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Mesophyll diffusion conductance to CO2: An unappreciated central player in photosynthesis

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 06:20 authored by Flexas, J, Barbour, MM, Brendel, O, Cabrera, HM, Marc Carriqui Alcover, Diaz-Espejo, A, Douthe, C, Dreyer, E, Ferrio, JP, Gago, J, Galle, A, Galmes, J, Kodama, N, Medrano, H, Niinemets, U, Peguero-Pina, JJ, Pou, A, Ribas-Carbo, M, Tomas, M, Tosens, T, Warren, CR
Mesophyll diffusion conductance to CO2 is a key photosynthetic trait that has been studied intensively in the past years. The intention of the present review is to update knowledge of gm, and highlight the important unknown and controversial aspects that require future work. The photosynthetic limitation imposed by mesophyll conductance is large, and under certain conditions can be the most significant photosynthetic limitation. New evidence shows that anatomical traits, such as cell wall thickness and chloroplast distribution are amongst the stronger determinants of mesophyll conductance, although rapid variations in response to environmental changes might be regulated by other factors such as aquaporin conductance.

Gaps in knowledge that should be research priorities for the near future include: how different is mesophyll conductance among phylogenetically distant groups and how has it evolved? Can mesophyll conductance be uncoupled from regulation of the water path? What are the main drivers of mesophyll conductance? The need for mechanistic and phenomenological models of mesophyll conductance and its incorporation in process-based photosynthesis models is also highlighted.

Corrigendum DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.08.001

History

Publication title

Plant Science

Volume

193-194

Pagination

70-84

ISSN

0168-9452

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd

Place of publication

Customer Relations Manager, Bay 15, Shannon Industrial Estate Co, Clare, Ireland

Rights statement

© 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Global effects of climate change (excl. Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the South Pacific) (excl. social impacts); Other plant production and plant primary products not elsewhere classified; Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences