Correlation between biomass production and net photosynthetic rates and kinetic properties of RuBP carboxylase in certain C3 plants

Abstract

The relationship between biomass yields and net photosynthesis and carboxylase efficiency was examined in six field grown C3 plant species. Photosynthetic rates and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activities were well related to the biomass production. The superior biomass yields of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. AMV. and Ageratum conyzoides L. were positively correlated with high photosynthetic capacity and low Km (CO2), as well as high Vmax values of RuBP carboxylase in the leaf extracts. It was concluded that the carboxylase efficiency and photosynthetic performance are major determinants of biomass production in at least the C3 plants studied here. © 1986.