WHOLE PLANT STUDIES ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND ACETYLENE REDUCTION IN ALNUS GLUTINOSA

Abstract

Rates of photosynthesis and acetylene reduction by whole plants were measured on (a) twelve Alnus glutinosa clones and (b) A. glutinosa seedlings grown in low and high irradiances. Both genetic and environmental manipulation of photosynthetic rates produced concomitant changes in rates of acetylene reduction. For the clonal material, growing under closely similar environmental conditions, mean rate of net photosynthesis was significantly positively correlated with both the mean fresh weight of nodules formed per plant and with the mean rate of acetylene reduction. Copyright © 1978, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved