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30139 
Journal Article 
Stomatal and non-stomatal limitation to photosynthesis in two trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) clones exposed to elevated CO2 and/or O3 
Noormets, A; Sober, A; Pell, EJ; Dickson, RE; Posila, GK; Sober, J; Isebrands, JG; Karnosky, DF 
2001 
1 
Plant, Cell and Environment
ISSN: 0140-7791
EISSN: 1365-3040 
24 
3 
327-336 
WOS:000167642100006 
Leaf gas exchange parameters and the content of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) in the leaves of two 2-year-old aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clones (no. 216, ozone tolerant and no. 259, ozone sensitive) were determined to estimate the relative stomatal and inesophyll limitations to photosynthesis and to determine how these limitations were altered by exposure to elevated CO2 and/or O3. The plants were exposed either to ambient air (control), elevated CO2 (560 p.p.m.) elevated O3 (55 p.p.b.) or a mixture of elevated CO2 and O3 in a free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) facility located near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, USA. Light-saturated photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were measured in all leaves of the current terminal and of two lateral branches (one from the upper and one from the lower canopy) to detect possible age-related variation in relative stomatal limitation (leaf age is described as a function of leaf plastochron index). Photosynthesis was increased by elevated CO2 and decreased by O3 at both control and elevated CO2. The relative stomatal limitation to photosynthesis (I,) was in both clones about 10% under control and elevated O3. Exposure to elevated CO2 + 03 in both clones and to elevated CO2 in clone 259, decreased 4 even further - to about 5%.The corresponding changes in Rubisco content and the stability of Ci/Ca ratio suggest that the changes in photosynthesis in response to elevated CO2 and O3 were primarily triggered by altered mesophyll processes in the two aspen clones of contrasting O3 tolerance. The changes in stomatal conductance seem to be a secondary response, maintaining stable Ci under the given treatment, that indicates close coupling between stomatal and mesophyll processes. 
elevated CO2; elevated O-3; light-saturated photosynthesis; Rubisco; stomatal conductance; stomatal limitation