Temperature,Water and Fertilizer Influence the Timing of Key Events During Grain Development in a US Spring Wheat

Controlled environments were used to define the manner in which temperature, water and fertilizer affect the timing of key transition points during grain development and to investigate the effects of combined environmental factors in a US spring wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.)). When plants were subjected to very high temperature regimens (37/17  or 37/28 °C day/night) during grain development, the times to maximum kernel water content, maximum dry weight and harvest maturity were shorter than in plants maintained under a 24/17 °C day/night regimen. Starch accumulated at similar rates, but the onset and cessation of starch accumulation occurred earlier. Apoptosis in endosperm tissue also occurred earlier under high temperatures and coincided with physiological maturity. The addition of drought to the 37/17 °C regimen further shortened the time to maximum water content and dry weight and reduced the duration of starch accumulation, but did not influence the timing of protein accumulation or kernel desiccation. Post-anthesis fertilizer had little effect on time to maximum water content, dry weight, apoptosis, or harvest maturity under any of the temperature regimens and did not influence the timing of starch accumulation. However, both the rate and duration of protein accumulation were reduced when post-anthesis fertilizer was omitted.     

Research Progress on Heat Stress of Rice at Flowering Stage

Global warming has caused frequent occurrence of heat stress at the flowering stage of single-season rice in the Yangtze River region of China, which results in declines of spikelet fertility and yield in rice. Rice flowering stage is the most sensitive period to high temperatures, and therefore, the key for heat stress happening is the flowering stage coinciding with high temperature, which causes spikelet fertility decreasing in heat-sensitive varieties, and is the major factor for heat injury differences among various rice planting regions. With the development of rice breeding, temperature indexes for heat stress has been converted from daily maximum temperature of 35 °C to 38 °C with the stress duration of more than 3 d. During the flowering stage, anther dehiscence inhibition and low pollen shedding onto the stigma are two main reasons for spikelet fertility reduction under high temperatures. At panicle initiation stage, high temperatures aggravate spikelet degeneration, and destroy floral organ development. Various types of rice varieties coexist in production, and indica-japonica hybrid rice demonstrates the highest heat resistance in general, followed by indica and japonica rice varieties. In production, avoiding high temperature is the main strategy of preventing heat stress, and planting suitable cultivars and adjustment of sowing date are the most effective measures. Irrigation is an effective real-time cultivation measure to decline the canopy temperature during the rice flowering stage. We suggested that further study should be focused on exploring heat injury differences among different rice variety types, and innovating rice-planting methods according to planting system changes in rice planting regions with extreme heat stress. Meanwhile, high temperature monitor and warning systems should be improved to achieve optimal heat stress management efficiencies.     

齐穗至乳熟期不同温度对水稻南粳9108籽粒激素含量、淀粉积累及其合成关键酶活性的影响

【目的】为了明确灌浆结实前中期不同温度对晚粳稻籽粒灌浆、总淀粉及其组分含量的影响特征及其机理,【方法】以优质食味粳稻南粳9108为材料,利用植物培养箱控温,于水稻灌浆结实期设置高温(HT,日均温度31℃)、中温(MT,日均温度26℃)和低温(LT,日均温度21℃)三个处理,以自然温度为对照(CK),研究灌浆结实前中期持续高低温对晚粳稻籽粒灌浆、内源激素含量、淀粉及其及合成关键酶活性的影响。【结果】随温度上升(21℃～31℃),晚粳稻结实率和千粒重降低;灌浆前中期籽粒总淀粉积累速率加快,但持续时间短,总含量降低,而直链淀粉含量及其所占比例在整个灌浆期均呈降低趋势;灌浆前中期脱落酸(ABA)含量显著增加,赤霉素(GA3)含量降低,玉米素核苷(ZR)含量呈"先增先降"趋势;MT处理有利于提高灌浆结实期籽粒生长素(IAA)含量,HT和LT处理均降低籽粒IAA含量,LT处理下,IAA含量先降后升,而HT处理籽粒IAA含量一直处于较低水平;籽粒可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)活性与ZR变化规律相似,也呈"先增先降"趋势,但二者在灌浆结实期并不同步;淀粉分支酶(SBE)活性增加而淀粉脱分支酶(DBE)活性降低。【结论】不同温度显著影响晚粳稻籽粒内源激素含量和淀粉合成关键酶活性的变化,进而影响晚粳稻籽粒灌浆、总淀粉及其组分的积累。     

Submergence tolerance and yield performance of lowland rice as affected by agronomic management practices in eastern India

Rice is subjected to excessive waterlogging and flash-flooding on large areas in south and south-east Asia. Besides cultivars, submergence tolerance of plants is influenced by various agronomic practices. A field experiment was conducted at Cuttack, India during 1994–1995 to study the effect of method of stand establishment (direct seeding and transplanting), vigour of seed (low and high-density) or seedlings (N-fertilized and unfertilized), plant population (normal and 50% more) and N fertilizer (single basal and split application) on yield performance of lowland rice under conditions of natural submergence and simulated flash-flooding (impounding up to 90 ± 3 cm depth for 10 days at vegetative stage). Flooding reached a maximum depth of 80 cm in 1994 and 52 cm in 1995 under natural submergence. The crop performance was better in 1994 due to timely sowing in dry soil and delayed accumulation of water (43 days after sowing) than in 1995 when sowing was done late in saturated soil followed by early water accumulation (28 days after sowing). Grain yield of rice decreased by 30.0–33.6% due to simulated flash-flooding compared with natural submergence, and by 21.4–33.1% due to transplanting in July compared with direct seeding in May-end/early June. The yield of direct-sown crop increased by using high-density seed of 22.9–23.0 mg weight (5.2–9.0%), higher seed rate of 600 m⁻² (2.2–2.3%) and basal fertilization at 40 kg N ha⁻¹ (19.4–25.7%) compared with low-density seed (19.4–20.1 mg), 400 seed m⁻² and no N, respectively. The yield of transplanted crop increased by using N-fertilized seedlings of 0.49–1.65 g weight (29.5–38.5%), higher number of seedlings at 155 m⁻² (3.5–16.7%) and basal fertilization at 40 kg N ha⁻¹ (31.9–32.5%) compared with unfertilized seedlings (0.19–0.79 g), 115 seedlings m⁻² and no N. Split application of 40 kg N ha⁻¹ — 50% each at basal and top dressing (105–115 days of growth after flash-flooding) — improved yield significantly (10.1–13.1%) over single basal application under simulated flash-flooding, but not under natural submergence conditions. Regression analysis indicated that relative contribution of various factors in increasing grain yield was in order: N fertilizer > seed density > seed m⁻² in direct-sown rice, and N fertilizer > seedlings m⁻² > seedling dry weight in transplanted rice. It was concluded that grain yield of flood-prone lowland rice can be increased by establishing the crop early through direct seeding using high-density seed and basal N fertilization.     

Responses of sunflower yield and grain quality to alternating day/night high temperature regimes during grain filling: Effects of timing,duration and intensity of exposure to stress

In order to quantify the effects, at different stages during grain filling, of alternating day/night high temperature regimes on sunflower grain yield and quality, heads were exposed to high temperatures during 7 or 6 days starting either 10–12 days after anthesis (daa, HT1), 18 daa (HT2) or 24 daa (HT3). Also, heads were exposed to high temperatures for periods of 2, 4 or 6 days in each of HT1 and HT2. Temperatures covered a range of mean daily grain temperature of 20–40 °C and peak grain temperatures (i.e., those prevailing during the central 5 h of the daylight period) of 26–45 °C. High temperature stress for periods of 4 days or longer produced significant (p < 0.05) reductions in grain yield and grain quality. Early (HT1) exposure to stress reduced yield by 6%/°C above a mean grain temperature threshold of 29 °C; later (HT2 + HT3) exposures reduced yield by 4%/°C above a threshold of 33 °C. These reductions in yield were attributable to reductions in unit grain weight at all positions (periphery, intermediate, central) on the head, and an increase in the proportion of very small (10–30 mg) grains, termed half-full (HF) grains in this paper. In both full and HF grains, stress in either HT1 or HT2 reduced final pericarp weight, associated with fewer number of cell layers and thinner cell walls in the schlerenchyma. High temperatures reduced both the rate and duration of oil deposition in the grain, with the greatest effects being found with early (HT1) exposures. The unsaturation (oleic acid/linoleic acid) ratio of oil from mature grain was altered only when exposure to heat stress overlapped with the cessation of deposition of storage lipids. The effects of duration and intensity of heat stress on relative (to control) grain yield and oil content could be reasonably summarized using a linear response to cumulative hourly heat load calculated with a base temperature of 30 °C. We conclude that: (i) 4 days of alternating day/night temperatures resulting in mean daily grain temperatures of >30 °C can reduce sunflower grain yield and quality; (ii) the magnitude of these effects is strongly dependent on the timing of exposure and their nature on the grain growth processes active at the time of stress; and (iii) an hourly heat load (base = 30 °C) provides a useful integrative estimator of the effects of exposure to heat stress on grain yield and oil content for a given phase of grain filling.     

结实期低温胁迫对水稻强、弱势粒淀粉形成与积累的影响

【目的】研究结实期低温胁迫对水稻强、弱势粒淀粉组分含量、积累速率及关键酶活性的影响，明确淀粉合成关键酶活性变化对淀粉积累速率的调控效应，探究强、弱势粒淀粉形成积累差异对水稻产量的影响。【方法】以耐冷型品种东农428和冷敏型品种松粳10为试验材料，设置1个常温处理(白天温度28℃，14h/夜间温度22℃，10 h，7 d)和4个低温处理(17℃，低温处理时间分别为1、3、5、7 d)，分析了结实期低温胁迫对强、弱势粒淀粉组分积累、合成关键酶活性、水稻产量及构成因素的影响，并探讨了灌浆期各阶段淀粉积累差异与酶活性变化的关系。【结果】与对照相比，结实期低温胁迫降低了两个品种水稻强、弱势粒中腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPase)、可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)、淀粉分支酶(SBE)的峰值活性以及支链淀粉和总淀粉含量，提高了齐穗后28~38 d 低温处理3、5、7 d的颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶(GBSS)活性和直链淀粉含量。与对照相比，各低温处理酶活性最高和淀粉积累最快的时间均有不同程度的推迟，低温处理7 d的影响最大，强、弱势粒低温处理7 d的支链淀粉和总淀粉含量分别在齐穗后13、18 d降幅最大，直链淀粉含量在28 d增幅最大。相关分析表明，强、弱势粒直链淀粉含量及强势粒支链淀粉、总淀粉含量与其最大积累速率呈极显著正相关，弱势粒支链淀粉、总淀粉含量还受到其最大积累速率出现时间的影响。AGPase、GBSS、SSS、SBE活性变化与淀粉积累速率和积累时间早晚密切相关，对淀粉及淀粉组分含量的变化有着明显的影响。同时，结实期低温胁迫显著降低了水稻的千粒重、结实率和产量，且随低温处理天数的增加降幅逐渐增大。结实期低温胁迫对弱势粒中淀粉合成关键酶活性变化影响大于强势粒，弱势粒淀粉合成积累减慢，含量降低，导致水稻千粒重显著下降，产量降低。【结论】就品种而言，耐冷型东农428具有较高的淀粉合成关键酶活性，淀粉及其组分含量较高，在低温胁迫下产量能维持在较高的水平。因此，强、弱势粒淀粉合成关键酶活性对淀粉合成起着非常关键的调控作用，淀粉组分和含量及其变化对产量有着十分重要的影响。     

Rice Drying,Storage and Processing: Effects of Post-Harvest Operations on Grain Quality

Various post-harvest processes of rice are commonly employed, especially during the off-season, to ensure its consumption feasibility, which often affect the grain quality. Different forms of drying, storage and processing of rice are evaluated to identify their effects on grain quality. Microwave drying has emerged as an alternative to the widely-used intermittent-drying and fixed-bed-dryer methods of drying paddy rice. Control of drying-air temperatures (between 40 °C and 60 °C) according to the rice variety can improve quality, especially for exotic varieties. Keeping stored grain in hygroscopic balance, with water content between 11% to 15%, at temperatures between 16 °C and 20 °C and with intergranular relative humidity near 60%, allows 12 months of storage in a controlled environment without significant deterioration. Other innovations, notably the application of artificial refrigeration to grain stored in bulk in vertical cylindrical silos and the use of impermeable packaging for storage, ensure the conservation of grain mass. The different stages and equipments used to obtain polished, brown and parboiled rice result in significant changes in the nutritional value of rice because of the removal of the outermost layers of the grains. Polishing reduces the nutritional value and physical homogeneity of rice. Brown rice retains more bioactive compounds and nutrients because it does not lose the outer layer of the grains in the polishing processes. Parboiled rice, although less nutritious than brown rice, has better grain integrity and milling yield and less loss of nutrients than white rice.     

灌浆期不同时段高温对稻米淀粉理化特性的影响

【目的】研究灌浆期不同时段高温对稻米淀粉组成、结构和理化特性的影响,揭示高温对稻米淀粉理化特性影响的时段效应,阐明高温、结构和功能之间的关系。【方法】以耐热水稻品种黄华占和热敏感的9311近等位基因系为实验材料,利用人工气候箱设置高温[38℃(昼)/30℃(夜)]和对照[28℃(昼)/22℃(夜)],研究灌浆前期(齐穗期后1－15 d)和后期(齐穗期后16 d至成熟)高温对稻米的加工品质、外观品质、淀粉组成、支链淀粉链长分布、粒度分布、胶稠度、黏度特性、糊化特性、结晶特性和颗粒形态的影响。【结果】灌浆期高温使糙米率、精米率、整精米率显著下降,使垩白粒率和垩白度显著升高,导致加工品质和外观品质变差。灌浆期高温使总淀粉含量、直链淀粉含量、短支链淀粉含量、大淀粉粒占比、直/支链淀粉比显著下降,而中等支链淀粉含量、小中淀粉粒占比、糊化温度和糊化焓显著上升,黏度特性显著改变,结晶类型不变但结晶度显著改变,淀粉颗粒表面出现小孔,表面变得凹凸不平,导致淀粉颗粒更加碎片化和蒸煮食味品质变劣。灌浆期不同时段高温对稻米品质的影响不同,灌浆前期高温对稻米淀粉的影响大于灌浆后期,耐热品种受影响小于热敏感品种。灌浆前期高温处理下供试材料具有较高的消减值和较低的崩解值,黏度特性变差;灌浆后期高温处理下供试材料具有较低的消减值和较高的崩解值,黏度特性变好。【结论】灌浆前期高温对淀粉理化特性的影响最大,进而导致稻米的加工品质、外观品质和蒸煮食味品质变劣,灌浆后期高温提升了黏度特性。     

Effects of AG1 and AG2 QTLs on Nonstructural Carbohydrate and Seed Management Options for Rice Seedling Growth and Establishment under Flooding Stress

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants acquired excess photosynthates in the form of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in their stems and grain. Despite keen interest in rice NSC, the dynamics of NSC accumulation, translocation and re-accumulation have not yet been well investigated. AG1 and AG2 QTLs associated with flooding tolerance through catalyzing starch into soluble sugar in germinating seeds. Here we conducted three experiments, greenhouse and field to lay the groundwork for large-scale diversity studies on grain NSC and some agronomic traits under direct-seeded rice (DSR) system, using elite lines incorporating AG1, AG2 and AG1-AG2 QTLs into the popular varieties PSB Rc82 and Ciherang-Sub1 along with the donors Kho Hlan On (AG1) and Ma-Zhan Red (AG2). In germinating seedlings, soluble sugars increased, while starch concentration decreased gradually especially in the tolerant checks and AG1-AG2 introgression lines under flooded soil. Soluble sugar accumulation in stem started to increase from the vegetative stage and peaked at the panicle initiation stage then gradually decreased towards the maturity stage. But Sub1-AG lines had higher sugar and starch concentrations at different growth stages than other genotypes in wet season 2016 and dry season 2017. Plant survival rate was positively correlated with the stem NSC at the early vegetative stage (21 days after sowing), and stem NSC was positively associated with plant height at different growth stages. Among the tested seeding rate, the most suitable seeding rate, 4 g/m² with shallow burial depth (0.5 cm), resulted in better seedling establishment, relatively higher seedling vigor index and higher leaf area index under flooding in DSR system. Introgression of AG1-AG2 QTLs had no any negative impact on nonstructural carbohydrate, germination rate, and growth and biomass production.     

Cardinal temperatures for germination and early growth of two Lesquerella species

Lesquerella (Lesquerella fendleri) is a potential alternative crop that is being studied for commercial oilseed production. Understanding the minimum temperatures for germination and seedling growth is important for determining potential areas for lesquerella production. The objectives of this study were to determine the cardinal temperatures for germination and seedling growth, and to screen ecotypes for germination and growth characteristics. A temperature gradient table arrangement was used to observe seed germination over a range of temperatures, and time to germination and shoot appearance. Times to 5 mm root length and 5 mm shoot length were also measured to assess cardinal temperatures for seedling survival and growth. Two different species were examined, L. fendleri and a species we refer to as ‘L. pallida aff.’ because it differed from typical L. pallida plants in chromosome number and in oil quality. We concluded that both germination and growth of L. pallida aff. occurred fastest at 22 °C, whereas L. fendleri germinated earlier at 18 °C, but grew faster at 22 °C. L. pallida aff. also had lower germination than L. fendleri over the range studied. Non-dormant seeds of improved lines of L. fendleri had better performance at temperatures above 22 °C than did unimproved accessions. Lines of L. fendleri selected for high oil content and salt tolerance had similar temperature requirements for germination except for improved line WCL-LO3, the current line being used in production. This line had optimal temperatures 6 °C higher for germination and growth than the other improved lines. Accessions of L. fendleri collected from elevations above 2000 m performed better at warmer temperatures, whereas those collected from elevations below 2000 m tended to perform better at cooler temperatures. Dormant seeds of L. fendleri germinated more quickly at low temperatures and had lower base (<3 °C) and optimal (22 °C) temperatures than non-dormant seeds (>7 °C and 28 °C, respectively). We speculate that this partial dormancy trait allows populations of L. fendleri to exploit a wider range of temperature conditions in the wild in order to thrive in extreme environments.     

Impact of different baking processes on bread firmness and starch properties in breadcrumb

The influence the quality and shelf life of baked product has previously been reported to be effected by the time and temperature of the baking process. In this study, dough was baked at 219 °C by using different ovens (conventional, impingement or hybrid) or with doughs of different sizes (large or small) for varying times. During baking the temperature profile at the dough center was recorded. Texture, thermal properties and pasting characteristics of baked product with reference to baking conditions were investigated. Small breads baked in the hybrid oven had the highest heating rate (25.1 °C/min) while large breads baked in conventional oven had the lowest heating rate (6.0 °C/min). When the data are viewed as a function of heating rate in this study, the enthalpy of amylopectin recrystallization, rate of bread firmness and the amount of soluble amylose were all-lower at the slower heating rate. The differences observed in product firmness following storage are potentially a consequence of the extent of starch granule hydration, swelling, dispersion and extent of reassociation; all of which are affected by the heating rate during baking.     

Differential accumulation of sulfur-rich and sulfur-poor wheat flour proteins is affected by temperature and mineral nutrition during grain development

Hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum cv Butte86) was grown under controlled environmental conditions and grain produced under 24/17 °C, 37/17 °C or 37/28 °C day/night regimens with or without post-anthesis N supplied as NPK. Flour proteins were analyzed and quantified by differential fractionation and RP-HPLC, and endosperm proteins were assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). High temperature or NPK during grain fill increased protein percentage and altered the proportions of S-rich and S-poor proteins. Addition of NPK increased protein accumulation per grain under the 24/17 °C but not the 37/28 °C regimen. However, flour protein composition was similar for grain produced with NPK at 24/17 °C or 37/28 °C. 2-DE of gluten proteins during grain development revealed that NPK or high temperature increased the accumulation rate for S-poor proteins more than for S-rich proteins. Flour S content did not indicate S-deficiency, however, and addition of post-anthesis S had no effect on protein composition. Although, high-protein flour from grain produced under the 37/28 °C regimen with or without NPK had loaf volumes comparable to flour produced at 24/17 °C with NPK, mixing tolerance was decreased by the high temperature regimen.     

Drought,pod yield,pre-harvest Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin contamination on peanut in Niger

Soil moisture and soil temperature affect pre-harvest infection with Aspergillus flavus and production of aflatoxin. The objectives of our field research in Niger, West Africa, were to: (i) examine the effects of sowing date and irrigation treatments on pod yield, infection with A. flavus and aflatoxin concentration; and (ii) to quantify relations between infection, aflatoxin concentration and soil moisture stress. Seed of an aflatoxin susceptible peanut cv. JL24 was sown at two to four different sowing dates under four irrigation treatments (rainfed and irrigation at 7, 14 and 21 days intervals) between 1991 and 1994, giving 40 different ‘environments’. Average air and soil temperatures of 28–34 °C were favourable for aflatoxin contamination. CROPGRO-peanut model was used to simulate the occurrence of moisture stress. The model was able to simulate yields of peanut well over the 40 environments (r² = 0.67). In general, early sowing produced greater pod yields, as well as less infection and lower aflatoxin concentration. There were negative linear relations between infection (r² = 0.62) and the average simulated fraction of extractable soil water (FESW) between flowering and harvest, and between aflatoxin concentration (r² = 0.54) and FESW in the last 25 days of pod-filling. This field study confirms that infection and aflatoxin concentration in peanut can be related to the occurrence of soil moisture stress during pod-filling when soil temperatures are near optimal for A. flavus. These relations could form the basis of a decision-support system to predict the risk of aflatoxin contamination in peanuts in similar environments.     

Sodium hydroxide and trimetaphosphate levels affect properties of starch extrudates

In addition to being consumed as food, starch is considered for replacement of petroleum-based plastics, but imparts negative effect like water absorption and solubilization in water. In this study, the effects of sodium hydroxide and sodium trimetaphosphate concentrations on the water absorption and solubility indices of starch cross-linked by sodium hydroxide and sodium were evaluated. Starch was granulated, and 0.3 kg granulated starch was mixed with 65 ml sodium hydroxide at three concentrations (0.2, 0.6, and 1.0 M), sodium trimetaphosphate at two levels (0.015 and 0.045 kg sodium trimetaphosphate corresponding to 5 and 15% of starch), and water to adjust moisture content to 40% (dry basis). The samples were extruded in a single-screw extruder at a barrel temperature of 130 °C and screw speed of 140 rpm. Phosphorus content and pasting viscosity of starch extrudates showed that starch was cross-linked with phosphorus that was incorporated into starch during extrusion. The extrusion and cross-linking of starch with 5% sodium trimetaphosphate reduced water absorption index, and increasing sodium trimetaphosphate percentage reduced water absorption index further at high levels of sodium hydroxide. On the other hand, the reduction in water solubility of starch extrudates required the extrusion of starch with more than 5% sodium trimetaphosphate, but increasing the sodium hydroxide level increased the water solubility index of extrudates.     

Temperature Stress at Grain Filling Stage Mediates Expression of Three Isoform Genes Encoding Starch Branching Enzymes in Rice Endosperm

An early-maturity indica rice variety Zhefu 49, whose grain quality and starch structure are sensitive to environmental temperature, was subjected to different temperatures (32°C for high temperature and 22°C for optimum temperature) at the grain filling stage in plant growth chambers, and the different expressions of three isoform genes (SBEI, SBEIII and SBEIV) encoding starch branching enzyme (SBE) in the endosperms were studied by the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) method. Effects of high temperature on the SBE expression in developing rice endosperms were isoform-dependent. High temperature significantly down-regulated the expressions of SBEI and SBEIII, while up-regulated the expression of SBEIV. Compared with SBEIV and SBEIII, the expression of SBEI gene in Zhefu 49 rice endosperms was more sensitive to temperature variation at the grain filling stage. This study indicates that changes in weather/climate conditions especially temperature stress influence rice grain formation and its quality as evidenced by isoform expression.     

Differential sensitivity to temperature of cuphea vegetative and reproductive growth

Cuphea (Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. x C. lanceolata W.T. Aiton; PSR23) is a new oilseed crop rich in medium-chain fatty acids similar to tropical palms. Agronomic studies suggest that temperature is a key determinant of cuphea seed yields. However, little is known about the growth and photosynthesis response of cuphea to temperature. The following study is the first of its kind to evaluate cuphea's growth and photosynthesis response to temperature. Cuphea was grown under day/night temperature regimes of 18/12, 24/18, and 30/24 °C and regression analysis was used to assess its responses of growth and photosynthesis and determine their optimum temperature range. Vegetative growth and leaf photosynthesis adapted well over the temperature range studied. However, reproductive growth was more sensitive showing a decline with increasing temperature. Reproductive growth rate was greatest under the lowest (18/12 °C) temperature treatment and declined by 43% at the highest growth temperatures. In contrast, vegetative growth, which was greatest under the 24/18 °C treatment, declined by just 25 and 10% at the lowest and highest temperatures, respectively. Photosynthesis acclimated to temperature by up-regulation of in vivo Rubisco activity with declining growth temperature. Maximum Rubisco activity (V_cmax) in leaves under the 18/12 °C treatment was 76% greater than that of leaves grown at 30/24 °C. Photosynthetic acclimation permitted cuphea to vegetatively grow well over a wide temperature range, but does not explain the sensitivity of reproductive growth to temperature, which will require further research to elucidate.