Effects of position and age on leaf photosynthesis in corn (Zea mays)

The effects of position and age of leaves on CO2 exchange rate (CER) are described for a single-cross corn (Zea mays L.) hybrid ('Harrow 691') grown at 10-h and 20-h photoperiods. The effect of leaf age is also described for barren plants grown at a 10-h photoperiod.CER of newly matured leaves increased from leaf 3 to leaf 6 (10 h) or 8 (20 h). The rates were not significantly different for leaves 6 to 13, but were lower for leaf 14, at 10 h; while the rate for leaf 10 was lower than for leaf 8 but not different from that for leaves 11–15, at 20 h.CER declined with leaf age, but the rate of decline was reduced after pollination at both 10 h and 20 h. The stomatal resistance changed little for a period of 4 to 5 weeks following silking. The decline in CER of all leaves studied for barren plants was smooth, with the rate being unaffected in the postsilking period; in these plants changes in stomatal resistance closely reflected the decrease in photosynthetic rates.The results emphasize that the CER of newly matured leaves was lower for leaves produced in the early stages of ontogeny than for those maturing later, and that the pattern of decline with age in photosynthetic activity varied considerably amongst those leaves that would have been contributing assimilates to the developing ear.