Nitrogen (N) availability is a critical factor affecting photosynthetic acclimation of C3 plants under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]e). However, current understanding of N effects on photosynthetic electron transport rate and partitioning, as well as its impact on photosynthesis under [CO2]e, is inadequate. Using controlled environment open-top chambers, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown at two N levels (0 and 200 mg(N) kg-1 soil) and two atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 400 ([CO2]a) and 760 μmol mol-1([CO2]e) during 2009 and 2010. Under [CO2]e high N availability increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, reduced limitations on the activity of triose phosphate isomerase, a Calvin cycle enzyme, and increased the rate of net photosynthesis (PN). Considering photosynthetic electron transport rate and partitioning aspects, we suggest that greater N availability increased PN under [CO2]e due to four following reasons: (1) higher N availability enhanced foliar N and chlorophyll concentrations, and the actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) II reaction centers under irradiance increased, (2) increase of total electron transport rate and proportion of open PSII reaction centers, (3) enhancement of the electron transport rate of the photochemical and carboxylation processes, and (4) reduced limitations of the Calvin cycle enzymes on the photosynthetic electron transport rate. Consequently, sufficient N improved light energy utilization in wheat flag leaves under [CO2]e, thus benefiting to photosynthetic assimilation. and X. C. Zhang, X. F. Yu, Y. F. Ma.
To study the light intensity suitable for Bletilla ochracea Schltr., morphology, photosynthetic parameters, and polysaccharide content of seedlings were evaluated under different light intensities. All shade treatments promoted plant growth and net photosynthetic rate while having no significant effect on transpiration rate. The maximum photochemical efficiency and potential photochemical efficiency reached the lowest values under full sunlight. The electron transport rate and photochemical quenching under shade were significantly higher than those under full light, while nonphotochemical quenching was the highest under full light. This indicated that the shade alleviated photoinhibition in summer and improved the utilization of light. B. ochracea could adapt to different light intensities, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency under low light by improving the electron transport and the degree of opened PSⅡ reaction centers, and adapting to high light by increasing heat dissipation. Plant growth, photosynthesis, and polysaccharide accumulation of B. ochracea greatly increased under 76.4% shade.