ArticlePlant physiology2011
Functional analysis of corn husk photosynthesis.
Article in Plant physiology, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers.
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Who cites it
34 citing papers in PubMed, 76 citations in OpenAlex.
- Harnessing natural variation for photosynthetic improvement in next-generation crop breeding.Journal of integrative plant biology · 2026Review
- Transcriptional reprogramming under drought reveals divergent adaptive strategies in Quinoa.BMC plant biology · 2025Article
- Pod photosynthesis: a new frontier for developing stress-resilient and high-yielding crops.Plant & cell physiology · 2025Review
- Genome-Wide Association Study and Candidate Gene Mining of Husk Number Trait in Maize.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Natural variation in ZmNRT2.5 modulates husk leaf width and promotes seed protein content in maize.Plant biotechnology journal · 2025Article
- Metabolic flux analysis to increase oil in seeds.Plant physiology · 2025Review
- Effects of high light intensity and spectral variability on maize photosynthesis and growth.Frontiers in plant science · 2025Article
- Article
- Metabolic synergy in Camelina reproductive tissues for seed development.Science advances · 2022Article
- Evolution of an intermediate CPhotosynthesis research · 2022Review
- Stomatal cavity modulates the gas exchange of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. grown under different water levels.Protoplasma · 2022Article
- Alternative Materials from Agro-Industry for Wood Panel Manufacturing-A Review.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Photosynthetic contribution and characteristics of cucumber stems and petioles.BMC plant biology · 2021Article
- The carbon isotopic signature of CTAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik · 2021Review
- Sterile Spikelets Contribute to Yield in Sorghum and Related Grasses.The Plant cell · 2020Article
- Assessment of the Potential for Genomic Selection To Improve Husk Traits in Maize.G3 (Bethesda, Md.) · 2020Article
- Denser Markers and Advanced Statistical Method Identified More Genetic Loci Associated with Husk Traits in Maize.Scientific reports · 2020Article
- On the road to CThe Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology · 2020Review
- Photosynthesis in non-foliar tissues: implications for yield.The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology · 2020Review
- Genetic Engineering for Global Food Security: Photosynthesis and Biofortification.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Review
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The husk surrounding the ear of corn/maize (Zea mays) has widely spaced veins with a number of interveinal mesophyll (M) cells and has been described as operating a partial C(3) photosynthetic pathway, in contrast to its leaves, which use the C(4) photosynthetic pathway. Here, we characterized photosynthesis in maize husk and leaf by measuring combined gas exchange and carbon isotope discrimination, the oxygen dependence of the CO(2) compensation point, and photosynthetic enzyme activity and localization together with anatomy. The CO(2) assimilation rate in the husk was less than that in the leaves and did not saturate at high CO(2), indicating CO(2) diffusion limitations. However, maximal photosynthetic rates were similar between the leaf and husk when expressed on a chlorophyll basis. The CO(2) compensation points of the husk were high compared with the leaf but did not vary with oxygen concentration. This and the low carbon isotope discrimination measured concurrently with gas exchange in the husk and leaf suggested C(4)-like photosynthesis in the husk. However, both Rubisco activity and the ratio of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to Rubisco activity were reduced in the husk. Immunolocalization studies showed that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is specifically localized in the layer of M cells surrounding the bundle sheath cells, while Rubisco and glycine decarboxylase were enriched in bundle sheath cells but also present in M cells. We conclude that maize husk operates C(4) photosynthesis dispersed around the widely spaced veins (analogous to leaves) in a diffusion-limited manner due to low M surface area exposed to intercellular air space, with the functional role of Rubisco and glycine decarboxylase in distant M yet to be explained.
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