Effects of CO2 Concentration on Rubisco Activity, Amount, and Photosynthesis in Soybean Leaves

Abstract

Growth at an elevated CO(2) concentration resulted in an enhanced capacity for soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv Bragg) leaflet photosynthesis. Plants were grown from seed in outdoor controlled-environment chambers under natural solar irradiance. Photosynthetic rates, measured during the seed filling stage, were up to 150% greater with leaflets grown at 660 compared to 330 microliters of CO(2) per liter when measured across a range of intercellular CO(2) concentrations and irradiance. Soybean plants grown at elevated CO(2) concentrations had heavier pod weights per plant, 44% heavier with 660 compared to 330 microliters of CO(2) per liter grown plants, and also greater specific leaf weights. Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) activity showed no response (mean activity of 96 micromoles of CO(2) per square meter per second expressed on a leaflet area basis) to short-term ( approximately 1 hour) exposures to a range of CO(2) concentrations (110-880 microliters per liter), nor was a response of activity (mean activity of 1.01 micromoles of CO(2) per minute per milligram of protein) to growth CO(2) concentration (160-990 microliters per liter) observed. The amount of rubisco protein was constant, as growth CO(2) concentration was varied, and averaged 55% of the total leaflet soluble protein. Although CO(2) is required for activation of rubisco, results indicated that within the range of CO(2) concentrations used (110-990 microliters per liter), rubisco activity in soybean leaflets, in the light, was not regulated by CO(2).