Evaluation of a Rapid Method for Screening the Capacity of Leaves to Export Photosynthate

Abstract

A method was developed to rapidly screen genotypes for capacity of leaves to export photosynthate, with the expectation that rapid export should promote growth. Vegetative plants of 13 cultivars of Pisum sativum L. (pea) were screened based on changes in specific leaf weight (SLW) at dawn before and after exposing plants to CO2-enriched air (1200 ppm) for one diurnal cycle. Three cultivars (Nofila, Little Marvel, Sugar Daddy) had relatively little increase in SLW and were designated rapid exporters; based on this criterion `Alaska', `Oregon Sugar Pod II', and `Manoa' were slow exporters. The increase in SLW was due to starch and sugars. Neither single leaf net photosynthetic nor dark respiration rates consistently differed among cultivars when measured at 1200 or 350 ppm CO2 (normal air). The difference between rapid and slow exporters persisted after plants were grown for 2 weeks at 1200 vs. 350 ppm CO2. However, the relative growth rate (RGR) of whole-plant dry mass did not differ consistently among cultivars at either CO2 level, except it was high for `Alaska', a slow exporter. The high RGR for `Alaska' was due in part to a high ratio of whole plant leaf area to dry mass early in the growth period. Thus, although the rapid exporters accumulated relatively low levels of starch and sugars, this trait did not dominate other growth determining traits.