At temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, photosynthesis in trees becomes inefficient. Research by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) shows that from this temperature onwards, water loss by trees increases, while CO₂ absorption decreases.
The study, published in the journal New Phytologist, challenges the conventional assumption that a reduction in photosynthesis at high temperatures is due solely to diffusion limitations of CO₂.
Frontier in the biochemistry of trees?
As the researchers showed, trees reduce CO₂ absorption, even when there is enough carbon dioxide in the air. The study suggests “that there is a limit in the biochemistry of trees above 30 degrees Celsius,” said WSL research leader Marco Lehmann.
Inefficient photosynthesis over a long period of time can seriously affect the growth, development and adaptability of trees or plants and ultimately affect the entire forest ecosystem, the WSL reported on its website on Monday.
Various tree species examined
In their research, the Swiss scientists looked at the tree species beech, spruce, sessile oak and lime, which all responded in the same way to temperatures above 30 degrees.
According to the WSL, this research was possible thanks to a new experimental facility. This allowed the researchers to expose the plants to different environmental conditions under controlled conditions and monitor how the plants behave using gas exchange and isotope measurements.
Source: Krone
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