Dynamic Photosynthesis Under Non-steady Conditions

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About this Research Topic

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Background

Photosynthesis occurs under fluctuating environmental conditions both in the field and glasshouse growth environments and not under the steady-state conditions, which are typically used for most laboratory measurements. Additionally, leaves within a crops canopy experience rapid fluctuations in microclimatic conditions due to the canopy structure (e.g. self-shading, air eddies), resulting in temporally and spatially heterogeneity in physiological responses. Plant growing under such non-steady-state environmental conditions can acclimate and adapt to the environment which impacts photosynthesis responses, plant growth, development and ultimately yield. Over the last decade, the scientific community has accumulated evidence from several crops species that acclimation responses to variables such as light fluctuations, relative humidity and temperature greatly impact plant processes and our understanding of these. However, to date, the majority of these studies on photosynthesis acclimation have been limited to controlled conditions in which only one environmental variable is changed at a time, which is far from what a plant experiences under natural conditions. Photosynthesis acclimation to fluctuations in multiple environmental variables can result in complex interactions that have not received a great deal of attention however they are crucial to comprehend plant growth and development in the field and glasshouse growth environments.

We now need to investigate how acclimation to simultaneous fluctuations in several environmental variables accumulate and results in emergent properties that impact photosynthesis performance. Moreover, acclimation to multiple environmental fluctuations needs to be assessed at different time scales (e.g. hours, days, etc.) if we want to fully comprehend this dynamic process. Studying acclimatory processes under non-steady-state conditions can be challenging using the techniques and methods currently available. Therefore, new approaches, methods and models to measure, describe, simulate and predict photosynthesis responses under non-steady conditions are important if we want to disentangle the complex mechanisms and implications for performance during acclimation. In this research topic, we highlight how fluctuating environmental conditions influence leaf acclimations and photosynthetic responses and how such information can be used to identify novel targets to improve dynamic photosynthesis and ultimately plant performance.

We welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, and Opinion articles that cover aspects of photosynthesis acclimation under non-steady conditions. In particular, we encourage those that bring new insights into the mechanisms and genetic factors of acclimations, new methodology and techniques as well as new models to describe dynamic photosynthesis. Our Research Topic aim to stimulate findings in dynamic photosynthesis under the following themes and related questions:

1. Impact of non-steady environmental conditions on photosynthesis acclimation.
How do fluctuations of multiple environmental variables interact and influence photosynthesis acclimation? Studies on physiological and morphological changes due to acclimation, as well as GWAS and QTL studies or screening of breeding lines are welcomed, especially for crops.

2. Photosynthesis measurements under non-steady conditions.
Dynamic photosynthesis and acclimation processes are difficult to capture and analyze under non-steady conditions highlighting the need for new methods and techniques. Therefore, we encourage the submission of new measurement protocols, methods to process data or technical updates.

3. Dynamic photosynthesis model.
Traditional models use steady-state equations to describe photosynthesis and do not capture the temporal limitations that are important when summed over the diurnal period. Moreover, they often do not include acclimation responses and are limited in the time scale they can simulate.

Please note: Descriptive studies that report responses of growth, yield or quality to agronomical treatments will not be considered if they do not progress physiological understanding of these responses.

Keywords: Fluctuating light, Acclimation, Stomatal conductance, Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll a fluorescence

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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