title: The effects of light and nitrogen on photosynthesis, leaf characteristics, and dry matter allocation in the chaparral shrub, Diplacus aurantiacus.
abstract: Plants of Diplacus aurantiacus, a successional shrub common in California chaparral, were grown under controlled conditions in which either quantum flux density or nitrogen availability was varied. Photosynthesis and leaf nitrogen content were determined on a leaf area and a leaf weight basis, and whole plant growth was monitored.There was a direct relationship between photosynthesis and leaf nitrogen content on both area and weight bases. Reduced light intensity of the growth environment resulted in reductions in light-saturated photosynthesis and nitrogen content on an area basis, but not on a weight basis. With reduced nitrogen availability, photosynthesis and leaf nitrogen content per unit leaf weight decreased.Resource use efficiency increased as the resource became more limiting. The results are consistent with a model of plant growth in which net carbon gain of the leaf is maximized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gulmon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chu