Institute for Genomic Biology, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Annu Rev Plant Biol. 2013;64:701-22. doi: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120033. Epub 2013 Mar 4.
C(4) photosynthesis under optimal conditions enables higher-efficiency use of light, water, and nitrogen than the C(3) form used by many crops. It is associated with the most productive terrestrial plants and crops but is largely limited to the tropics and subtropics. It has been argued that the C(4) photosynthetic apparatus is inherently limited to warm environments. A small group of C(4) species appear to have overcome this, and in contrast to the major C(4) crop, maize, these species are able to acclimate their photosynthetic apparatus to chilling conditions. This review explores the mechanisms underlying this difference as well as the potential of introducing these changes into maize and other warm-climate C(4) crops.
C(4) 光合作用在最佳条件下比许多作物使用的 C(3) 形式更有效地利用光、水和氮。它与最具生产力的陆地植物和作物有关，但主要局限于热带和亚热带地区。有人认为，C(4)光合作用装置本质上仅限于温暖的环境。一小部分 C(4)物种似乎已经克服了这一限制，与主要的 C(4)作物玉米不同，这些物种能够使它们的光合作用装置适应寒冷条件。本综述探讨了这种差异的基础机制，以及将这些变化引入玉米和其他温暖气候 C(4)作物的潜力。
