I am studying about stomata of flower bulbs. Now I want measure the photosynthesis of bulbs. In fact I want to know if stomata on bulbs participate in the photosynthesis or not? Do you have any methods or ideas?
You can start measuring different chlorophyll pigment in bulb, before proceeding further.........
Nabi, a warm welcome to the realm of non-foliar (non-leaf) green organ photosnthesis! Many of us working on epiphytic orchids, green fruits, green stems (cactus) and other interesting plants have to deal with non-foliar photosynthetic contribution to the overall plant carbon gain.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235922502_The_Physiology_Of_Tropical_Orchids_In_Relation_To_The_Industry?ev=prf_pub
I attached Chapter 3 about this form of atypical photosynthesis for your reference (read section 3.5 onwards). Good luck!
Book The Physiology Of Tropical Orchids In Relation To The Industry
Nabi, an old paper from us about the relative contribution of orchid (pseudo)bulbs' photosynthesis in relation to the "regular" leaf photosynthetic carbon gain. cheers!
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235685952_Growth_and_photosynthesis_of_Oncidium_Goldiana?ev=prf_pub
Article Growth and photosynthesis of Oncidium Goldiana
What exactly do you mean by "flower bulbs"? The belowground storage organs of e.g. tulip and narcissus? Actually I have never thought about photosynthesis in these parts of a plant. I can imagine that the parts of bulbs which are exposed to light will get green and perform some photosynthesis but at a very low rate. If full functionality of stomata is retained?? I don't know. I mean bulbs are heavily protected from transpiration by the dry outer leaf bases anyway. Maybe I did not fully understand your question and it requires more explanation.
Best wishes from Kiel.
Hartmut
Hello Colleagues
first i should thanks you for your explanation and comment,
dear how you measure photosynthesis in bulbs? whats your instrument and equipment?
First think about the reponse of Hartmut Kaiser. A flower bulb is quite often found belowground, hence no potosynthesis.
If you are dealing with roze buds for example, it might be interesting to use a flow through chamber system in which you enclose the rose bud and measure CO2 exchange.
Another possibility is to use an oxygen probe which you can insert in the bulb tissue. An example of this can be found at the following URL:
http://www.presens.de/products/brochures/category/sensor-probes/brochure/oxygen-microsensors.html
Cheers and good luck,
Frank
Assume a green flower bulb. How thick is it? Can it illuminated from all sides ? If not, the shaded part respires.... What about the temperature gradient across the bulb surface, if only parts can be illuminated? Photosynthesis should be measured making sure to know the simultaneous mitochondrial respiration of the rest of the bulb - and mind the so-calles Kok-effect if present....
I am not sure what bulbs you are referring to.
If you are only interested in the net CO2 exchange of a bulb, which is the balance of the respiration as well as any photosynthesis, a gas exchange apparatus would be best. There are many systems available (e.g. LI-6400, LC-Pro+, CIRAS-3, etc.). Bear in mind that you would need a custom made cuvet that can hold your entire bulb and can illuminate it well and equally from all sides. You can then distinguish between respiration (in the dark) and photosynthesis in the light.
Similarly, you can use O2 exchange to measure respiration and photosynthesis in this manner by using an O2 electrode and a suitable cuvet enclosing an illuminating the whole bulb (e.g. Hansatech Oxygen electrode for the gas phase).
If you are only interested in the activity of the green parts of the bulb, you can consider using pulse modulated chlorophyll fluorescence techniques, for which many systems are available (e.g. PAM2500, Hansatech FMS1 or 2, Technologica FluorImager). Particularly imaging systems might be of use for your application.
In case of the gas exchange systems (CO2 or O2), a custom made cuvet with lighting system would be necessary.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Philosophy
- Ethics