Gas Exchange of Oil Palm in Relation to Light, Vapour Pressure Deficit, Temperature and Leaf Age

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 97 - 104
• Main Authors: Dufrene, E., Saugier, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford British Ecological Association 01-01-1993; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon dioxide; Deciduous forests; Elaeis guineensis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaves; Net assimilation rate; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetically active radiation; Plants; Plants and fungi; Stomatal conductance; Transpiration; Vapor pressure; Monocotyledones; Photosynthetically active radiation; Temperature; Carbon dioxide; Stomatal conductance; Environmental factor; Plant leaf; Quantum yield; Oil plant(vegetal); Transpiration; Oil; Light; Angiospermae; Humidity; Spermatophyta; Palmae; Gas exchange; Photosynthesis; Elaeis guineensis; Age
• ISSN: 0269-8463; 1365-2435
• DOI: 10.2307/2389872

1. Gas exchange in leaves of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) was measured in the field over a range of photon fluxes, leaf temperatures and leaf-air vapour pressure differences (VPD). 2. There were no differences in leaflet photosynthesis within one frond, but a reduction depending on frond age. For fronds of the same age, between-tree variation was low. 3. The light saturated rate of net CO2 assimilation was 20 μmol m-2 s-1 when photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) exceeded 1100 μmol m-2 s-1. Apparent quantum yield averaged 0.051 mol mol-1. When leaf temperature increased from 30⚬C to 38⚬C, net CO2 uptake showed no variation as transpiration rate and stomatal conductance increased slightly. A small increase in VPD induced rapid stomatal closure and consequently a reduction in the transpiration rate. A VPD greater than 1.8 kPa was required before photosynthesis was reduced via stomatal closure in the case of plants growing in a soil with adequate water supply.