Chloroplastic carbon dioxide concentration in Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) needles relates to the position within the crown

Abstract

Differences between sun (E) and shaded (S) foliage were studied in a Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stand. Response curves describing the dependence of the CO2 assimilation rate (P(N)) on the CO2 concentration at the catalytic site of ribulose-1,5-hisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, RuBPCO (P(N)-C(c)) were estimated using the simultaneous measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange. Higher P(N), higher electron transport (J(a)), higher carboxylation capacity (V(c)), and higher RuBPCO activity (τ) for sun acclimated needles was found. The S-needles had higher portion of internal limitation and higher CO2 compensation concentration (Γ) than the E-needles. Because higher degree of limitation of photosynthesis by carboxylation was ascertained, it can be assumed that photosynthesis in shade foliage is limited mainly by lower carboxylation capacity and by low chloroplastic CO2 concentration.