Modelling the impact of improved photosynthetic properties on crop performance in Europe

Using the GECROS model, we simulated the effect of improvements in photosynthesis a range of growth parameters, including yield, and on the epsilon(c) (the conversion efficiency of absorbed solar energy to the chemical energy of biomass) and epsilon(l) (the efficiency of solar energy interception or absorption by the canopy) parameters of the Monteith crop growth equation, for wheat and potato (which use C3 photosynthesis) and maize (which uses C4 photosynthesis). In the case of the C3 crops, the improvements in photosynthesis were via 20% increases in the parameters V-cmax (carboxylation capacity of Rubisco), J(max) (electron transport capacity), S-c/o (Rubisco specificity), kappa(2LL) (efficiency of converting incident light into electron transport) and g(m) (mesophyll conductance), while for the C4 crop, it was via 20% increase in V-cmax, J(max) and S-c/o and a 20% decrease in g(bs) (the conductance that controls the leak of CO2 from the bundle sheath cells in C4 leaves). The changes were applied individually and in combination. The responses were modelled using climate data collected over a 10-year period from 66 sites around Europe. Improvements in photosynthesis did result in increases in yield but with considerable variation between the parameters that were adjusted. The greatest increases were obtained for increases in J(max) and kappa(2LL )(up to an average 11% increase for total plant biomass), and these increases were found across all Europe. Increases in both these parameters have a predominant effect on the light-use efficiency for subsaturating irradiances. Improvements in the other parameters produced smaller increases.

Automated summary

Using the GECROS model, this study simulated the impact of improvements in photosynthesis on yield and growth parameters for wheat, potato, and maize. The results showed that these improvements led to increased yield, with the greatest effects seen in the increases of J(max) and kappa(2LL) parameters, which improved light-use efficiency.