Canopy nitrogen distribution is optimized to prevent photoinhibition throughout the canopy during sun flecks.

ABSTRACT: As photoinhibition primarily reduces the photosynthetic light use efficiency at low light, sunfleck-induced photoinhibition might result in a fatal loss of carbon gain in the shade leaves within a canopy with barely positive carbon balance. We hypothesized that shade leaves at the lower canopy might retain a certain amount of leaf nitrogen (NL) to maintain energy consumption via electron transport, which contributes to circumventing photoinhibition during sunflecks to keep efficient utilization of low light during the rest period of daytime. We investigated excess energy production, a potential measure of susceptibility to photoinhibition, as a function of NL distribution within a Japanese oak canopy. Optimal NL distribution, which maximizes canopy carbon gain, may lead to a higher risk of

SUBMITTER: Kitao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5764975 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature