Quantitative evaluation of the counterbalance between photosynthetic stimulation and depression caused by low partial pressure of O2 and CO2 in alpine atmospheres

To evaluate the effects of low atmospheric pressure on leaf photosynthesis, we compared the photosynthesis of identical leaves of Fagus crenata at lowland (0 m a.s.l.) and at highland (2360 m a.s.l.). At the high altitude, the atmospheric pressure and partial pressure of CO2 at intercellular air spaces in the leaf (Ci360) decreased to 77% and 78% of those at the low altitude, respectively. On the other hand, the efficiency of photosynthetic CO2-utilization was apparently higher at the high altitude because of a mitigation of the O2-inhibition of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) under low ambient partial pressure of O2. This stimulation of photosynthesis partly compensated a photosynthetic depression due to the low Ci360, and the net assimilation rate (An360) at the high altitude retained 94% of the value at the low altitude. A theoretical model indicated that the stimulation of photosynthesis at high altitudes depend on internal conductance (gi) and/or on Rubisco content. The model demonstrated that low atmospheric pressure at high altitudes caused severe restrictions of photosynthesis when leaves had a small gi and/or a large amount of Rubisco, whichever are repeatedly reported in alpine plants.