Combined leaf gas-exchange system for model assessment.

Leaf gas-exchange measurements are useful in assessing plant environmental responses. However, uncertainties in the leaf gas-exchange model potentially limit its application. The main challenge in the model-dependent calculations is to detect violations of assumptions.

Direct measurement of intercellular CO2 concentration in a gas-exchange system resolves overestimation using the standard method.

Intercellular CO2 concentration of leaves (Ci) is a critical parameter in photosynthesis. Nevertheless, uncertainties in calculating Ci arise as stomata close. Here, by modifying the assimilation chamber of a commercial gas-exchange equipment to directly measure Ci, we demonstrate overestimation of calculated Ci (i.

Cuticle Affects Calculations of Internal CO2 in Leaves Closing Their Stomata.

Analyzing the assimilation rate (A) relative to the CO(2) concentration inside leaves (C(i)) has been a useful approach for investigating plant responses to various environments. Nevertheless, there are uncertainties in calculating C(i) when stomata close, restricting the application. Here, A-C(i) curves were traced in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.

Commercial-scale utilization of greenhouse residues.

Development of techniques utilizing waste without any additional energy or rare catalysts is a starting point for becoming sustainable. In the present work, the complex utilization of greenhouse residues was studied on a commercial scale. Only the energy produced by the process (8%) was used to run the technology, thanks to multilevel heat recuperation and high methane yields (over 340 m(3) volatile solid t(-1) ).

The use of underwater high-voltage discharges to improve the efficiency of Jatropha curcas L. biodiesel production.

Underwater high-voltage discharges (3.5 kV) resulting in 4.9 kJ shock waves (50-60 MPa) were studied at the laboratory scale as a Jatropha curcas L.

High-susceptibility of photosynthesis to photoinhibition in the tropical plant Ficus microcarpa L. f. cv. Golden Leaves.

Background: The tropical plant Ficus microcarpa L. f. cv.

Functional characterization of betaine/proline transporters in betaine-accumulating mangrove.

Betaine is an important osmoprotectant in many plants, but its transport activity has only been demonstrated using a proline transporter from tomato, a betaine-nonaccumulating plant. In this study, two full-length and one partial transporter genes were isolated from betaine-accumulating mangrove Avicennia marina. Their homologies to betaine transporters from bacteria and betaine/4-aminobutyrate transporters from mammalian cells were low but were high to proline transporters from Arabidopsis and tomato.