Summary
This chapter explores how the diffusion of CO2 into photosynthetic tissues is affected by the morphology and biochemistry of bryophytes from the sub-cellular level to that of leaf-like structures, with an emphasis on the most ancient form of a land plant CO2 concentrating mechanism, the hornwort pyrenoid. Interest in the control of CO2 diffusion has increased dramatically over the past 5–10 years due to the discovery of CO2 transporting aquaporins in chloroplast membranes and the ever-increasing interest in photosynthetic carbon fixation as a source of food and biologically generated fuels. The diffusion of CO2 is of critical importance to our understanding of photosynthesis in land plants because it is inextricably linked to water loss. Photosynthetic tissues need to be well hydrated to function properly, but must lose water in order to capture CO2 since water vapor can diffuse out of photosynthetic tissues through any pore large enough to allow CO2 in. At the same time, too much water also limits photosynthesis because even thin films of liquid water present significant barriers to CO2 diffusion. Furthermore, the partial pressure of CO2 reaching the sites of carboxylation in the chloroplast is what inherently controls the efficiency of photosynthetic carbon assimilation. The amazing variation in bryophyte morphology provides a broad palette for sampling how plants have balanced these structural and biochemical trade-offs. Here we discuss how studying this variability can generate invaluable insight into both the limitations and opportunities for enhancing land plant photosynthesis.
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Abbreviations
- CA:
-
Carbonic anhydrase;
- CCM:
-
CO2 concentrating mechanism;
- δ13C:
-
Isotopic composition of carbon 13C and 12C;
- Δ:
-
Isotopic discrimination;
- Rubisco:
-
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase
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This work was possible through support of the National Science Foundation (IOS 0719118 and DEB 0531751) and the University of New Mexico.
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Hanson, D.T., Renzaglia, K., Villarreal, J.C. (2014). Diffusion Limitation and CO2 Concentrating Mechanisms in Bryophytes. In: Hanson, D., Rice, S. (eds) Photosynthesis in Bryophytes and Early Land Plants. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 37. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6988-5_6
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