Temperature Dependence of Photosynthesis in Cotton

Cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L., var. Deltapine Smooth Leaf) were grown under controlled environmental conditions over a range of day/night temperatures from 20/15 to 40/35 C. Their photosynthetic characteristics were then measured over a comparable temperature range. Net photosynthesis tended stongly to be greatest, and intracellular resistance to CO(2) transport to be lowest, when the measurement temperature corresponded to the daytime growth temperature, suggesting pronounced acclimation of the plants to the growth temperature. The preferred growth temperature was close to the 25/20 C regime, since net photosynthesis of these plants, regardless of measurement temperature, was higher and intracellular resistance lower, than in plants from any other regime.Ribulose diphosphate carboxylase activity per unit leaf area was highest in plants grown at 25/20 C, but did not show pronounced changes with growth temperature. Glycolate oxidase activity decreased and NADH-malate dehydrogenase activity tended to increase with increasing growth temperature. In contrast, changes in carbonic anhydrase activity with growth temperature showed a general similarity to changes in photosynthetic rate. This may suggest that the "chemical resistance" component of the intracellular resistance bears a relationship to the amount of carbonic anhydrase in the leaf.