Control of Assimilate Production

Photosynthesis is the major means of dry matter accumulation in plants. Net photosynthesis is a measure of the gain in assimilate by the plant, after photorespiration and dark respiration losses have been accounted for, and is proportional to quantitative yield production.1 

The enzyme responsible for the fixation of CO2, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO), also catalyses the oxygenation of ribulose bisphosphate to form one molecule of phosphoglycerate and one molecule of phosphoglycolate. Under normal C02 and 02 concentrations six ribulose bisphosphate molecules react with oxygen for every 15 that react with carbon dioxide. 

Another strategy in the manipulation of production is to consider the whole crop as an engine for assimilation. Fundamentally, yield is 

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