Stem photosynthesis in Psorothamnus spinosus (smoke tree) in the Sonoran desert of California.

Stem photosynthetic responses to environmental parameters were investigated with Psorothamnus spinosus in the Sonoran Desert of California. Light saturation of stem photosynthesis was equal to maximum midday summer irradance (1600-2000 μmol·m·s). The optimum temperature for stem photosynthesis was 39°C, and lower stem temperatures (27-35°C) caused significant decreases (up to 50%) in stem photosynthesis. Positive stem photosynthesis was maintained up to 51°C. Stem photosynthesis was relatively insensitive to increasing vpd up to 5 kPa; However, stem conductance decreased by 25% at a vpd of 5 kPa. At vpd greater than 5 kPa stem photosynthesis decreased relatively more than that of stem conductance causing a decrease in water use efficiency and an increase an intercellular carbon dioxide concentration. Maximum stem photosynthetic rates were low (6.2-10.6 μmol·m·s) on a stem surface area, but, stem photosynthetic rates of young shoots were substantially higher (19.5-33.3 μmol· m·s) on a projected area basis.