03322nas a2200121   4500008004100000245010000041210006900141300001300210490000700223520283000230100002003060856012003080       1993                        eng d00aGas exchange dynamics in C3 and C4 grasses: consequences of differences in stomatal conductance0 aGas exchange dynamics in C3 and C4 grasses consequences of diffe  a113 -1230 v743 aIn full sunlight (photosynthetic photon flux density, 0.4—0.7. μm, PPFD), stomatal conductance to water vapor (g) and transpiration rates (E) are usually higher, and water use efficiency lower, in C3 than C4 species. In the C3 grass Bromus inermis, the difference in conductance between full sun (photosynthetic photon flux [PPFD] > 1500 μmol°m—2°S—1) and shade (PPFD ° 400 μmol°m—2°s—1) was twice as large as in the C4 species Sorghastrum nutans (226.7 vs. 97.8 mmol.m—2.S—1, respectively). Similar differences were measured in four additional C3 and C4 grasses. Variability in PPFD incident on leaves is very common in grasslands, and stomata are known to respond relatively rapidly to fluctuations in this resource. This study evaluated the consequences of different responses in stomatal conductance between C3 and C4 grasses during periods of sunlight variability. Photosynthesis (A, measured as CO2 uptake) and g varied substantially in both B. inermis and S. nutans as PPFD fluctuated between sun and shade levels (4—10 min intervals). Time constants derived form first—order equations describing responses in g after abrupt changes in PPFD indicated that g approached steady—state levels more rapidly in S. nutans than in B. inermis. However, because of the greater magnitude of change in g between sun and shade PPFD in B. inermis, the absolute rate of change in g in this C3 grass was twice as rapid compared to S. nutans (25.7 vs. 12.4 mmol°m—2°s—1°min—1 for reductions in g, respectively). New steady—state levels in g were achieved in 12—13 min after a change in PPFD in S. nutans and 15—19 min in B. inermis. A statistically based two—state (sun/shade) simulation model was used to quantify costs in A and E of the nonsteady—state responses measured for both species as PPFD varied. Costs were calculated as the difference between model output of A or E based on field responses and model output based on hypothetical gas exchange responses in which A and g changed instantaneously. Results suggested that even though the absolute rate of change in g changed was greater in the C3 grass, costs in E during periods of short—term (2—6 min) variations in PPFD were as much as sixfold higher than in the C4 species. Lower cost in E in C4 species during periods of variable PPFD (due to inherently smaller alterations in g) is a previously unrecognized consequence of the C4 photosynthetic pathway. C4 species, and grasses in particular, often are most successful in high—PPFD, water—limited environments in which leaf—level variability in PPFD occurs daily from cloud cover and within—canopy shading. In these environments, stomatal responses that conserve water under nonsteady—state conditions may contribute significantly to the success of C4 species.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.  uhttp://129.130.186.12/content/gas-exchange-dynamics-c3-and-c4-grasses-consequences-differences-stomatal-conductance