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Dark respiration rates are not determined by differences in mitochondrial capacity, abundance and ultrastructure in C4 leaves
  • +9
  • Yuzhen Fan,
  • Andrew Scafaro,
  • Shinichi Asao,
  • Robert Furbank,
  • Antony Agostino,
  • David A. Day,
  • Susanne von Caemmerer,
  • Florence Danila,
  • Melanie Rug,
  • Daryl Webb,
  • Jiwon Lee,
  • Owen Atkin
Yuzhen Fan
Australian National University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Andrew Scafaro
Australian National University
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Shinichi Asao
Australian National University
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Robert Furbank
Australian National University
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Antony Agostino
Australian National University
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David A. Day
Flinders University
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Susanne von Caemmerer
The Australian National University
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Florence Danila
Australian National University
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Melanie Rug
Australian National University
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Daryl Webb
Australian National University
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Jiwon Lee
Australian National University
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Owen Atkin
Australian National University
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Abstract

Our understanding of the regulation of respiration in C4 plants, where mitochondria play different roles in the different types of C4 photosynthetic pathway, remains limited. We examined how leaf dark respiration rates (Rdark), in the presence and absence of added malate, vary in monocots representing the three classical biochemical types of C4 photosynthesis (NADP-ME, NAD-ME and PCK) using intact leaves and extracted bundle sheath strands. In particular, we explored to what extent Rdark are associated with mitochondrial number, volume and ultrastructure. We found that the respiratory response of NAD-ME and PCK type bundle sheath strands to added malate was associated with differences in mitochondrial number, volume, and/or ultrastructure, while NADP-ME type bundle sheath strands did not respond to malate addition. In general, mitochondrial traits reflected the contributions mitochondria make to photosynthesis in the three C4 types. However, despite the obvious differences in mitochondrial traits, no clear correlation was observed between these traits and Rdark. We suggest that Rdark is primarily driven by cellular maintenance demands and not mitochondrial composition per se, in a manner that is somewhat independent of mitochondrial organic acid cycling in the light.
01 Oct 2021Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
04 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
04 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
10 Oct 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Dec 20211st Revision Received
Apr 2022Published in Plant, Cell & Environment volume 45 issue 4 on pages 1257-1269. 10.1111/pce.14267