Abiotic stress, acclimation, and adaptation in carbon fixation processes

Murchie, Erik H.; McAusland, Lorna; Burgess, Alexandra J.

Abstract

Chloroplast CO2 assimilation rate is highly sensitive to environmental changes, and this has a great influence on productivity. Changes in temperature, light, humidity, nutrients, and salinity can all affect processes that limit photosynthesis. In this chapter, we provide a summary of the key processes involved in the response of photosynthesis to abiotic stress while emphasising the importance of integration across scales, in realistic fluctuating environments and the relevance to agriculture. The activity of enzymes of the Calvin-Benson cycle, and especially the enzyme Rubisco can be directly inhibited by high and low temperature and indirectly by activation mechanisms arising from regulation by Rubisco activase and electron transport. Stomatal conductance is a critical process for preventing excessive water loss during suboptimal conditions but also reduces CO2 uptake as a tradeoff. Dynamic photoprotection and long term photoinhibition can indirectly result in compromised CO2 assimilation rates in fluctuating (but otherwise favourable) conditions. Changes in light and temperature induce acclimation of photosynthetic components, which shifts photosynthesis optima and improves CO2 assimilation rates. Finally, we consider whole plant processes and the effect this has on leaf CO2 assimilation in the field.

• Online Publication Date: Jan 21, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Publisher: Academic Press
• Pages: 103-132
• Book Title: Photosynthesis in Action: Harvesting Light, Generating Electrons, Fixing Carbon
• Chapter Number: 6
• ISBN: 9780128237816
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-823781-6.00011-3
• Keywords: CO2; Optimality; Stress; Fluctuating; Environment; Metabolism; Enzyme
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7651393
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128237816000113?via%3Dihub