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. 1983 Jul;72(3):598–603. doi: 10.1104/pp.72.3.598

Effect of Photosynthesis and Carbohydrate Status on Respiratory Rates and the Involvement of the Alternative Pathway in Leaf Respiration

Joaquin Azcón-Bieto 1, Hans Lambers 1,1, David A Day 1
PMCID: PMC1066286  PMID: 16663051

Abstract

In spinach (Spinacia oleracea Hybrid 102 [New World seeds]) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Gabo) leaves, O2 uptake rates in the dark were faster after the plants had been allowed to photosynthesize for a period of several hours. Alternative path activity also increased following a period of photosynthesis in these leaves. No such effects were observed with isolated mitochondria. In spinach and wheat leaves, the level of fructose plus glucose decreased during a period of darkness. In pea (Pisum sativum cv Alaska) leaves, the level of these sugars did not vary significantly during the day, and respiratory rates were also constant. In slices cut from wheat leaves harvested at the end of the night, addition of sugars increased the rate of respiration and engaged the previously latent alternative oxidase. In pea leaves, O2 uptake in the first few minutes following illumination was faster than that observed before illumination, but declined during the next 15 to 20 minutes. Adding the alternative oxidase inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid, or imposing high bicarbonate concentrations during the period of photosynthesis, prevented the rise in O2 uptake rate during the immediate post illumination period.

We conclude that the level of respiratory substrate in leaves determines their rate of O2 uptake, and the degree to which the alternative path contributes to that O2 uptake.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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