Fm. Kelliher et al., Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of the New Zealand tree, Meryta sinclairii, grown under two watering regimes, NZ J BOTANY, 38(3), 2000, pp. 515-519
We measured leaf gas exchange(photosynthesis, A, and stomatal conductance,
g(s)) at different levels of quantum irradiance (Q) in the warm-temperate,
New Zealand tree Meryta sinclairii, because it has the largest simple leave
s of the New Zealand flora. Five-year-old, potted seedlings were watered or
not watered in a rain-exclusion screenhouse for three weeks during summer
(6-27 March 1998). Maximum photosynthetic rate (A(max)) was 7.6 mu mol m(-2
) s(-1). Data for 18 March are presented, which show that photosynthesis sa
turated at a low level of irradiance. When photosynthesis was 50% of A(max)
, the quantum irradiance Q = 60 mu mol m(-2) s(-1). A linear relation betwe
en photosynthesis and stomatal conductance explained 85% of the variation.
Water limitation reduced leaf area growth by a factor of 3.