Evolution of an intermediate C4 photosynthesis in the non-foliar tissues of the Poaceae

Photosynthesis – beyond the leaf

“…For some nonleaf tissues, such as tomato fruit, the lack of stomata highlights the sole reliance upon carbon refixation (Simkin et al, 2020). Stomata are found in various numbers on nonfoliar tissues, such as rice panicles (Li et al, 2021;Rangan et al, 2022), wheat stems and ear components (Fig. 3; Hu et al, 2019;Henry et al, 2020;Simkin et al, 2020), and certain fruits (Brazel & Ó'Maoiléidigh, 2019); however, their functionality, including their contribution to carbon acquisition, has not been fully evaluated (Simkin et al, 2020).…”

Blazing a trail towards higher photosynthetic efficiency : A multi-dimensional study of Hirschfeldia incana

“…First, a growing body of evidence is accumulating for the importance and contribution of photosynthesis carried out in non-foliar organs, such as stems and fruits, to plant productivity (Aschan and Pfanz, 2003;Simkin et al, 2020;Lawson and Milliken, 2023). While the biochemical pathways of non-foliar photosynthesis are still to be fully understood (Henry et al, 2020;Rangan et al, 2022), the contribution of wheat ears' photosynthesis to overall assimilated carbon was shown to be relevant in modern cultivars and in challenging conditions (Tambussi et al, 2021), similarly to what is being described for rice panicles (Zhang et al, 2022).…”