Authors
Tiina Tosens, Keisuke Nishida, Jorge Gago, Rafael Eduardo Coopman, Hernán Marino Cabrera, Marc Carriquí, Lauri Laanisto, Loreto Morales, Miquel Nadal, Roke Rojas, Eero Talts, Magdalena Tomas, Yuko Hanba, Ülo Niinemets, Jaume Flexas
Publication date
2016/3
Journal
New phytologist
Volume
209
Issue
4
Pages
1576-1590
Description
  • Ferns and fern allies have low photosynthetic rates compared with seed plants. Their photosynthesis is thought to be limited principally by physical CO2 diffusion from the atmosphere to chloroplasts.
  • The aim of this study was to understand the reasons for low photosynthesis in species of ferns and fern allies (Lycopodiopsida and Polypodiopsida). We performed a comprehensive assessment of the foliar gas‐exchange and mesophyll structural traits involved in photosynthetic function for 35 species of ferns and fern allies. Additionally, the leaf economics spectrum (the interrelationships between photosynthetic capacity and leaf/frond traits such as leaf dry mass per unit area or nitrogen content) was tested.
  • Low mesophyll conductance to CO2 was the main cause for low photosynthesis in ferns and fern allies, which, in turn, was associated with thick cell walls and reduced chloroplast distribution towards intercellular …
Total citations
2016201720182019202020212022202320244242425332733246
Scholar articles
T Tosens, K Nishida, J Gago, RE Coopman… - New phytologist, 2016