Determination of leaf respiration in the light: comparison between an isotopic disequilibrium method and the Laisk method.

Quantification of leaf respiration is important for understanding plant physiology and ecosystem biogeochemical processes. Leaf respiration continues in the light (RL ) but supposedly at a lower rate than in the dark (RDk ). However, there is no method for direct measurement of RL and the available methods require nonphysiological measurement conditions. A method based on isotopic disequilibrium quantified RL (RL13C ) and mesophyll conductance of young and old fully expanded leaves of six species. RL13C was compared to RL determined by the Laisk method (RL Laisk ) on the very same leaves with a minimum time lag. RL 13C and RL Laisk were generally lower than RDk , and were not significantly affected by leaf ageing. RL Laisk and RL 13C were positively correlated (r2  = 0.35), and both were positively correlated with RDk (r2  ≥ 0.6). RL Laisk was systematically lower than RL 13C by 0.4 μmol m-2  s-1 . Using A/Cc instead of A/Ci curves, a higher photocompensation point Γ* (by 5 μmol mol-1 ) was found but no influence on RL Laisk estimates was observed. The results imply that the Laisk method underestimates actual RL significantly, probably related to the measurement condition of low CO2 and irradiance. The isotopic disequilibrium method is useful for assessing responses of RL to irradiance and CO2 , improving our mechanistic understanding of RL .