Effects of light intensity and oxygen on photosynthesis and translocation in sugar beet

The mass transfer rate of (14)C-sucrose translocation from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris, L.) leaves was measured over a range of net photosynthesis rates from 0 to 60 milligrams of CO(2) decimeters(-2) hour(-1) under varying conditions of light intensity, CO(2) concentration, and O(2) concentration. The resulting rate of translocation of labeled photosynthate into total sink tissue was a linear function (slope = 0.18) of the net photosynthesis rate of the source leaf regardless of light intensity (2000, 3700, or 7200 foot-candles), O(2) concentration (21% or 1% O(2)), or CO(2) concentration (900 microliters/liter of CO(2) to compensation concentration). These data support the theory that the mass transfer rate of translocation under conditions of sufficient sink demand is limited by the net photosynthesis rate or more specifically by sucrose synthesis and this limitation is independent of light intensity per se. The rate of translocation was not saturated even at net photosynthesis rates four times greater than the rate occurring at 300 microliters/liter of CO(2), 21% O(2), and saturating light intensity.