EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE DURING GROWTH ON LEAF ANATOMY AND SUBSEQUENT LIGHT‐SATURATED PHOTOSYNTHESIS AMONG CONTRASTING LOLIUM GENOTYPES

Abstract

The effect of temperature during growth of ten Lolium genotypes from contrasting populations on subsequent light‐saturated photosynthesis and on leaf mesophyll and stomatal characteristics was examined. Most genotypes grown at 9° and 15° C had faster rates of photosynthesis at 15° than those grown at 21° C. Photosynthetic activity at 21° C was also greater when plants were grown at 15° Compared with 21° C. This temperature effect was not associated with changes in the observed mesophyll or stomatal characteristics. Plants grown at 21° usually had smaller mesophyll cells than those grown at 15° C. Among plants grown at 9° and 15° C, and among those grown at 21° C, light‐saturated photosynthesis was negatively correlated with mesophyll cell size. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved