Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry III

Improving photosynthetic efficiency is a promising strategy for increasing crop productivity. Depending on growth conditions, photosynthetic rates are constrained by incident light levels, the carboxylation rate of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) by RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), the regeneration rate of RuBP, or the rate of triose phosphate utilization. The limitations to each of these processes and potential improvements at both the leaf and canopy level are outlined here.