B). Since Pc limited photosynthesis at ambient CO2, the change in Topt was attributable to the change in Eav. According to the model, an increase in Eav by 10 kJ mol–1 leads to an increase in the optimal temperature of Pc by 5·4 °C (Hikosaka et al., 2006Go). Eav actually increased with growth temperature (Fig. 7A), which was consistent with other studies (Hikosaka et al., 1999Go; Onoda et al., 2005bGo; Yamori et al., 2005Go). The increase in Eav with increasing growth temperature is a common response in C3 species (Hikosaka et al., 2006Go).

In contrast, at elevated CO2, Topt showed neither a clear seasonal trend nor a dependence on Tg (Fig. 7B). This is because Eaj did not change with time (Table 2). In many species the temperature dependence of Jmax changes with growth temperature (Armond et al., 1978Go; Badger et al., 1982Go; Hikosaka et al., 1999Go; Ziska, 2001Go; Yamasaki et al., 2002Go), but in some species it does not (Sage et al., 1995Go). The difference in Tg of less than 5 °C in our study might have been too small to detect a significant change in Eaj, or alternatively Eaj of rice was not affected by growth temperature. On the other hand, different seasonal trends in the dependence of Eaj between ambient and elevated CO2 and between the two years (Fig. 4) suggest that factors other than temperature are involved in the change in Eaj.

At elevated CO2 the limiting step of photosynthesis changed between the early (June, July and August) and the late stage (September), caused by a higher Jmax/Vcmax ratio in September. We found a positive correlation between the Jmax/Vcmax ratio and Tg (data not shown). However, this result is inconsistent with earlier studies: in some species the Jmax/Vcmax ratio increased at low temperature (Hikosaka et al., 1999Go; Hikosaka, 2005Go; Onoda et al., 2005aGo; Yamori et al., 2005Go) but in others it did not with growth temperature (Bunce, 2000Go; Hikosaka and Hirose, 2001Go; Medlyn et al., 2002aGo; Onoda et al., 2005bGo). For rice grown under controlled conditions, the Jmax/Vcmax ratio was higher at low temperatures (Makino et al., 1994Go). The inconsistency between earlier studies and ours may be caused by an alteration of the Jmax/Vcmax ratio due to factor(s) other than Tg. Seneweera et al. (2002)Go found that flag leaves of rice had a lower Vcmax per unit Rubisco than earlier leaves. A decrease in internal conductance of CO2 diffusion may be involved in the seasonal change in the Jmax/Vcmax ratio (von Caemmerer, 2000Go; Onoda et al., 2005bGo).


   CONCLUSIONS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 
There was an increase in the absolute value of Pgrowth and in the optimal temperature of the Pgrowth–temperature curve caused by elevated CO2 concentration during growth and seasonal environment. Seasonal decrease in Pgrowth was associated with decrease in nitrogen status with plant growth, which decreased Narea and thus Jmax and Vcmax. The seasonal change in the Topt differed between the two CO2 concentrations. At ambient CO2, Topt increased with increasing growth temperature due mainly to increasing activation energy of Vcmax. At elevated CO2, Topt did not show clear seasonal changes. This was partly caused by the seasonal increase in the Jmax/Vcmax ratio. Thus, the temperature dependence of photosynthesis was influenced by seasonal environment and reduction in nitrogen with plant growth, which was different between ambient and elevated CO2.


   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 
We thank Yusuke Onoda for advice with the photosynthetic measurements, and Aki Shigeno and Michio Oguro for their technical assistance with the experiment. We also acknowledge the technical assistance of Hiroyuki Shimono, Hirofumi Nakamura and Keiko Iwabuchi (National Agricultural Research Organization). This study was conducted in part under the Global Environment Research Coordination System funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. This work was also supported by a Grant-in-aid from the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.


   LITERATURE CITED
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 LITERATURE CITED
 

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