Stimulation of photosynthesis by 2% oxygen at low temperatures is restored by phosphate

The effect of phosphate feeding on the influence of low (2%) oxygen on photosynthetic carbon assimilation has been investigated in leaf discs of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) at 12°C. The following observations were made. First, after the transition from 20% O2 to 2% O2, the rate of CO2 uptake was inhibited at CO2 concentrations between about 250 and about 800 μl CO2·l(-1). Second, phosphate feeding stimulated the rate of CO2 uptake in 20% O2 at higher concentrations of CO2 (500-900 μl·l(-1)). Third, phosphate feeding stimulated the rate of CO2 uptake in 2% O2 at all but the highest (900 μl·l(-1)) and lowest 74 (μl·l(-1)) concentrations of CO2 employed. Phosphate thereby restored the stimulation of photosynthesis by 2% O2 and it did so over a wide range of lower temperatures. Fourth, oscillatory behaviour, however generated, was dampened by phosphate feeding, even at very low concentrations of CO2. Contents of leaf metabolites were measured during the transition to 2% O2 in control and phosphate-fed leaf discs. During this period the ratio glycerate-3-phosphate/triose phosphate rose steeply, but fell again only in the phosphate-treated leaf discs. These data, taken together with measured ATP/ADP ratios, showed that assimilatory power, the ratio [ATP]·[NAD(P)H]/[ADP]·[Pi]·[NAD(P)], decreased when leaves were exposed to 2% O2, but that this decrease was minimised by previous feeding of phosphate. The mechanism of phosphate limitation is discussed in the light of the results.