Reduced diffusional limitations in carnation stems facilitate higher photosynthetic rates and reduced photorespiratory losses compared with leaves.

Abstract

Green stem photosynthesis has been shown to be relatively inefficient but can occasionally contribute significantly to the carbon budget of desert plants. Although the possession of green photosynthetic stems is a common trait, little is known about their photosynthetic characteristics in non-desert species. Dianthus caryophyllus is a semi-woody species with prominent green stems, which show similar photosynthetic anatomy with leaves. In the present study, we used a combination of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, some of which were taken under varying O₂ and CO₂ partial pressures, to investigate whether the apparent anatomical similarities between the species' leaves and stems translate into similar photosynthetic physiology and capacity for CO₂ assimilation. Both organs displayed high photosynthetic electron transport rates (ETR) and similar values of steady-state non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), albeit leaves could attain them faster. The analysis of OJIP transients showed that the quantum efficiencies and energy fluxes along the photosynthetic electron transport chain are largely similar between leaves and stems. Stems displayed higher total conductance to CO₂ diffusion, similar biochemical properties, significantly higher photosynthetic rates and lower water use efficiency than leaves. Leaf ETR was more sensitive to sub-ambient O₂ and super-ambient CO₂ partial pressures, while leaves also displayed a higher relative rate of Rubisco oxygenation. We conclude that the highly responsive NPQ and the enhanced photorespiration and WUE in leaves represent photoprotective and water-conserving adaptations to the high incident light intensities they experience naturally, at the expense of higher CO₂ assimilation rates, which the vertically orientated stems can readily attain.