CO2exchange of plants

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Abstract
Zea mays, Trifolium repens, and Celmisia angustifolia were grown at 30°, 20°, and 10°c and then the CO2 exchange of their shoots was measured over a range of temperatures. CO2 uptake in the light was greatest for Zea mays plants grown at 30°c and least for plants grown at 10°c. In Trifolium repens the maximum rates were for plants grown at 20°c, while plants grown at 10° and 30°c had similar rates. Plants of the alpine species Celmisia angustifolia had maximum CO2 uptake when grown at 30°c and minimum at 10°c. These effects of growing temperature on CO2 exchange did not appear to be related to leaf structure. In the second experiment, whole plants of Trifolium repens grown at 20°c, and then subjected to a sudden lowering in temperature, showed a brief (½–1 hr) increase in race of CO2 uptake in the light due to decrease in respiration. This was followed by a fall to a level slightly below the race at 20°c which it then maintained for several days. By contrast Zea mays subjected to the same conditions showed an initial rapid drop in CO2 exchange and a continued decrease over several days.