Growth Efficiency of Trifolium Subterraneum at High (CO₂)

Abstract

The higher yield obtained by C₄ plants in comparison with C₃ plants (Gifford, 1974) has been ascribed by Zelitch (1971) to be due in part to the absence of photorespiratory CO₂ loss from the leaves of C₄ plants. Mahon et al. (1974a, b) demonstrated that the photorespiratory CO2 loss from the leaves of C₃ plants can be reduced when the CO₂ concentration of the atmosphere surrounding those leaves is increased. Wong (1979) demonstrated in short term experiments that C₃ and C₄ plants growing under an elevated atmosphere CO₂ concentration could obtain similar yields. We sought to determine whether the partitioning of carbon fluxes in a C₃ plant was altered whilst it grew under elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.