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Three‐dimensional microscale modelling of CO 2 transport and light propagation in tomato leaves enlightens photosynthesis
Author(s) -
Ho Quang Tri,
Berghuijs Herman N. C.,
Watté Rodrigo,
Verboven Pieter,
Herremans Els,
Yin Xinyou,
Retta Moges A.,
Aernouts Ben,
Saeys Wouter,
Helfen Lukas,
Farquhar Graham D.,
Struik Paul C.,
Nicolaï Bart M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12590
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , photorespiration , carbon fixation , microscale chemistry , botany , respiration , chloroplast , biophysics , biological system , chemistry , materials science , physics , biology , biochemistry , mathematics , mathematics education , gene
We present a combined three‐dimensional (3‐D) model of light propagation, CO 2 diffusion and photosynthesis in tomato ( S olanum lycopersicum L.) leaves. The model incorporates a geometrical representation of the actual leaf microstructure that we obtained with synchrotron radiation X‐ray laminography, and was evaluated using measurements of gas exchange and leaf optical properties. The combination of the 3‐D microstructure of leaf tissue and chloroplast movement induced by changes in light intensity affects the simulated CO 2 transport within the leaf. The model predicts extensive reassimilation of CO 2 produced by respiration and photorespiration. Simulations also suggest that carbonic anhydrase could enhance photosynthesis at low CO 2 levels but had little impact on photosynthesis at high CO 2 levels. The model confirms that scaling of photosynthetic capacity with absorbed light would improve efficiency of CO 2 fixation in the leaf, especially at low light intensity.