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Growth of C₃ and C₄ Perennial Grasses under Reduced Irradiance

Plant Science Dep., South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD 57007
USDA-ARS 1565 Agronomy Hall
Dep. of Agronomy, 2407 Agronomy Hall, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011

^* Corresponding author.

Several studies have compared C₃ and C₄ species for response to water and temperature regimes. Little comparative information exists, however, on growth responses of C₃ and C₄ species to irradiance regime. The objective of this study was to determine adaptive responses of C₃ and C₄ grasses to irradiance regime. Three C₃ and two C₄ perennial forage grasses were field—established near Ames, IA, and grown under 37, 70, and 100% of full sunlight by use of polypropylene shade cloths. Morphology and growth measurements were conducted three times at 21-d intervals each year for 2 yr. Net leaf CO₂ exchange rate (CER) was measured for one C₃, and one C₄ grass. Specific leaf weight increased and leaf-area ratio decreased with increasing irradiance similarly in all five species. Responses of herbage yield, shoot dry weight, and crop growth rate to irradiance were two to three times greater for C₄ grasses than for C₃ grasses. Responses of CER to irradiance were greater for the C4 grass than for the C₃ grass. Morphological adaptive responses were similar for C₃ and C₄ grasses, but responses closely related to photosynthesis (e.g., CER, growth rate, and herbage yield) were affected more in C₄ than in C₃ species.

Received for publication January 11, 1991.

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