Florence Cassel S.1, Dave Goorahoo2, Diganta Adhikari1, and Shawn Ashkan1. (1) Center for Irrigation Technology, California State University, Fresno, 5370 N. Chestnut Ave., M/S OF18, Fresno, CA 93740, (2) Plant Science Department and Center for Irrigation Technology, California State University, Fresno, 5370 N. Chestnut Ave., M/S OF18, Fresno, CA 93740
Knowledge of plant photosynthesis response to varying levels of CO2, light intensity, and leaf temperature is critical to predict optimal growth, water/light-use efficiency, and develop crop growth models. Research has been conducted to characterize leaf photosynthetic response to light and temperature for plants grown in ambient CO2 levels. However, limited information is available on photosynthesis responses for plants exposed to open-field CO2 enrichment. Therefore, our objective was to develop and compare CO2 response curves for strawberries subjected to varying light (photosynthetically active radiation, PAR) and temperature levels under ambient and elevated CO2 conditions. The experimental site was located in Oxnard, CA, in commercial strawberry fields subjected to these two CO2 environments. The enriched-CO2 plots received 1.5-2 times the CO2 levels naturally present in the ambient-CO2 plots (370 ppm). Responses of leaf photosynthesis rate to increasing intercellular CO2 levels (Ci) were developed for PAR levels varying from 200 to 1200 µmol m-2 s-1 and for leaf temperatures of 20oC and 25oC. Effects of these parameters on stomatal conductance were also studied. Research results indicated that leaf photosynthesis rate increases were relatively constant as Ci levels and temperature increased; however, they lessened as PARs were gradually intensified. These findings were obtained for both ambient and elevated CO2 conditions, and tended to indicate that light saturation effects were observed for PAR near 1200 µmol m-2 s-1 and that temperature had a lesser effect on photosynthesis for plants grown under ambient conditions. Maximum photosynthesis rates were observed at 26 (ambient) and 34 (elevated) µmol m-2 s-1 for PAR of 1200 µmol m-2 s-1 and leaf temperature of 25oC. Stomatal conductance decreased with Ci levels up to 450 (ambient) and 600 (elevated) µmol mol-1 and remained constant afterwards. The increase in temperature attenuated that trend but the PAR levels did not affect the stomatal conductance.