Net CO2 exchange rate of in vitro plum cultures during growth evolution at different photosynthetic photon flux density

CO2 concentration was monitored during three 15-day subculturing cycles in vessels containing actively proliferating plum cultures of Prunus cerasifera, clone Mr.S. 2/5. The effects of two photosynthetic photon flux density regimes: 50 ± 5 μmol m−2 s−1 and 210 ± 5 μmol m−2 s−1 were compared. Three distinct phases in the CO2 trend were distinguished during each culturing cycle of both light treatments. In the first, occurring at the beginning of the culture cycle, the amount of CO2 emitted by the cultures during dark periods was greater than that assimilated during the light periods. In the second phase, the opposite trend was detected, while in the third, the range of CO2 day-night fluctuations increased or remained stable according to the number of explants per vessel. The treatment with 210 ± 5 μmol m−2 s−1 did not modify the CO2 phase trend but induced more pronounced fluctuations in day-night CO2 concentration. Under this light treatment, cultures reached CO2 compensation point for a period as long as 48% of the total number of light hours, while under 50 ± 5 μmol m−2 s−1, it was only 8%. The different range in CO2 day-night fluctuations monitored throughout a subculturing cycle, appeared to be mainly induced by changes in culture growth dynamics.