Costs and benefits of photosynthetic light acclimation by tree seedlings in response to gap formation.

Some shade leaves increase their photosynthetic capacity (P (max)) when exposed to a higher irradiance. The increase in P (max) is associated with an increase in chloroplast size or number. To accommodate those chloroplasts, plants need to make thick leaves in advance. We studied the cost and benefit of photosynthetic acclimation in mature leaves of a tree species, Kalopanax pictus Nakai, in a cool-temperate deciduous forest. Costs were evaluated as the additional investment in biomass required to make thick leaves, while the benefit was evaluated as an increase in photosynthetic carbon gain. We created gaps by felling canopy trees and examined the photosynthetic responses of mature leaves of the understorey seedlings. In the shade, leaves of K. pictus had vacant spaces that were not filled by chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells facing the intercellular space. When those leaves were exposed to higher irradiance after gap formation, the area of the mesophyll surface covered by chloroplasts increased by 17% and P (max) by 27%. This increase in P (max) led to an 11% increase in daily carbon gain, which was greater than the amount of biomass additionally invested to construct thicker leaves. We conclude that the capacity of a plant to acclimate to light (photosynthetic acclimation) would contribute to rapid growth in response to gap formation.

Leaf anatomy and light acclimation in woody seedlings after gap formation in a cool-temperate deciduous forest.

The photosynthetic light acclimation of fully expanded leaves of tree seedlings in response to gap formation was studied with respect to anatomical and photosynthetic characteristics in a natural cool-temperate deciduous forest. Eight woody species of different functional groups were used; two species each from mid-successional canopy species (Kalopanax pictus and Magnolia obovata), from late-successional canopy species (Quercus crispula and Acer mono), from sub-canopy species (Acer japonicum and Fraxinus lanuginosa) and from vine species (Schizophragma hydrangeoides and Hydrangea petiolaris). The light-saturated rate of photosynthesis (Pmax) increased significantly after gap formation in six species other than vine species. Shade leaves of K. pictus, M. obovata and Q. crispula had vacant spaces along cell walls in mesophyll cells, where chloroplasts were absent. The vacant space was filled after the gap formation by increased chloroplast volume, which in turn increased Pmax. In two Acer species, an increase in the area of mesophyll cells facing the intercellular space enabled the leaves to increase Pmax after maturation. The two vine species did not significantly change their anatomical traits. Although the response and the mechanism of acclimation to light improvement varied from species to species, the increase in the area of chloroplast surface facing the intercellular space per unit leaf area accounted for most of the increase in Pmax, demonstrating the importance of leaf anatomy in increasing Pmax.

Pesticide analysis by gas chromatography with a novel atomic emission detector.

An atomic emission detector, consisting of a microwave-induced helium plasma and atomic emission spectrometer, has been used for the gas chromatographic analysis of pesticides. In principle, it is possible to detect any element in the periodic table (except helium) which can elute from a gas chromatograph. Detection limits for C, H, D, N, O, Br, Cl, F, S, Si, P, Sn and Hg were found to range from 0.1 to 75 pg/s with selectivities over carbon of 5000 or more. The gas chromatography-atomic emission detection system has been used for the detection and elemental characterization of 27 different pesticides by obtaining element-specific chromatograms for C, H, N, O, Br, Cl, F, P and S. By performing quantitative analysis for each element, it was possible to calculate the approximate empirical formulas for 20 different herbicides in two different mixtures. An extract from an apple doped with three pesticides was analyzed by gas chromatography-atomic emission detection.