Regulation of Photosynthesis in Triazine-Resistant and -Susceptible Brassica napus

Abstract

The response of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence quenching to changes in intercellular CO(2) partial pressure (C(i)), O(2) partial pressure, and leaf temperature (15-35 degrees C) in triazine-resistant and -susceptible biotypes of Brassica napus were examined to determine the effects of the changes in the resistant biotype on the overall process of photosynthesis in intact leaves. Three categories of photosynthetic regulation were observed. The first category of photosynthetic response, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco)-limited photosynthesis, was observed at 15, 25, and 35 degrees C leaf temperatures with low C(i). When the carbon assimilation rate was Rubisco-limited, there was little difference between the resistant and susceptible biotypes, and Rubisco activity parameters were similar between the two biotypes. A second category, called feedback-limited photosynthesis, was evident at 15 and 25 degrees C above 300 microbars C(i). The third category, photosynthetic electron transport-limited photosynthesis, was evident at 25 and 35 degrees C at moderate to high CO(2). At low temperature, when the response curves of carbon assimilation to C(i) indicated little or no electron transport limitation, the carbon assimilation rate was similar in the resistant and susceptible biotypes. With increasing temperature, more electron transport-limited carbon assimilation was observed, and a greater difference between resistant and susceptible biotypes was observed. These observations reveal the increasing importance of photosynthetic electron transport in controlling the overall rate of photosynthesis in the resistant biotype as temperature increases. Photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (q(P)) in the resistant biotype never exceeded 60%, and triazine resistance effects were more evident when the susceptible biotype had greater than 60% q(P), but not when it had less than 60% q(P).