Photosynthetic Responses to Irradiance in Three Forest Understory Species of the C4 Grass Genus Muhlenbergia

View/ Open
Issue Date
1987Author
Smith, Marian
Martin, Craig E.
Publisher
The University of Chicago Press
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Published Version
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2995345Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Three species of the C4 grass genus Muhlenbergia—M.frondosa, M. sobolifera, and Af. schreberi—were
collected from forest understory habitats in Kansas and grown in a growth chamber at 1,500, 150, and 15-
25 |xmol m"2 s"1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Assimilation (A), conductance to C02 , intercellular
C02 concentration, chlorophyll (chl) concentrations, and photosystem I electron-transport capacity
were determined and compared with results for Af. cuspidata, which occurs only in open, prairie areas.
All of the shade species exhibited more shade tolerance than the prairie species: they had lower maximum
A, saturation of A, and photosystem I electron transport with respect to PPFD, higher quantum yields that
increased with decreasing growth PPFD, and increasing chl concentrations with decreasing PPFD.
Description
This is the publisher's official version, also available electronically from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2995345
Collections
Citation
Smith, M. and C.E. Martin. 1987. Photosynthetic responses to PPFD in three forest understory species of the C4 grass genus Muhlenbergia. Bot. Gaz. 148: 275-282.
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.