Maintenance of High Photosynthetic Rates in Mesophyll Cells Isolated from Papaver somniferum

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Abstract
The establishment and maintenance of high rates of photosynthetic CO2 incorporation in mesophyll cells of P. somniferum (opium poppy) depend on a regime of dark and light periods immediately following isolation and carefully adjusted conditions of isolation. Analysis of the incorporation pattern of 14CO2 by the isolated cells indicates an initial stress-response period of approximately 20 h characterized by increased respiratory-type metabolism and diminished photosynthesis. Under the favorable regime, this period is followed by rapid recovery and the reinstatement of a metabolic state strikingly similar to that of intact leaves in which the initial rate of CO2 incorporation is between 110 and 175 .mu.mol CO2 fixed/mg chlorophyll per h. The photosynthetic viability of these cells were maintained for up to 80 h.