The role of leaf width and conductances to CO2 in determining water use efficiency in C4 grasses

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.15920
• Publication Date: 2019-05-14T16:46:06Z
• Authors: Francisco Javier ...; Robert E. Sharwood; Asaph B. Cousins; Oula Ghannoum
• Keywords: 580; 0106 biological sciences; 2. Zero hunger; photosynthesis; plants; carbonic anhydrase; Water; Carbon Dioxide; 15. Life on land; Poaceae; 01 natural sciences; water efficiency; Carbon; 6. Clean water; Plant Leaves; XXXXXX - Unknown; Plant Stomata; Photosynthesis; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP)

Summary C 4 plants achieve higher photosynthesis ( A n ) and intrinsic water use efficiency iWUE than 3 plants, but processes underpinning the variability in across three subtypes remain unclear, partly because we lack an integrated framework for quantifying contribution of diffusional biochemical limitations to photosynthesis. We exploited natural diversity among grasses develop original mathematical approach estimating eight key their relative . also developed a new formulation estimate mesophyll conductance g m based on actual hydration rates CO 2 by carbonic anhydrases. found positive relationship between inverse correlation with sw grasses. revealed subtype‐specific regulatory that may be related known anatomical traits characterising each subtype. Leaf width was important determinant showed significant correlations , especially NADP ‐ ME species. In conclusion, incorporating leaf breeding trials unlock opportunities crops negative translate into crop canopy WUE